Kristen Mackey on the New AZ Office of Employment First
For years, state agencies, providers, employers, educators, advocates, job seekers, families, and community partners have worked together to expand opportunities for competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities. With support through the Arizona Employment First Initiative, Vocational Rehabilitation has been a leader in bringing partners together on this journey.
Kristen Mackey, Administrator of the AZ Rehabilitation Services Administration
“True systems transformation doesn't happen overnight, system change is a long-term journey fueled by perseverance, a shared purpose, and a commitment to collaboration. The launch of the Arizona Office of Employment First is a testament to the dedication of everyone who kept pushing forward to make this vision a reality.
As the Administrator of Vocational Rehabilitation, I am thrilled that our team has been a part of this journey all along and I invite fellow system partners to join us. By aligning our resources across agencies, we aren't just connecting individuals to jobs; we are building a unified ecosystem where competitive, integrated employment is the expectation, not the exception. Real success requires our collective expertise and resources. The Arizona Office of Employment First provides the framework to operationalize the principles of Employment First to maximize the talent of every Arizonan with a disability. We will continue to share our progress in strengthening partnerships, influencing policy and systems, providing training and technical assistance, and engaging with our communities to integrate Employment First into all systems, programs, communities, and resources across Arizona. Please join us on this journey to make competitive integrated employment a reality for everyone” (Mackey, 2026).
We will continue to share our progress in strengthening partnerships, influencing policy and systems, providing training and technical assistance, and engaging with our communities to integrate Employment First into all systems, programs, communities, and resources across Arizona. Please join us on this journey to make competitive integrated employment a reality for everyone.