RADD Awards

DIN RADD Award Trophy Image

Disability Inclusion Network

Respect, Acceptance, and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (RADD) Award

 

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.

SAVE THE DATE:
DIN’s 4th Annual RADD Awards Ceremony will be held Via Zoom

Wednesday, July 23th 11:30-1pm
Award Ceremony will start at 11:30
ASL and CART provided
For any additional accommodations please contact DINawards@ofm.wa.gov

 

 

5th Annual DIN Respect, Acceptance, and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (RADD) Award Nominations will be opening soon!

Nominations for the 2026 RADD Awards will be opening in May. Please check back for more information about how to submit your nominations.

General Information:

You can submit as many nominations as you like! Make sure to fill out a new nomination form each time. 


There are now 3 ways to submit a nomination:

  • You can write the traditional long essay nomination.
  • You can write a short answer for each of the criteria for an award.
  • You can ask to submit a nomination with a member of DIN Leadership on a phone/video call.


There are two ways to submit a nomination or a request to submit with a member of DIN Leadership:


To fill out a nomination in a Word document:

  • After these instructions there are 10 links to the word document for the different ways you can submit a nomination for each of the 5 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 style and award category you would like to fill out and submit.
  • Each form has instructions at the end on how to submit the nomination to the dinawards@ofm.wa.gov inbox
  • Selecting one of these links will open the word document in a browser (internet) tab.


To download this form and fill it out:

  • Select File
  • Select Save As
  • Select the third option “Download a Copy” with the word document icon next to it
  • In the pop-up box select “Download a copy”


Word Nomination Documents

 

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: Economic Services Division

 

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 at the Employment Security Division

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 Health and Social Services CSD ADA Access Strategy Administrator