Aerial View of Washington DC
Disability Business News
You Need to Know
October 2020
Sophie Howard
We can and must do better as individuals
and as a nation.

"While the foundation of our mission is built around disability inclusion, we advocate for inclusion for all. We believe in the strength of our community, now more than ever and together we stand firm in solidarity against the undeniable injustice and inequality in this country and the resulting fear, pain, and frustration that continues to surround us."
Sophie Howard, GDIT, Chair DI DC Metro
The DC Metro is proud to recognize our community partners during NDEAM. We recently asked them to participate in webinars so they could tell their stories on how they have been continuing to support individuals with disabilities and their families during the pandemic.
Their collaborative support in our mutual journey of inclusion is so appreciated.
It takes all of us to make this journey successful.
Please check out the YouTube videos below and consider making a financial contribution to show your support!
Featuring Our Community Partners

Join us for our 4th Quarter
"In This Together" Campaign

PRIME DAY
You can make a difference while you shop Amazon Prime Day deals on October 13 & 14.
Simply shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/41-2220656 or with AmazonSmile ON in the Amazon Shopping app and AmazonSmile donates to D:IN DC Metro

In these ongoing unprecedented times, non-profits face the situation of limited funding. The DC Metro Chapter is no different. As we continue to provide education and resources with the newsletters and free virtual programming, your support is needed now more than ever. Please consider a donation to support our mission in support of our monthly efforts! As most of us are shopping virtually these, days, please shop on Amazon Smile- Especially on Prime Day!!
Our Mission
“Building the Business Network for Disability Inclusion.”

Our Vision
“Cultivate workforces and workplaces where talent with disabilities are recruited, included, promoted, retained and valued as both internal talent and innovative vendors.”

Follow Us on LinkedIN and YouTube
Upcoming DC Metro Webinar Sessions
Deloitte

Celebrating NDEAM
October 2020

"Supporting the Mental Health Needs of Your Employees"


World Mental Health Day is October 10.
2020 has introduced unprecedented change into our daily lives.According to the WHO, the vast majority of countries are experiencing disruptions in mental health resource availability. As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever for employers to discuss the mental health needs of their workforce and support their employees in navigating this change.

Join us to hear from leaders at Deloitte on Deloitte's perspective on mental health and a panel of experts from Deloitte, the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) and the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) who will answer common questions employers may have regarding mental health programs and policies.
Keynote Speaker
Amy Smith
Amy Smith
GPS Talent & Inclusion Leader, National Consulting Disability Inclusion Leader, Managing Director (Ops Transformation)
Amy Smith is the Government & Public Services (GPS) Talent & Inclusion Leader, National Consulting Disability Inclusion Leader and a Managing Director in Ops Transformation, part of our Core Business Operations offering portfolio. In her capacities as GPS Talent & Inclusion Leader and National Consulting Disability Inclusion Leader, Amy works closely with GPS and National leadership to enable our business priorities, drive towards Deloitte’s diversity and inclusion goals, and manage the talent experience for 16,000+ GPS practitioners and 50,000+ Consulting practitioners across the country. Whether empowering our GPS and Consulting leaders to be inclusion advocates through formal training programs on unconscious bias or driving strategic workforce planning and Future of Work sessions, Amy leads the development and implementation of initiatives aimed at making GPS and Deloitte Consulting the #1 talent experience in professional services.
Dan Pelton
Dan Pelton, Ph.D,
Clinical Psychologist, Deloitte GPS Mental Health Advisor
Dan is a board-certified clinical psychologist and Mental Health Advisor for Deloitte’s Government and Public Service (GPS) Practice where he provides consultation services to Deloitte for mental health programs, initiatives, and risk related issues. Dan routinely partners with executive leadership to
understand the mental health needs of teams and accounts, and then designs and delivers workshops on topics ranging from general stress management for small teams, to how to curate resilience and high performance across an organization for large accounts. In addition to direct mental
health work, Dan also regularly conducts executive coaching sessions, including a variety of 360 assessment and 1-1 feedback sessions with diverse sets of leaders internal and external to the firm.
Melanie Whetzel
Melanie Whetzel, M.A., CBIS
Lead Consultant, Cognitive / Neurological Team
Melanie is a consultant on JAN's Cognitive / Neurological Team.
Melanie holds a Master of Arts degree in Special Education, a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and has earned sixty hours above masters’ level. Her post-graduate work has been primarily focused on special education. She most recently completed a graduate certification in Career Planning and Placement for Youth in Transition. As a member of the Cognitive / Neurological Team, Melanie specializes in learning disabilities, mental impairments, developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and brain injuries. She presents nationally on topics ranging from mental health impairments to conduct and performance issues, learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, brain injuries, and more. Melanie became a certified brain injury specialist in December 2014.
Louis Orslene
Louis Orslene, MPIA, MSW
Director for the Employer and Workplace Policy Team
Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor
Lou leads the Employer Team which examines the policy issues and barriers facing employers as they seek to recruit, hire, retain, and advance individuals with disabilities in the workplace. Prior to joining ODEP, Lou served as a Disability Policy Advisor supporting the Department of Defense Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Lou has also served as the Co-Director of the Department of Labor’s Job Accommodation Network (JAN). He has extensive knowledge of workplace accommodations, Title 1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended in 2008 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Lou has more than 20 years of experience developing and implementing disability-related public sector initiatives and 15 years of experience providing customized training to private industry, public agencies and nonprofit organizations. 
Lynn Clements
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

"Focus on Disability:
What All Employers Can Learn From OFCCP’s Section 503"


Lynn Clements, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Berkshire Associates

We had a huge turn out for our September webinar! If you missed it check out the recording below.

Membership

Support Us through your Membership
Be Recognized for your Leadership Brand


Annual Membership

Corporate - $2,000
Gold - $3,000
Diamond - $5,000
Platinum - $10,000
Non-Profit - $750
Small Business - $800
Government - $2,300
Individual - $200
Introductory Corporate Friends - $600


For any questions, please contact Katherine McCary
Katherine McCary
The Hon. Katherine McCary
Board Members:
  • John Annand, Marriott International
  • Jennifer Bassett, Secretary, JBG SMITH Companies
  • Michelle Crabtree, Hyatt
  • Ellen de Bremond, Treasurer
  • Anjali Desai-Margolin, Gallaudet University
  • Tom Downs, Gartner
  • Dan Ellerman
  • Andrea Hall, Past Chair, General Dynamics Mission Systems
  • Sophie Howard, Chair, General Dynamics IT
  • Eduardo Meza-Etienne, eSSENTIAL Accessibility
  • Chrisonna Palmer, Vice Chair, EY
  • Carrie Schroeder, PwC
  • Jamel Walker, Northrop Grumman
  • Ryan Walters, Deloitte
  • Myra Wilder, BAE Systems

Advisory Board Members:
  • Orly Barbosa, Sandy Spring Bank
  • Meghan Cadigan, KPMG
  • Crosby Cromwell
  • Ron Drach, Drach Consulting, LLC
  • Rikki Epstein, The Arc of Northern VA
  • Sylvia Henri-Wonasue, Lockheed Martin
  • Karen Herson, Concepts, Inc.
  • Bryan Moseley, TCS Associates
  • Cynthia Richardson-Crooks, DC BLN Founding Chair
  • Rick Rodgers, The Resource Network
  • Kia Silver-Hodge, C5 Consulting, LLC
  • Bob Vetere, C5 Consulting, LLC
  • Sue Werber, C5 Consulting, LLC
Virginia Ability. Building inclusive workplaces



Get Involved in the Greater Richmond Area
The 2020 Virginia Ability "Virtual" Forum
October 27, 2020
 Recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness and focusing on Increasing Access and Opportunity.

Forum registration and information will be available soon!

Virginia Ability is a business-to-business association focused on building inclusive communities and cultures through disability diversity in the workplace
We provide straightforward solutions to help businesses build distinctively inclusive cultures that are accessible for all employees.
Together we have the Ability to make the workplace work for everyone.

Office of Disability Employment Policy





What can YOU do to celebrate NDEAM?

2020 October NDEAM
Increasing Access and Opportunity

There are lots of ways!
To get started, see our 31 Days of NDEAM slideshow or our ideas for:
The official 2020 NDEAM poster features that theme and is available for download in English and Spanish or mail order at no cost.
2020 NDEAM poster Increasing access and opportunity
SHOPPING FROM HOME?
Click the logo to support the Disability:IN DC Metro
COVID-19 Resources
As the leading regional business on disability inclusion, it seems critical to provide our readers with important information on COVID 19 in our newsletter.
The Harkin Institute



The coronavirus carries unique risks for high-risk individuals including the elderly and people with disabilities. The Harkin Institute is gathering resources specifically helpful for these groups. Do you have resources we should add to this list and promote through our social media channels?

Americans with disabilities are adding valuable insight to the conversation surrounding this pandemic. Here are just a few of those stories. 
You can follow along using the hashtags
 #HighRiskCovid19#COVID19Chat and #CripTheVote on Twitter.
Department of Labor United States of America



The guidance was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).
The document provides practical guidance for preventing the spread of COVID-19, also known as novel coronavirus, and contains information on safe work practices and appropriate personal protective equipment based on the risk level of exposure.
“Protecting the health and safety of America’s workforce is a key component of this Administration’s comprehensive approach to combating the coronavirus,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt. “This guidance outlines practical ways that employers and workers can address potential health risks from the coronavirus in their workplaces.”
This guidance is part of the Department of Labor’s ongoing efforts to educate the workers and employers about the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • In addition to the guidance, OSHA recently launched a COVID-19 webpage that provides infection prevention information specifically for workers and employers, and is actively reviewing and responding to any complaints regarding workplace protection from novel coronavirus, as well as conducting outreach activities.
  • The Wage and Hour Division is providing information on common issues employers and employees face when responding to COVID-19, including effects on wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act and job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
  • The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs has also published guidance for federal employees and outlines Federal Employees’ Compensation Act coverage as it relates to the novel coronavirus.
For further information about Coronavirus, please visit the HHS’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

Have additional resources? Contact us.

Transcen Inc. Career and development engagement
TransCen has organized some updated and additional resources that you might find helpful.


World Institute on Disability Operationalizing Inclusion & Global Disability Rights Since 1983
WID Resources for People with Disabilities in Emergencies & Disasters


The rights of people with disabilities do not disappear in times of crisis.  While disasters, emergencies, and other crisis scenarios often require sacrifices, the rights and lives of disabled people do not need to be one of them.

Access to resources in disaster is especially important for people with disabilities, who are disproportionately impacted by emergencies and disasters. Here are some resources we recommend for people with disabilities, organizations, and emergency planning and response managers:


DisabilityIN Your business partner for disability inclusion




The coronavirus and COVID-19 crisis impact the disability community in ways that are both universal and unique. This is also true across industries. On this page, you’ll find industry-specific resources from peer-to-peer calls and knowledge sharing amongst our Corporate Partners.




Coronavirus (COVID-19) related workplace issues vary widely. JAN does not provide public health, safety, or legal advice, but does offer Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance assistance and practical job accommodation strategies for returning individuals with disabilities to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. These strategies can enable workers with disabilities to return to the work environment, work at home, or access leave when other accommodations are not reasonable.

JAN Resources

Employers should refer to COVID-19 related technical assistance guidance provided by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) when making disability-related inquiries or requiring medical examinations, analyzing direct threat and safety issues, and engaging in the interactive process under the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), and other relevant federal laws enforced by the EEOC. 
IN THE NEWS - Articles of Interest
The Arc
Announcing our new 
Strategic Framework for the Future of The Arc
This new framework will guide our advocacy, programs, and more as we meet the challenges and opportunities of the future head on.
Our framework represents two years of listening, planning, and thinking about the future we want to help build—plus thousands of thoughts and dreams from people just like you. You may have even taken our stakeholder survey—if you did, thank you!

To understand how we arrived at our new Strategic Framework, we want to share a summary of the insights gained from this survey.
World Institute on Disability Operationalizing Inclusion & Global Disability Rights Since 1983
Global Alliance for Disaster Resource Acceleration
Global Alliance for Disability Resources Acceleration (GADRA)

What do 633 disability leaders from 29 countries spanning six out of seven continents have in common? 100% believe that organizations led by people with disabilities are left out of disaster relief funding from foundations, corporations and governments. When disability-led organizations are left out of funding and planning, people with disabilities are left without the support they need to maintain their health, safety independence, dignity and even their lives. This has already resulted in high death rates for people with disabilities in all disasters – including COVID-19.

That is why World Institute on Disability (WID), the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (the Partnership), and ONG Inclusiva have joined forces to form the Global Alliance for Disability Resource Acceleration (Global Alliance or GADRA) as a “Call-to-Action” to galvanize disability-led organizations, foundations, corporations, and other allies to identify needs and link partners to accelerate assistance and resources, both during and after disasters.
“People with disabilities are 2-4 times more likely than others to be injured or die in disasters, primarily due to inadequate community-wide planning and access to emergency and disaster assistance. The Global Alliance is a direct response to COVID-19, which is impacting multiply-marginalized people with disabilities even more disproportionately than other disasters, with devastating outcomes,” stated Marcie Roth, CEO of WID. “The Global Alliance is also being built as a resource for rapid response to disasters that will surely follow.” Forbes contributor Stephen Frost reported on the critical need for the Global Alliance in his Deadly Discrimination: The Forgotten Impact of COVID-19 on People with Disabilities article.

GADRA Founders Circle membership is still available through the end of 2020.
DisabilityIN Your business partner for disability inclusion
2021 Inclusion Awards Nominations Now Open!

The 2021 Disability:IN Inclusion Award winners are recognized as visionary brands and individuals that are advancing disability inclusion. Disability:IN is pleased to recognize these award winners during the 2021 Disability:IN Annual Conference & Expo, taking place July 12-15 in Las Vegas.
Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion Advancing Workforce Diversity
MyAbilities Network@Comcast

A new employer success story on EARN’s website highlights Comcast Corporation’s commitment to building a workforce that reflects its customers by actively recruiting, hiring, advancing, and retaining people with disabilities. This includes support for its disability-focused employee resource group (ERG), MyAbilities Network@Comcast. To measure the progress of its disability inclusion efforts, Comcast subsidiary NBCUniversal also launched an initiative to encourage employees with disabilities to self-identify Read the Comcast Story
Judge Orders White House to
Include Sign Language in COVID Briefings

The Trump administration may have violated federal law by not including American Sign Language interpretation in televised briefings on the coronavirus pandemic, a federal judge in Washington ruled Wednesday. 
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg granted temporary relief that will require the White House to include in-frame ASL interpretation, already adopted by the governors of all 50 states in their Covid-19 video broadcasts, pending final judgment in the case. 

The judge found “there is little debate” that deaf Americans would suffer irreparable harm — the threshold to warrant injunctive relief — if denied timely access to critical information on the pandemic. 
At no point did the White House argue that providing an ASL interpreter to guarantee access would be too burdensome, the Obama appointee wrote in a 25-page opinionRead the entire article.

Mental health days.
Meeting-free times.
Companies are adding new benefits to help workers cope.

A few months into working remotely, Jamie Coakley noticed a worrisome trend at her company: 70% of employees had not taken more than two days off since the beginning of the year."We were going to run into a brick wall pretty soon," said Coakley, vice president of people at IT solutions company Electric.
The company changed to a flexible vacation policy, but that still wasn't enough. Employees were working longer hours, having a hard time disconnecting from work and felt perpetually behind.
So Electric announced over the summer that the entire company would close on the first Friday of every month for a mental health and wellness day.
Giving everybody the day off means the work doesn't pile up while you're off and it eliminates the fear of missing out on something.
With everything going on this year, mental health has become a major focus for employers, and some companies are increasing their offerings to help their workers stay healthy amid so much uncertainty.

Events In The DC Metro Area and Beyond
Melwood Your Path Awaits
Why is unemployment so high for people with disabilities?
What can employers do to change this?
Thursday, October 8, 2020 1-2 PM
(This links to our event list. Scroll down, select this event and RSVP to receive the Zoom link.)

The discussions will focus on why neurodiversity in the workplace is good for business and how employers can reach, recruit and retail this talent. October marks the 75th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) so there is no better time to highlight these topics.
 
Earlier this year, Melwood teamed up with KPMG to answer two critical questions:
 
·     Diversity in the workplace is good for business* – so why is neurodiverse talent employed at a much lower rate than those of “typical” abilities?
 
·     And more importantly, how can businesses reach, recruit and retain this talent? 
 
KPMG and Melwood have collaborated to produce a model for connecting employers to neurodiverse talent based on Melwood’s successful pilot program for technology skills training and personal development support, abilIT.
 
This exciting collaboration came about as a response to a prize competition challenge posed by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Community Living (ACL) to the private sector. In Phase One of their prize competition, HHS selected five winners -- including the KPMG/Melwood proposal! Join us to hear from two prize competition winners covering the IT and manufacturing sectors and a third prize winner focusing on recruitment of candidates.
 
Panelists:
 
·     Scott Gibson, Senior Vice President for People and Programs, Melwood
·     Stan Keepes, Executive Director, The Arc of Southwest Indiana
·     Jhillika Yuman, Founder, Mentra
 
Moderator: Sean Hoffman, Partner, KPMG
 
This free event is part of the 2020 Neurodiverse Employment Summit as part of our larger, virtual conference series, the Neurodiverse Employment Conference: Breaking Workforce Barriers, which has two areas of focus:
 
1) the 3rd Annual JWOD Legal & Policy Symposium which addresses the AbilityOne contracting world, and
 
2) the 2020 Neurodiverse Employment Summit which covers employment in all sectors—public, private and AbilityOne.
 
Thanks to the generosity of our Title Sponsor, Truist, and other sponsors, we are offering all sixteen conference sessions for FREE. ASL and CART accommodations will be provided as well. SHRM credits are available. 
 
N I L G 2020 Virtual Conference Webinar Series
National Disability Mentoring Coalition

Hosting accessible and inclusive online meetings with
Allegra Heath-Stout

October 8, 2020 2-3 PM ET

Now that it’s clear online meetings will remain a big part of our reality, it’s a great time to make sure we’re doing all we can to make sure that our meetings create an accessible, welcoming environment for all participants. In recent months, many of us have had to quickly learn the ins and outs of online meetings, or adjust to having them much more frequently than ever before. This workshop will cover both technical aspects to consider to ensure access, and facilitation practices to support everyone’s participation. You will leave with concrete tips you can put into practice right away to make sure your meetings reflect your values.
Presenter
Allegra Heath-Stout (she/her) has served as Fellowship Director and Trainer at JOIN for Justice, the Jewish Organizing Institute and Network, since 2016. In this role, she trains and coaches Jewish young adults through the Jewish Organizing Fellowship, a year-long community organizing training program. Allegra has spearheaded the creation of the Empower Fellowship and the Access to Power Fellowship (application open now!), both dedicated to developing the leadership of Jewish young adults with disabilities.
Prior to coming to JOIN, Allegra organized low-income people with disabilities at Boston Center for Independent Living, fighting for access and equity in areas including housing, healthcare, and transportation. Allegra’s writing on disability identity and student activism has been published in Empowering Leadership: A Systems Change Guide for Autistic College Students and Those with Other DisabilitiesBarriers and Belonging: Personal Narratives of Disability, and Disability Studies Quarterly.

Free for NDMC members
$40 for non-members


respect ability

Ensuring Authentic Representation of Hispanic and Latinx Disabled People in the Entertainment Industry
Thursday, October 8, 2020
4:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. CT / 2:00 p.m. MT / 1:00 pm PT
Authentic representation of marginalized populations on screen is vitally important as what people view on screen influences how they act in real-life. This Hispanic Heritage Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we are proud to spotlight Hispanic and Latinx individuals with disabilities who are changing the landscape in the entertainment industry.
There will be live captions and an ASL interpreter. Read More


respect ability

Tuesday, October 13
 1:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. CT / 11:30 a.m. MT / 10:30 am PT
Register
Did you know that people with disabilities are significantly MORE likely to start their own businesses than people without disabilities? Self-employment can solve issues of transportation, flexible scheduling, and enable talented people with disabilities to both thrive and help their communities.
Our nation’s vocational rehabilitation (VR) system is a crucial means for getting people with disabilities into the workforce or back to work after acquiring a disability. They also have professionals and funding to support the creation of disability-owned businesses.
The Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) agency has had incredible success training their clients to become entrepreneurs. This free online webinar will share how they are doing it – and what ideas can help others succeed. 
6th Annual
Employer Recognition and Networking Event
October 14, 2020
4:00- 5:00 PM

KEYNOTE
Judy Heumann

Hosted By

Save the Date Successful Business Practices - State of the Science Conference
National Business and Disability Council at The Viscardi Center
Virtual Disability Inclusion Summit:
Moving from Awareness to Action!
October 21, 2020
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST


During the Summit, you and your team will learn practical skills for implementing disability inclusion within your organization.There's no cost to attend.

Topics Covered:
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • The Intersection of Race & Disability
  • Disability Inclusive Mentoring
  • Mental Health + Wellness
  • Disability Inclusive Virtual Recruiting
  • The ADA + COVID
  • An Action Plan to Get Started

Celebrate the Light Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
Light Virtual Anniversary Event

October 28, 2020 6:00 pm

Registration is open to come be a part of our 2020 Virtual 120th Year Anniversary Celebration with a special performance by piano protégé José André Montaño.

You can learn more about José's music at http://www.jose-andre.com/!
Attendance for the event is free; donations and sponsorships are encouraged.
The Arc
The ARC of US
2020 National Convention

October 26th - 28th


LEARN FROM THE BEST IN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY!
We look forward to you joining us for a dynamic online program. Please check back regularly for updates and program schedule.

The Arc’s National Convention is an unmatched opportunity to connect and learn with advocates, professionals, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families. If you are interested in employment, education, advocacy, housing, criminal justice, and more - our sessions are sure to challenge, inspire, and motivate!

Stay tuned and sign up for updates
Transcen Inc. Career and development engagement
Transcen Royal Virtual Edition 2020
2020 TransCen Royale
By TransCen, Inc. / CEO / WorkLink

Thursday, Oct 29, 2020 7:00 PM EDT

Join TransCen on October 29, 2020 for its virtual TransCen Royale Game Night! This will be an exciting night filled with games, presentations, and networking. We will celebrate TransCen’s 34th year of improving the lives of people with disabilities through meaningful work and community inclusion.

Or text to donate: "TCIROYALE2020" to 44-321
Please contact Donna Roberts droberts@transcen.org for more information!
Broadfutures a virtual night of celebration
Together Towards Tomorrow
A Virtual Night of Celebration and Support
Thursday, Oct 29, 2020
7:30 - 8:30 EST

Join BroadFutures as they present their first ever livestream event for a night of celebration and support! Hoping it will be fun, interactive, and a time for them to raise support for its programs. Tune in to hear from their CEO and staff, employer partners, parents, supporters, and of course, their amazing interns and participants! They will also be presenting their Champion Awards to the employer partner, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) as well as K.D. Harris, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Let’s Talk LD.

Gallaudet University.

2020 Fall Internship and Job Fair
November 6, 2020
Noon - 4:00 PM

Join us in connecting with deaf and hard of hearing students at Gallaudet University. Access information will be sent to those who register.
Contact Monica Garvin for more information.
The Harkin Institute



An Evening with Charlie Cook
November 30, 2020
The Harkin Institute is pleased to welcome renowned political analyst Charlie Cook back to his annual event, where he will share his analysis, insights and stories about the state of American politics.

The discussion will take place online on November 30, just weeks after one of the most highly-anticipated elections in American history.
Cook is a non-partisan political analyst for National Journal magazine and NBC news, editor and publisher of the Cook Political Report, co-author of the 2020 Almanac of American Politics, and member of The Harkin Institute’s National Advisory Council. He is widely regarded as one of the most astute, impartial analysts on the Washington political scene.
International Day of People with Disabilities
International Day of People with Disabilities

December 3, 2020

The Harking Summit
Harkin International Disability Employment Summit





2020 Harkin Summit
December 10-11, 2020
Washington, D.C.

“The unemployment rate among adult Americans with disabilities who want to work and can work is over 60 percent. That is a blot on our national character.” – Senator Tom Harkin in his farewell speech to the U.S. Senate.
2021 Dates to Save
DisabilityIN Your business partner for disability inclusion
Disability:IN Annual Conference & Engagement Expo 2021

JULY 12 - JULY 15, 2021
Las Vegas
N I L G 2021 National Conference Strike a Chord for Equality and Compliance
NILG 2021 National Conference! 
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
About Us
Our focus is on Culture Change!
Our organization, formerly the DC Metro Business Leadership Network, is the largest regional member network of a variety of industry employers advocating for inclusion of individuals with disabilities in today's workforce, marketplace and supply chain. A non-profit business-led network established in 2006, our purpose is to bring the business community together in a dialog through education, training and resources with a focus on removing attitudinal and organizational barriers by exchanging best practices to ensure that the inclusion of individuals with disabilities as smart business.

Our Members and Guests have access to resources, programs and partners to strengthen the disability inclusion efforts and outcomes.
  • Thought leadership
  • Business to business networking
  • Introductions to community partners
  • Access to talent
  • Hot topic programming led by Subject Matter Experts
  • Webinars

Join our

Follow us on

Our Staff
The Hon. Katherine McCary, President, C5 Consulting, LLC serves as CEO and Executive Director. Katherine served as founding chair of the USBLN (now Disability:IN) for nine years, the founding chair of the VA BLN (Now Virginia Ability) for 13 years and has launched more than 11 chapters. She received the USBLN Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. She recently joined GRACE Global Response and Collaborative Environment as Director of Inclusion.

C5 is a global disability inclusion strategy consultancy comprised exclusively of private sector disability leaders, experienced disability from a variety of areas; as individuals, as caregivers, and as parents of individuals with disabilities. With more than 50 years combined expertise and a deep knowledge of culture change developed through customized business strategies. C5 is the pioneer of disability inclusion "for business by business" with just in time training Disability Inclusion IQ designed for enterprise wide learning.