The Bureau of Global Talent Management’s Office of Accessibility and Accommodations (OAA) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of the Department’s new state-of-the-art Access Center, Dec. 3. Held on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the ceremony included remarks by Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun and Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Global Talent Carol Z. Perez. After the ceremony, OAA Assistive Technology Specialist Rich McCarthy provided Biegun and Perez with a facility tour. The Access Center, a 2,400 square foot space in Columbia Plaza near the Department’s SA-1 Building in Washington, provides an interactive, hands-on experience for employees with disabilities to test, train, and provide feedback on assistive technology solutions. The Access Center will be a key resource in the Department’s efforts to remove barriers, achieve a more inclusive organization, and ensure that all employees have the support they need to succeed.
Photo by Heidi Howland