Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, Improving Access Through Collaboration

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

9:45 AM - 11:00 AM PT

Room: Pavilion C

Presenter(s)

Jessica Brasher

Program Operations Support and Technology Team Manager
Career Path Services/Olympic WDC Assistant EO Officer, Washington
Jessica Clayton, MSW

Division Executive of Programs and Development
Spokane Workforce Council
Teresa Eckstein

State-Level Equal Opportunity Officer
Employment Security Department
Olympia, Washington
Travis Piatz

COO
South Central Workforce
Gabby Torres

Compliance Coordinator/Equal Opportunity Officer
Benton Franklin WDC
Kennewick, Washington

Presentation Purpose & Goal: Equal Opportunity Officers and Assistant Equal Opportunity Officers from five local workforce development areas across the state, and the State-Level Equal Opportunity Office, will share some of the innovative ways their areas are ensuring equal access and inclusive services for customers.

They will also share examples of how their Equal Opportunity Team collaborates to share ideas, work through issues, and implement accessibility across state.

This presentation will include success stories, examples of issues and solutions, and some specific tools.

Learning Objectives:

Ideas for collaboration and expanding equitable and inclusive access for customers
Specific and tangible tools for accessibility, including a sample desk aid
Importance of having staff aware of accessibility tools available and how to use them
Understanding ways to use data and customer feedback to inform services and to customer services for local areas
Understanding ways to blend social services with workforce services
Peer learning and collaboration examples