PASCO, WA – Governor Jay Inslee awarded Educational Service District (ESD) 123 at the 26th Annual Governor’s Employer Awards ceremony in Redmond, WA. On Wednesday, October 17, ESD 123 was one of six employers honored for their exemplary work recruiting, hiring, retaining and promoting people with disabilities.
Washington’s Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues & Employment (GCDE) and Disability: In Washington organizes this ceremony to recognize employers who are making significant gains to empower people with disabilities. ESD 123 first began providing pre-employment transition services to students in our region during the 2016-2017 school year. In October 2016, ESD 123 collaborated with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) to provide services to over 800 high school students with disabilities.
ESD 123 Transition Administrator, Lori Scott, said that it is exciting to see the impact of her department’s work region-wide.
“I am so incredibly proud to be part of the ESD team who has supported and encouraged me as a leader in developing a model program for pre-employment transition services,” states Ms. Scott. “It is such an honor to have our work and our ESD recognized at a state level with such a prestigious award.”
Transition services through ESD 123 include in-class trainings that focus on self-advocacy skills, career exploration, workplace readiness, and post-secondary exploration. Additionally, students are given the opportunity to complete job shadow experiences and paid internships. More information about the ESD’s transition services and other services for families of students with disabilities can be found online at www.esd123.org/programs__services/special_services, or by contacting Lori Scott at 509.544.5719 or lscott@esd123.org.
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About ESD 123: Educational Service District 123, based in Pasco, WA, is one of nine ESDs in Washington. Dedicated to delivering collaborative solutions that promote learning, ESD 123 serves 23 school districts in seven counties of Southeastern Washington. Under Superintendent Darcy Weisner and its board of directors, this legislatively mandated, not-for-profit educational organization provides efficiency of educational systems and equity of learning opportunities for over 70,000 Washington students. For more information about ESD 123, please call 509-544-5700 or 888-547-8441 or visit www.esd123.org.