The Oregon Resource Association, a statewide advocacy network for groups that work with individuals experiencing disabilities, has named the City of Hillsboro as its Public Employer of the Year.

The City of Hillsboro's dedication to hiring employees of every ability was evident when Mayor Steve Callaway declared March as Disability Employment Awareness Month in Hillsboro. 

“City leadership understands the value of employing a staff that matches the community,” said Thomas Saucedo, Career Development Manager for TVW, Inc, a Hillsboro-based nonprofit dedicated to providing services to individuals experiencing intellectual, developmental, or other disabilities. “They really see people for their skills and abilities, not their disabilities.”

Hillsboro’s commitment to diversity hiring, including employing people experiencing disability, remains strong. There are currently 15 supported employees working throughout the City of Hillsboro, including in the Parks & Recreation Department's SHARC facility, maintenance department, and at the Hillsboro Public Library. 

Dave Miletich, Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Department Director, described the hirings a good starting point, but wants to see more.

 

“The City workforce needs to reflect the community,” Miletich said, pointing to job opportunities where, with a little support, people experiencing disability succeed and thrive.

For instance, Mason C., a supported employee who works at the Hillsboro Library, excels at recognizing sequential patterns, a “phenomenal skill for shelving materials,” according to Library Supervisor Becky Cisco. But when Library staff learned that Mason is also an artist and piano player, they leveraged those skills too. His work has been displayed at Brookwood Library’s art gallery and Mason has played piano for story times. 

“We try very hard to tailor the duties to employee’s strengths within the framework of our organizational need,” said Library Director Hillary Ostlund. “This helps the employee find some joy in the work and helps us work with them.”

Finding the right position for supported employees takes a bit of extra effort at first, but the payoff is huge. Hillsboro employees who engage with the program say that “it makes them better supervisors and workers,” according to Miletich. “Hiring supported staff is well worth the investment.”