Inslee order aims to spur hiring of people with disabilities

Gov. Jay Inslee recently signed an executive order to help promote hiring of people with disabilities within state government and the private sector, according to a release.

Currently, only 36 percent of working-age people in Washington with disabilities are employed.

“Every person deserves the chance to live a full and dignified life, and that includes having the opportunity to work,” Inslee said.

Executive Order 13-02 includes several directives including a Disability Employment Challenge that establishes a goal of five percent of Washington state government’s workforce being comprised of people living with a disability. A Disability Employment Task Force is established to help state agencies with the recruitment and retention of people with disabilities.

The governor signed the executive order at the start of a one-day institute hosted by the National Governors Association focusing on employment issues for those with disabilities. He was joined by a dozen supporters including Rep. Cyrus Habib, who has agreed to help the governor in working with the state agencies and private-sector businesses to establish and share best practices.

Inslee’s executive order went into effect immediately.