LINCOLN - Nebraska Department of Labor's Director of Administrative Services and State of Nebraska Equal Opportunity Officer, Terri Slone, was awarded the William J. Harris Award at the 2017 Summit of the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA). Slone received this recognition due to her exemplary work improving the Department's internet accessibility and Spanish language access for reemployment services. Below is an excerpt from the award's description.

"Working with others as a team, [Slone] initiated and led the Spanish Translation project in an effort to translate agency systems online to increase accessibility for the Hispanic community. According to the U.S. Census, Nebraska's population is approximately 10 percent Hispanic, and this is expected to increase significantly in the future. Under her leadership, the Department's Unemployment Insurance Benefit Payment System and the reemployment system, NEworks, have all been translated into Spanish. Because of the complexity of unemployment insurance, the Department utilized a combination of in-house translators and contracted certified Spanish translators.

In addition to the Spanish translation, Nebraska has initiated a broader web accessibility project under [Slone’s] management. This project is still underway but most web screens are now compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, providing access to people with disabilities. The Department has also incorporated the use of screen readers for individuals with visual impairments.

[Slone] defies the status quo and always goes above and beyond what is required. A champion of equal opportunity, she is continuously improving the Department's programs to make them fully accessible for all."