KDA Photo Contest Now Accepting Entries

Manhattan, Kansas — Kansas agriculture has a beauty like no other and we strive to acknowledge and appreciate it throughout the state. You can show us the true beauty of the state’s ag industry through the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s annual photo contest. KDA began accepting photo entries on June 9, and will continue accepting entries until August 22.

This year’s KDA Photo Contest categories were selected to promote different aspects of Kansas agriculture. Farm to Fork, Innovation in Agriculture, Four-Legged Friends, and Ad Astra categories will showcase Kansas agriculture in many ways — the products of our labor that feed our local communities, the scientific and technological advancements that increase efficiency and value, the many animals that play a role in family-run farms and ranches, and the overall beauty of Kansas agriculture. And for the second year, a Video category will showcase drone footage, harvest videos, or other short clips of under 30 seconds. As always, there will be a separate Youth category, for young photographers under age 19. Prizes will be awarded to the top two winners in each of the six categories.

KDA serves to advocate for agriculture, the state’s largest industry and economic driver. Photos which best capture the categories will be used throughout the year as we tell the story of Kansas agriculture. After submission, KDA is granted permission to use any photograph for publications, social media, websites, displays, etc. without payment or other consideration from the photographer.

Photo entries should be sent in .jpg format to [email protected]. Videos should be sent in .mp4 or .mov format. Entries must include a title and brief description, where and when the photo/video was taken, the photographer’s full name and age, entry category, hometown and email address.

Guidelines for the KDA Photo Contest, including deadlines, categories and prizes, can be found at agriculture.ks.gov/photocontest. Voting to select finalists will begin on KDA’s social media sites in late August. For more information, contact Heather Lansdowne, KDA director of communications, at [email protected] or 785-564-6706.

Job Vacancy Announcements

Blue Cross/Blue Shield posted the following position, open to external candidates:

ServiceNow Administrator, Application Deadline: 6/22/22

Professional Relations Medicare Advantage Rep, Application Deadline: 6/17/22

Lead Disease Management Wellness Coordinator, Application Deadline: 6/26/22

To view the job description and apply on-line, please go to www.bcbsks.com/careers.

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) News Brief

Disability and the Digital Divide

A recent report published by ODEP explores how a gap in access to both computing devices and the internet disproportionately impacts people with disabilities, in turn creating barriers to their ability to effectively prepare for, obtain and succeed in employment. In addition to an overview of literature on this topic to date, the report analyzes data on internet subscriptions, internet use and employment status among people with disabilities to assist policymakers and practitioners in devising policies and practices that can help improve socioeconomic outcomes.

• Read Disability and the Digital Divide: Internet Subscriptions, Internet Use and Employment Outcomes

SEED Partner Promotes Equitable Access to Broadband for Underserved Communities

Last week, the State Exchange on Employment & Disability collaborated with the U.S. Conference of Mayors to host a panel on “Ensuring Traditionally Underserved Communities in Urban America Are Connected to Affordable Broadband, at the USCM 90th Annual Meeting in Reno, NV. Moderated by Mayor Kate Gallego of Phoenix, the panel also included Mayor Lori Lightfoot of Chicago, Mayor Adrian Perkins of Shreveport, Mayor Hardie Davis of Augusta and Andy Berke of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The session is part of a larger partnership effort with USCM to engage mayors around the inclusion of disability in diversity and equity workforce efforts in cities.

• Learn more about the conference

New Framework Helps Organizations Incorporate Disability into DEIA Initiatives

It is essential that people with disabilities are included and represented in company-wide diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility efforts. To help employers better understand how to integrate, sustain and measure disability inclusion practices, EARN used research conducted by Cornell University’s Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies’ to create “Including Disability in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Priorities: Building A Maturity Model.” This tool offers a step-by-step framework to ensure disability is included in your organization’s DEIA plan.

• Access the Framework

Talking Accessibility with PEAT & FUTRtech

The Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology joined FUTRtech to discuss ways that technologies can support people with disabilities in the workplace. In the interview, PEAT’s Co-directors Corinne Weible and Bill Curtis-Davidson share how using technology such as extended reality and artificial intelligence in inclusive ways is beneficial for all employees.

• Watch the interview

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility with PEAT

The Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology launched a new diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility focused landing page to help employers quickly find their materials and resources related to DEIA topics. The page includes links to ways you can boost inclusion in your organization and a recent podcast episode on neurodiversity and intersectionality.

• Visit PEAT’s DEIA landing page

U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Disability Employment Policy
DRIVING CHANGE • CREATING OPPORTUNITY

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