When people have the support they need to connect and contribute to their community, we are all better off. This is a key part of the Supported Employment program, that matches qualified job candidates with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) to employment opportunities within King County.  

The Supported Employment program at the City of Seattle officially launched in 1998 and has employed nearly 100  people since then. This program ensures that all supported employees receive job coaching  to assist with the application process, onboarding, training, retention and ongoing career growth. By doing so, the program enriches the workforce, and connects people in the program with a career path that meets their goals.  

We will be sharing the stories of five different employees with the program in a series highlighting this program and its impact.   

Alexander Hubbard, known as Fantasy A, has seamlessly balanced his creative pursuits as a rapper, filmmaker, and author with his role as a mailroom employee for Seattle City Light since 2022.

“Having a job is important because it makes me a good leader and helps me build a better future,” Alex says.

In his job, Alex has embraced leadership and professional growth opportunities. Alex began working for the City of Seattle through Seattle Public Utilities in 2018 where he completed both clerical and warehousing job tasks. When the opportunity came up for Alex to transfer to a different department and learn a new body of work in the mailroom at the City of Seattle’s main office, he was excited to utilize his skills in a new way while increasing his weekly work hours. In his time working in the mailroom, Alex mentors his coworkers and makes sure they feel welcomed and included, offering support and answering any questions they may have.  

His creativity extends beyond the office. With nearly $5,000 raised for his upcoming film, Crystal Ball (the follow up to Fantasy A Gets a Mattress (2023), Alex’s passion for filmmaking drives him to explore new ventures.

“I’ve experienced a lot of growth through my work,” he said, especially in leadership roles like being a co-chair on the Citywide supported employment advisory team. 

Alex also emphasizes the importance of safety procedures in the mailroom, a reflection of his keen sense of responsibility. His connections with coworkers offer both social fulfillment and professional growth.

Alex shares a contagious enthusiasm that extends to both his job and his artistic passions. 

“I bring positivity and creativity into everything I do,” he said,

At the 35th annual Developmental Disabilities and Delays Legislative Forum Nov. 21, one of the legislative priorities touched on the importance of programs like Supported Employment.

Employment and Inclusion: Protect opportunities for employment and meaningful inclusion in the community through increasing provider payments to strengthen staffing that would help avoid delays or interruptions in service access.

Read more about the priorities here.