This year marks not only the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, but also the 75th observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).
Both milestones are being commemorated with a range of events and activities centered on the theme "Increasing Access and Opportunity."
In her role as Ecosystems Manager on the Planning, Environment and Project Development team, Marti Louther helps to increase access and opportunity with her deep involvement in Sound Transit's system expansion program, bringing more transit options to more people around the region and making sure any environmental impacts are mitigated.
I have learned through direct experience that including ALL people with Diverse Abilities makes life better in so many ways including business and business opportunities.
Louther is the subject of this month's Inside Sound Transit feature, where we introduce you to the people working to make it easier to get to where you live, work and play.
Disability employment awareness is also important to Louther, a founding member of Sound Transit's employee resource network for Diverse Abilities.
"I joined because of my desire for Sound Transit to embrace hiring people with developmental disabilities in a supported employment role and to support parents who have children with developmental disabilities," she said.
Her daughter Nora, who just turned 17 years earlier this month, has Down syndrome. "It is because of her that I have become an advocate for people with Diverse Abilities," Louther said.
Q: What do you tell your friends you do for work?
A: I tell them I work in the environmental field as a wetland biologist working at a transit agency. They usually ask "why does a transit agency need a biologist?" I say we are building new rights-of-way in areas that never had roads, so we need to find the wetlands, streams, and other critical areas to make sure our projects comply with all environmental laws and regulations.
Q: What’s your passion outside of your job?
A: Spending time with family and friends, getting outside as much as possible.
Q: What attracted you to work at Sound Transit?
A: The overall mission, and the desire to see a project all the way from beginning to end. Working as a consultant, I only got to see aspects of projects, and rarely got to see a project to fruition. At Sound Transit... I was at the grand opening of Central Link, which was amazing, and am still working on aspects of that alignment today. I am so looking forward to riding the trains when the Northgate, Lynnwood and East Link Extensions open in the near future.
Q: How do you get to work?
A: Right now, I walk (to my home office). But before COVID, I drove my car to the park and ride at Northgate Transit Center and rode the trusty King County Metro Route 41 – just about every day. Some days I would drive because of family commitments and child care drop off/pick up, but I loved taking the bus. When Northgate opens, I will be able to take light rail to work and that makes me SO happy.
Q: What three things would you take with you to a desert island (besides food and water)?
A: Well, my husband and I are fans of the History Channel Show “Alone” (it has been a guilty binge-watching pleasure during COVID). So I’d bring a machete, fire-starter and a good sleeping bag.