October 1, 2019: In celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Spokane Workforce Council partnered with WorkSource Spokane, KREM 2, Spokane County, and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) to deliver its annual Access Spokane Job Fair. Over 330 job candidates connected with businesses looking to hire their next employee, service providers sharing available community resources, and assistive technology demonstrations for individuals and veterans with disabilities. The event was held at the Centennial by Davenport Hotels on October 1, 2019.
The 2019 Access Job Fair commenced with a reading of Mayor Condon’s declaration that October is Disability Employment Awareness Month in the City of Spokane. Spokane County Commissioner, district 1, Josh Kerns, also spoke words of welcome to the employers and service providers who attended. “We are thrilled to be a sponsor for this event as it’s such an important event for our region”, he said. “I want to thank each and every one of you because you really are making a true, visible difference in our community.” A total of 57 vendors were on-hand to recruit for their vacant positions and inform persons with disabilities about the many resources available that assist with gainful employment.
“We love this event – and with a new Foundational Community Support grant, we were able to provide on-the-spot assessments to help candidates become eligible for us to assist with employment services”, said Cameron Steward, an Employment Consultant at Ability Employment Services. “The Access Job Fair has allowed our company to be more visible to persons that identify with having a disability and the support we can provide in connecting them to gainful employment.”
Ashleigh Matthews is the Human Resources Manager at Dealer’s Auto Auction (DAA) Northwest. “I’m very pleased with the potential candidates that I’ve met today. And I already have one interview schedule later in the week with six more that I’m sure my department managers would agree are solid candidates for our current openings,” she said.
Janine Minion, a job seeker wanting to network with employers and service providers, took advantage of the prep sessions offered last week at WorkSource Spokane. “I wanted to practice my professional pitch and really make a great impression with the City of Spokane, Numerica, and Goodwill”, she said. “The staff at WorkSource Spokane encouraged me to customize my pitch with different employers, but maintain my personality in the delivery.”
If you weren’t able to attend the 2019 Access Spokane Job Fair, please reach out to our Talent Solutions Team at BusinessOutreach@esd.wa.gov to be connected to the employers and service providers that attended. Find out more about this event here.
