The Heart and Soul of King County Parks
Cross-posted from King County Parks: Blogs From Your Big Backyard Parks employee RJT can always be spotted at the Jim Ellis Memorial Regional Park’s Preston Athletic Fields with a smile on his face and a song ready to belt. RJT, who has worked for King County for 33 years, has been a staple at the play fields in the eastside community. He can often be heard singing loudly while leaf blowing and cleaning the pavement. RJT’s favorite tasks are push mowing the lawns and cleaning the community center. He’s also responsible for trash and… Read More
Ableism and allyship in the workplace
By Karla Lynch, Employment and Community Access Program Manager, Department of Community and Human Services, and Dorian Esper-Taylor, Disability Justice Specialist, Office of Equity, Racial, and Social Justice, Department of Executive Services Disability Pride Month is celebrated each year in July. Disability Pride initially started as a day of celebration in 1990—the year that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. Yet for people with disabilities, navigating a society constructed by and for people without disabilities continues to highlight the presence of ableism and the power of allyship in… Read More
Keeping KCCF orderly and fun: Ting Chou marks 25 years with King County
By Christina Lorella Kuzu, Communications Specialist with the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention You can find Ting Chou at the King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) every Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon, making sure officers and residents get what they need. From stocking supplies to fulfilling resident kites (a written request from a person in custody), his role as a records unit support clerk is important to jail operations. Ting also makes it his unofficial duty to guarantee that coworkers don’t take themselves too seriously. “We know when he’s… Read More
Vehicle Maintenance Community Connection for women, binary, and non-binary folks seeking VM members
The King County Vehicle Maintenance Community Connection (VMCC) group is building community among the women, trans women, and nonbinary people in Metro Transit’s Vehicle Maintenance (VM) Division. The mission is to build a sustainable and structured support group where measurable outcomes build community among the women in VM to deconstruct loneliness. The group seeks to understand what it would take to support the current women in VM, and prepare to support future women hired into VM. The group also provides education about the resources available for personal and professional growth. Together, members in… Read More
Elections partners with King County’s Supported Employment Program
There are 1.4 million registered voters in King County. Voter registration in the Department of Elections is an intense, customer service focused team tasked with ensuring county residents get to exercise their right to vote. Handling phone calls, emails, in-person visitors, and thousands of online registration updates keeps this team in constant motion. When Kim Streeter, a Program Supervisor for the Department of Elections, was approached by King County’s Supported Employment Program to hire staff for a pilot program, it seemed like a great fit for all parties. King County’s Supported Employment Program matches… Read More
Supported employee takes pride in his work, shares joy with community
The Supported Employment Program (SEP) provides employment opportunities within King County government to people with disabilities. With an assigned job coach, and supportive supervisors and team members, participants are encouraged to fulfill their potential, pursue career goals, and thrive in a helpful environment. One employee within the Supported Employment Program who enjoys his work and the chance to make a difference is Naveed Labib, an Office Assistant in the Transit Facilities Division of the Metro Transit Department. Naveed has been with King County since January 2018. While some of his duties include… Read More
School-to-Work Transition Fairs go virtual in 2021
Since 2005, in response to community need, the King County School-to-Work Program (S2W) has partnered across numerous organizations to help students with developmental disabilities seek and gain employment before they leave their high school programs. This year, S2W is excited to present its Annual Transition Fair exclusively online. As in previous years, the highly anticipated event is offered to the entire community – families, teachers, local agencies, and potential employers. The Transition Fair is designed to help students with developmental disabilities find employment before leaving their high school programs. Register now Participants… Read More
Roads Services Division receives Public Employer of the Year Award
On Oct. 27, the Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment (GCDE) held their 28th annual Governor’s Awards, which recognizes outstanding employers in the public and private sector who recruit, retain and advance individuals with disabilities and demonstrate best practices in the workplace. The Public Employer of the Year Award went to King County Roads Services Division for their dedication and support of Matt Everson, an employee in King County’s Supported Employment Program. This is the first time King County has received the Public Employer of the Year Award and the second… Read More
Metro celebrates the Americans with Disabilities Act’s 30th Anniversary
King County Metro celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Proudly committed to mobility innovations, our entire Metro bus fleet is ADA accessible. Allowing our riders with disabilities to travel with independence ensures all of us are moving forward, together.
Celebrating 30 years of the ADA
This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law in 1990 by former U.S. President George H. W. Bush. Here at King County we’ve worked to provide everyone equal access to employment, transportation, housing, education, health care, recreation, and community life. On July 26, 2020, we celebrate thirty years of progress in access and inclusion, and renew our commitment to making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. For more information about the ADA and how can get involved in King County’s efforts to celebrate… Read More
Employee News 