The Seattle Human Services Department announced today that its Aging and Disability Services division—which is designated by the State of Washington as the Area Agency on Aging for Seattle-King County—and its Age Friendly Seattle team have been honored with a National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) 2019 Aging Achievement Award in recognition of their efforts to promote accessible events and meetings.
Age Friendly Seattle Accessible Events & Meetings was among 48 local aging programs to receive honors at the n4a annual conference, held July 27–31 in New Orleans, and the only one to win in the Community Planning & Livable Communities category. Age Friendly Seattle produced a 40-page Community Guide to Accessible Events & Meetings (a free download) and has coordinated and presented trainings locally and at national conferences. The most recent was a public forum at Seattle City Hall on May 30 called “How to Plan An Accessible Event,” presented by individuals with disabilities (view on The Seattle Channel or YouTube). The Seattle Human Services Department announced today that its Aging and Disability Services division—which is designated by the State of Washington as the Area Agency on Aging for Seattle-King County—and its Age Friendly Seattle team have been honored with a National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) 2019 Aging Achievement Award in recognition of their efforts to promote accessible events and meetings.
Age Friendly Seattle Accessible Events & Meetings was among 48 local aging programs to receive honors at the n4a annual conference, held July 27–31 in New Orleans, and the only one to win in the Community Planning & Livable Communities category. Age Friendly Seattle produced a 40-page Community Guide to Accessible Events & Meetings (a free download) and has coordinated and presented trainings locally and at national conferences. The most recent was a public forum at Seattle City Hall on May 30 called “How to Plan An Accessible Event,” presented by individuals with disabilities (view on The Seattle Channel or YouTube).
“n4a is thrilled to present the Aging Innovation and Achievement Awards to a diverse and talented group of Area Agencies on Aging,” said Sandy Markwood, Chief Executive Officer of n4a. “The work the AAAs have done to deliver innovative and successful programs in their communities is remarkable.”
“Our Aging and Disability Services division, through our Age Friendly Seattle initiative, has put new energy into making events welcoming and inclusive,” said Jason Johnson, director of the Seattle Human Services Department. “Across City departments and among community-based organizations, we’re far more aware now of ways to help people with disabilities have a comparable event or meeting experience to those who do not have hearing or vision loss or physical or cognitive challenges.”
“Age Friendly Seattle is an initiative to make Seattle a great place to grow up and grow old,” Johnson continued. “With approximately one-quarter of the population reporting some form of disability, an age-friendly community must be disability-friendly, too.” For more information about Age Friendly Seattle, visit www.Seattle.gov/AgeFriendly.
N4a’s primary mission is to build the capacity of its members so they can help older adults and people with disabilities live with dignity and choices in their homes and communities for as long as possible. For more information, visit www.n4a.org.