I couldn't believe what I was reading. I read it to my partner, "Does this actually say what I think it says?" I texted my team asking, "Do you know anything about this?" I got responses back like, "Yeah, well, maybe, I knew about it." Apparently, my Human Resource Division coworkers had been working behind my back since last July nominating me for this exceptional award.
Not only did I have the honor of being nominated for this award, the whole of the Department of Licensing (DOL) as an agency was nominated for 2016 Employer of the Year. (For those who don't know, DOL won 2015 Public Employer of the Year.) I felt excited and humbled by having this opportunity to receive acknowledgement by my peers in the statewide disability accommodation network.
I've watched enough Academy Awards to know it is foolish to not come prepared no matter how unlikely the award. So, I wrote a just in case speech as I didn't want to be the person with no words. In fact, I recorded myself and listened to it over and over in my car to get the right pacing and voice inflection. I knew it might be silly, but I wanted to be prepared...just in case.
From DOL, Laurie Milligan, Betsy Vandrush-Borgacz, Tod Ayers, and I attended at the Microsoft campus in Redmond. My family was also there. They fed us a nice breakfast. There were great people to meet and share stories. At our table was a couple from Vancouver who had a coffee roasting wholesale and retail business who hired disabled employees. They were located between the School for the Deaf and the School for the Blind in Vancouver. It was fun. We were ready to party.
There were sixteen of us nominated for my award. All of us are the best in our business. Our names were in the program and our pictures flashed in a queue on the wall. At the appointed time, our names were read individually along with some part of our accomplishments. One by one, we came to the stage, were given a certificate signed by Governor Inslee, and had our picture taken with the chair of the Governor's committee. We then lined up and awaited the announcement of the winner.
I had decided earlier in the week that just being nominated was an award and that anyone who had done more than I certainly deserved my support. Finally, they announced the winner. It was not I. However, I felt I was in extraordinary company. The winner spoke only briefly. They took a group picture, and we filed back to our tables.
My partner, daughter, and brother were there with me. My daughter, who is a performance artist, had heard my just in case speech the week before. She had said, "If you get close to that microphone, grab it. Don't let it go and give your speech." Sadly, I was not close to the microphone.
The ceremony was long. DOL had been nominated as an agency, and our group waited pensively. There were 42 nominated employers. Each with a story. We applauded politely. A Walmart was nominated for hiring several Deaf employees which was glorious. However, their other employees volunteered to take sign language classes on their own time and out of their own money. We raised our eyebrows. Surely, Walmart could pay their employees to learn sign language and provide the training? That is what DOL is doing.
The ceremony worked it's way through various levels of employers including small, medium, large, private, non-profit, public, and youth employer. Everyone came up, got a certificate, and had their picture taken.
Betsy suggested that if we won, she, Laurie, and I should go to the podium. Tod would take pictures. With a little fanfare, the award recipients were announced one by one and given an opportunity to speak. Finally, the level that we thought DOL might get came up. A different agency got the award. Betsy sent me a little pouty face. We were disappointed but still thrilled to be in contention.
Then, they announced an award that was not on the program. It was for 2016 Employer of the Year which transcended all other employers in the state of Washington. Suddenly, the powerpoint on the wall said, "Department of Licensing." I looked at Laurie. We couldn't believe it. The three of us went up to the podium. We didn't have a plan of who would speak. Laurie gestured to Betsy. Betsy said some words about DIG, our Diversity and Inclusion Group.
Then, they took our pictures. I looked longingly at the mic. I heard my daughter's words, "If you get close to that microphone, grab it!" I fumbled in my back pocket for my speech. Before we left the podium, I said I had something to say. I grabbed the mic, brought it to my mouth, holding my cane and my paper, and spoke the most important part of my just in case speech:
"I have two takeaways to share with you.
First, disability comes in an astonishing number of ways, many of which are unseen. All of us will at some point have some form of permanent or temporary disability during our lifetimes.
According to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 25% of adults in this country experience mental illness in a given year.
From the 24 year old who suffers from severe depression and can only work part time to the 50 year old Veteran with PTSD who's managed on their own for many years who finally says, "I need help."
The question is: Are we going to treat others how we will want to be treated when it's our turn? Will we be willing to have the uncomfortable discussions? I want to know someone will be there for you and you and you and you and me.
Second. I have been in this business for over 35 years. I can tell you what makes reasonable accommodation viable in employment. It takes commitment and passion at all levels of an organization.
From a governor who says hiring employees with disabilities is a priority and follows up with: "I'm watching. Do it and Show me the numbers." All the way down to a coworker who says, "I don't understand but I can still support my coworker."
This has created a culture in my agency where if a job applicant or employee needs an accommodation, we don't say, 'Oh my gosh, how are we going to work around this?'
Instead we say, 'This is a learning opportunity. We're hungry for learning by doing. BRING IT ON.'
Without this attitude, Nothing changes. We ALL want this change. We need to support people in making it happen and hold them accountable. Going forward I say, 'This can only get better. Bring It On!'
Thank you."
The crowd burst into applause. As I walked back to the table, a woman who uses a wheelchair darted out, gesturing at my paper, and said, "Can I have a copy of that?" I gave it to her. It was the end of the ceremony. People came to me and said, 'That's what we wanted to hear.' One woman said, 'I actually got teary.' Betsy told me that people came up to her and said we need a new hashtag: #BringItOn.
My partner video taped most of my speech. It was a grand moment. I knew my daughter was so right. When you have something important to say and have an opportunity, grab the mic. You never know when the opportunity will come around again. Bring It On.
Joceile Moore
10/8/2016
YouTube of Bring It On:
Link under picture
https://youtu.be/bY5lBdUPzK4
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