Disability Inclusion Network
Respect, Acceptance, and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (RADD) Awards
The DIN Disability Inclusion Awards are awarded to state agencies, higher education institutions, divisions, managers, teams and/or individuals working in state employment that have shown exemplary leadership in Disability Inclusion.
DIN’s 5th Annual RADD Awards Ceremony will be held Via Zoom on July 22, 2026 from 11AM - 1:30PM.
ASL and CART provided
For any additional accommodations please contact DINawards@ofm.wa.gov
Volunteers needed now for the RADD Selection Committee:
Help us recognize outstanding contributions to disability access and inclusion in state workplaces!
•10-15 hour time commitment.
•Score the nominations via a rubric.
Contact Sarah.Norton@dol.wa.gov to volunteer and/or for accommodations.
The 5th Annual DIN Respect, Acceptance, and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (RADD) Awards nominations are open.
The original deadline of May 27 has now been extended to June 10, 2026!
You do not need to be a DIN member to submit a RADD awards nomination nor to be nominated for an award!
General Information:
You can submit as many nominations as you like. Please be sure to fill out a new nomination form each time. If you have any questions or need help submitting a nomination, please send an email to the dinawards@ofm.wa.gov inbox.
There are three ways to submit a nomination:
- You can write a traditional long essay nomination.
- You can write a short answer for each of the criteria for an award.
- You can submit a nomination during a brief phone or video call with a member of DIN Leadership.
There are two ways to submit a nomination or a request to submit with a member of DIN Leadership:
- Submit via the MS Forms Nomination Form.
- Download a word document nomination form and email it to dinawards@ofm.wa.gov.
To fill out a nomination in a Word document:
- The Word document links are located below for the different ways you can submit a nomination for each of the five award categories. The first link is to request a phone or video call with a member of DIN leadership.
- Select the link for the nomination method and award category you would like to fill out and submit.
- Each form has instructions on how to submit the nomination to the dinawards@ofm.wa.gov inbox.
Word Nomination Document Links - Selecting these links will allow you to save the file to your own computer:
2026 RADD Nomination by Phone or Video
2026 RADD Nomination by Traditional Essay
2026 RADD Nomination Using Criteria
2025 - 4th Annual DIN RADD Awards Recipients:
Individual of the Year
Awardee: AnnyKay Melendez, Department of Labor and Industries
Runner Up: Melissa Warner, Office of Financial Management
Team of the Year
Awardee: Communications Team at the Washington State Office of Equity
Runner up: The Office Workplace Culture and Development Team at the Department of Natural Resources
Manager of the Year
Awardee: Jessica Larsen, Department of Revenue
Runner Up: Sandi Seaman, Department of Social and Health Services
Advocate of the Year
Awardee: Bill Kinyon, Employment Security Department - WorkSource Spokane
Runner Up: Stacey Gonia, Department of Licensing
Agency of the Year
Awardee: Employment Security Department
2024 - 3rd Annual DIN RADD Awards Recipients:
Individual of the Year
Awardee: Katlin Jorgensen - DPT of Licensing
Runner Up: Johnette Sullivan - Office of Administrative Hearings
Team of the Year
Awardee: Department of Revenue's Voice of the Customer (VOC) Team - Eileen Ansley, Janet Grimwade, Kelly Maurer, Alexis Warner
Runner up: Department of Licensing's Modified Driver License Exam Team - Angela Berg, Tony Finona, Bryan Jackson, Larry Watkinson
Manager of the Year
Awardee: Heather Bowhay - Organizational Training & Employment Development Manager - the Employment Security Department People Development Training Team
Runner Up: Earl Key - Washington State Department of Transportation
Advocate of the Year
Awardee: Larry Watkinson - Department of Licensing's Accessibility and ADA Compliance Manager
Runner Up: Deborah Tigerson - Department of Social and Health Services CSD ADA Access Strategy Administrator