Governor’s committee seeking award nominations for employers who hire people with disabilities

Published 12:00 pm Tuesday, August 4, 2015

The Washington State Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues & Employment (GCDE) is seeking award nominations for employers who have made extra efforts to recruit, hire, promote and retain employees with disabilities.

The Governor’s Employer Awards Program includes three categories of awards:

• Governor’s Employer Awards for up to seven private, public, and non-profit employers. Employers may nominate themselves and others.
• Governor’s Youth Employer Award for one private, public or non-profit employer that sponsors programs or events promoting employment preparation and job skills training for youths with disabilities.
• The Governor’s Trophy for one individual with a disability who has empowered people with disabilities to succeed in the community and workforce.

Nominations are due by Sept. 15, 2015. Download a nomination packet from the GCDE website for all nomination instructions and more information. For help with the application or to request it in another format, contact Melinda Johnson, 509-482-3854, or GCDEawards@esd.wa.gov.

Award recipients will be honored at a ceremony sponsored by the Washington State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and hosted by Microsoft on Oct. 30 at the Microsoft Conference Center. The program is planned and organized by the GCDE in partnership with the Washington State Business Leadership Network.

For more information about the awards, contact Conrad Reynoldson, 425-728-8133.

The Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues & Employment advises the Governor, legislature and state agencies on policies that affect people with disabilities.