Navigating the coronavirus pandemic with a disability 

Every October, King County recognizes Disability Awareness Month. On Oct. 13, the County Council officially proclaimed October as Disability Awareness Month, and this past July, King County also marked the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), signed into law in 1990. These efforts celebrate the many contributions that people with disabilities make to our community and workforce here at King County.  This year, due to COVID-19, the Disability Awareness Month Committee has been developing a conversation about how people with disabilities are being impacted by the pandemic. The Committee created an interactive multimedia article, “Navigating… Read More

Join us for a conversation on the impacts of the pandemic while living with a disability 

There are many different types of disabilities: physical and mental, invisible and visible, temporary and permanent. The pandemic has had a unique impact on the lives of people with all types of disabilities, bringing joy, relief, and difficulty. Join the Disability Awareness Committee, Balanced You, and the Employee Assistance Program in a live, virtual conversation on the impacts of the pandemic while livin with a disability.  This conversation will feature employees with disabilities who will share their experiences and stories of living and adapting through 2020, alongside employees from Disability Services who will share… Read More

Creating Effective Application Materials online workshops, October 27 and November 17  

This two-hour virtual workshop will provide you tips and strategies on how to make your application materials stand out. Learning objectives include:  Understanding the purpose of the job application, resume, cover letter and supplemental questions and how to make each of them more effective  Deciding what to include in your resume and the best format to showcase your qualifications  How to write a cover letter tailored to the specific position  Identifying and showcasing your accomplishments  There are two opportunities to attend this online workshop:   Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 1-3 p.m. and Tuesday,… Read More

King County GIS receives Geospatial Excellence Catalyst Award 

Crossposted from GIS & You  Working from home since March means my unabridged Random House Dictionary is always just three feet away. Here is an entry…  Cat·a·lyst (n) 3. A person or thing that precipitates an event or change.  At its 2020 Annual Conference, the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) presented its Geospatial Excellence Catalyst Award to the King County Information Technology GIS for Equity and Social Justice Team.  Read more. 

The benefits of King County’s Return-To-Work Transitional Duty Program 

Getting all those tasks done at work can be a challenge, especially the “non-essential” ones that just seem to pile up. Does your team have stacks of filing sitting in boxes? Need help staffing a front desk or hotline? Have some documents ready to be scanned so you can go paperless? That’s where King County’s Transitional Duty Assignment (TDA) Program comes in. Providing light duty work to a TDA worker gives you valuable labor you don’t have to pay for while also keeping temporarily disabled workers connected to King County. It’s a win for… Read More

Reasonable Accommodations in King County Superior Court 

by Linda K. Ridge, Deputy CAO, King County Superior Court  Access to justice for all persons is a fundamental right; however, for individuals with a sensory, cognitive, or physical disability, this access can be filled with challenges. Implemented in 2007, Washington State General Court Rule 33 (GR 33) was designed to assure that persons with disabilities have equal and meaningful access to the judicial system.  GR 33 requires courts to provide prompt response to requests for accommodation in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the Washington State Law Against Discrimination… Read More

Support Domestic Violence Awareness Month through the 2020 Annual Giving Drive 

For Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we’re highlighting nonprofits whose work supports survivors in our region. These and hundreds of nonprofits are participating in this year’s Annual Giving Drive.   API Chaya (9617): API Chaya empowers and serves South Asian, Asian, and Pacific Islander survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, assault, and other crimes. They offer confidential support, information, and referrals for housing, legal and immigration assistance, mental health, food and financial assistance programs.  Consejo Counseling and Referral Service (9404): For over 30 years, Consejo has been providing intervention, prevention, and outreach services for Latino survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault,… Read More

Disability Awareness Month: Ableism and ally-ship in the workplace 

For people with disabilities, navigating a society constructed by and for people considered to have “typical” abilities can be a constant battle, and one that further entrenches the discrimination they face. According to the 2010 census, nearly 1 in 5 Americans experience disability. Some people’s disabilities are visible to others and include physical disabilities such as blindness, deafness, prosthetic limbs, or wheelchair usage. Other people’s disabilities may be less visible or not visually apparent at all, such as behavioral health conditions (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress), Traumatic Brain Injuries, developmental and intellectual disabilities,… Read More

Working to end domestic violence 

Dear employees, This month, we observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month in King County to raise awareness about the signs of abuse and how we can stop it.  On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States – more than 10 million people each year – according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. There is also concern that these numbers will jump as a result of social distancing and quarantine during COVID-19.  King County is committed to stopping domestic violence in our community and at work…. Read More

Pet of the Week: Annie 

Hi! My name is Annie and I am available for adoption. My personality color is GREEN. I am an adaptable dog who loves to go with the flow! I am outgoing and carefree, and I just can’t wait to find my forever home! I am a very smart dog! At the shelter I am practicing how to “sit”, “stay”, “come”, “down” and “shake”. I am an affectionate lovebug who would be thrilled to cuddle up with you at home! I am full of energy and I love to play! I tend to calm down more… Read More