Disability Business News
You Need to Know
February 2020
|
|
ADA30: Increasing Access and Opportunity
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—landmark legislation that works to increase access and opportunity for people with disabilities in all aspects of community life, including employment.
At the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), they have launched a
yearlong celebration of the ADA
. Centered around the theme of "Increasing Access and Opportunity," ADA30 commemoration activities will include events, speeches, and new compliance assistance resources. The ADA's anniversary will serve as a key component of the National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) observance in October 2020.
ODEP is committed to delivering on the promise of the ADA, for not only today's workers with disabilities but also future generations. This includes helping employers of all sizes to ensure their workforce policies and practices are inclusive and welcome the talents of people with disabilities. ODEP resources are available to provide this assistance. These include:
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) also offers guidance on the employment provisions of the ADA, with specific resources available for small businesses. Its publication titled
The Americans with Disabilities Act: A Primer for Small Businesses
is an easy-to-read overview of the ADA's basic employment provisions as they relate to employees and job applicants. In addition, small businesses can contact one of
EEOC's Small Business Liaisons
for one-on-one compliance assistance on the laws the agency enforces.
Whether your business is large or small, well-established or just starting up, we hope you will join us in celebrating ADA30—and help advance its promise to increase access and opportunity for people with disabilities in our nation's workplaces.
|
|
Are you looking for proven ways to increase your organization’s disability inclusion?
the local best-practice business resource for you!
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.”
2020 Program Calendar
" FEDERAL UPDATES From OFCCP, ODEP. EEOC"
General Dynamics Mission Systems
12450 Fair Lakes Circle, Fairfax VA 22033
March 4, 2020
8:30 AM – 12:00PM
"Innovative Approaches to Increasing Self-ID"
7575 Colshire Drive, McLean VA 22102
April 7, 2020
8:30 AM – 12:00PM
2020 Programming Opportunities
We are hard at work planning for our 2020 monthly programs and webinars. The Board is currently considering the topics below and we would like your input! Please contact
Katherine McCary
with your comments.
- All Day Forum: Culture Change and Disability Inclusion
- Autism and Neuro Diversity
- Assistive Technology, Accessibility, Accommodations
- Branding for Inclusion
- Caregivers as Employees
- College Recruitment
- Community Partnership
- Covering and Self Disclosure
- Customer Service
- Employee/Business Resource Groups (ERG/BRG
- Generational Inclusion
- Intersectionality
- Marketplace
- Mental Wellness/Health
- Recruiting and Hiring Mangers
- Supplier Diversity
- Veterans
Program Host Opportunities
Are you looking for an opportunity to provide free training to your employees? Become a Program Host! (Exclusive to Business members). Choose your topic or suggest another hot topic on disability inclusion. Contact
Katherine McCary
for more information on how to support your internal education, maximize your disability-focused ERG, educate your senior leaders!
Member Renewals
Need to Renew Your Membership?
If you need to know your renewal date or need an invoice, contact
Katherine McCary.
Become a Member- Annual Membership
All local employees are members.
- Corporate - $2,000: TWO Program Passes per event.
Additional Registrations: $65
- Gold - $3,000: THREE Program Passes per event.
Additional Registrations: $65
- Diamond - $5,000: FIVE Program Passes per event.
Additional Registrations: $65
- Platinum - $10,000: Unlimited Program Registration
- Non-Profit - $750: ONE Program Pass per event.
Additional Registrations: $65
- Small Business - $800: ONE Program Pass per event.
Additional Registrations: $65
- Government - $2,300: Unlimited Program Registration
|
|
 |
Andrea Hall,
Chair
Diversity & Inclusion Sr. Manager
- General Dynamics Mission Systems
|
|
|
|
The Hon. Katherine McCary
CEO, Executive Director
President
C5 Consulting, LLC
|
|
|
|
Board Members:
- John Annand, Marriott International
- Jennifer Bassett, JBG SMITH Companies
- Michelle Crabtree, Hyatt
- Ellen DeBremond, Treasurer
- Anjali Desai-Margolin, Gallaudet University
- Tom Downs, Gartner
- Dan Ellerman, Boeing
- Andrea Hall, Chair, General Dynamics Mission Systems
- Sophie Howard, Vice Chair, General Dynamics IT
- Charlesiah Mclean, Leidos
- Eduardo Meza-Etienne, eSSENTIAL Accessibility
- Chrisonna Palmer, Secretary, EY
- Carrie Schroeder, PwC
- Jamel Walker, Northrop Grumman
- Myra Wilder, BAE Systems
- Emily Yee, Deloitte
Advisory Board Members:
- Orly Barbosa, Sandy Spring Bank
- Meghan Cadigan, KPMG
- Ron Drach, Drach Consulting, LLC
- Rikki Epstein, The Arc of Northern VA
- Sylvia Henri-Wonasue, Lockheed Martin
- Karen Herson, Concepts Communication
- Bryan Moseley, TCS Associates
- Rick Rodgers, The Resource Network
- Kia Silver-Hodge, C5 Consulting, LLC
- Bob Vetere, C5 Consulting, LLC
- Sue Werber, C5 Consulting, LLC
|
|
Support Us by shopping on Amazon Smile
Did you know that when you shop using this link
AmazonSmile donates to
Disability:IN DC Metro
?
(T/A District of Columbia Business Leadership Network)
|
|
IN THE NEWS - Articles of Interest
|
|
Welcome to our newest Board Member! John Annand, Marriott International
At the January 2020 Board meeting, the board approved the addition of John Annand, who serves as Director, HR Compliance at Marriott International. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing compliance with employment-based laws and regulations, including equal employment opportunity and affirmative action requirements.
John’s broad experience in the labor and employment space includes time spent working in the government, corporate, and non-profit sectors, as well as in private legal practice. He has served as a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Department of Labor; as Senior Counsel at the Center for Workplace Compliance (formerly the Equal Employment Advisory Council); and as an attorney at Littler Mendelson, P.C. and NT Lakis, LLP, where he represented employers in government investigations, trained HR practitioners and other lawyers on compliance obligations, and provided advice and counsel on a range of topics.
John received a J.D. from William & Mary Law School, and a B.A. from Duke University.
Please join us in welcoming him!
|
|
Introducing the Class of 2019 of the
Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame
|
|
ADA Website Accessibility Requirements and Guidelines
People with disabilities are all around us. They live in every country and often differently experience life compared to people who don’t have emotional, mental, or physical disabilities. Around 15 percent of the global population is classified as disabled. Of this 15 percent, an estimated 190 million people experience significant disabilities.
The sheer number of people who have disabilities is one of the reasons that the
Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) passed in 1990.² As its name suggests, the ADA is designed to protect individuals with disabilities in the United States. The ADA makes it illegal for any government entity or business to provide goods and services to the general public without ensuring that the entities are accessible by people with disabilities.
In today’s digitally driven world, many businesses fail to follow web accessibility best practices. The rules of the ADA apply to more than physical locations: it also includes websites.
What organizations are covered under the ADA?
The ADA applies to a wide range of organizations, including:
- State and local governments.
- Public accommodations, such as businesses and non-profit organizations that serve the public and are fall under “Title III Regulations.”
- Other Title III of the ADA Regulations, including restaurants, theaters, and schools.
|
|
|
New Tool Helps Employers Increase Disability Self-Identification
The National Industry Liaison Group (NILG) is pleased to announce the release of a new resource for employers:
Engaging Employees to Measure Success: Innovative Approaches to Encouraging Self-Identification of Disability
, which will help federal contractors and others take steps towards increasing disability inclusion. This resource, jointly developed by NILG and the U.S. Department of Labor-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN), provides federal contractors and other employers with key strategies to encourage self-identification and build inclusive workplaces. It also features examples of innovative approaches businesses have taken to increase self-identification rates among their employees, as well as ways companies can track progress.
Self-identification can be challenging for federal contractors who are required to collect disability self-identification data as part of their affirmative action programs under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. While the resulting data helps assess progress toward disability inclusion goals, it is important that companies understand the importance of self-identification in a broader context. Self-identification is not solely about compliance or achieving certain numbers or percentages. Rather, the very act of inviting applicants and employees to self-identify conveys a company’s commitment to a workforce inclusive of diverse perspectives and skills. In short, a strong self-identification program can encourage employees to bring their “whole selves” to work and thus is an essential component of a workplace that is truly inclusive.
By providing resources and engaging in various partnerships, NILG leads the way in helping federal contractors build inclusive workplaces for people with disabilities. One partnership that is especially influential in this effort is an Alliance with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). This partnership enables NILG to work with ODEP to develop and implement model policies and initiatives that help employers recruit, hire, advance, and retain workers with disabilities. ODEP and NILG work together to reach out to, educate, and lead the nation’s employers, employees, and organizations in advancing disability employment.
|
The Administration for Community Living invites businesses to compete for cash prizes to help them expand their recruiting and retention programs to better include workers with disabilities and to recognize their leadership in addressing this critical economic issue. Through this Challenge, ACL seeks innovative models that can be shared to help businesses across the country reach a wider talent pool and to create more opportunities for employment for people with disabilities.
The Problem
: A diversified workplace is good for the bottom line. Research shows that firms that employ and support workers with disabilities have 28% higher revenue and 30% higher profit margins than peer businesses that do not. Inclusive employers report higher overall employee morale and higher retention rates of workers with disabilities. Research also reveals that people with disabilities are healthier and happier when they have the opportunity to work.
Hiring and retaining workers with disabilities is good for everyone
.
And businesses want to diversify their workforce, but don’t always know how to create talent pipelines that include people with disabilities.
The Challenge
: ACL believes that businesses are best suited to develop innovative solutions – that work for employers – for hiring and retaining workers with disabilities. There will be three phases of the competition with cash prizes awarded at each phase. The cash prizes will serve as seed money to help them refine, develop, test, and implement their initial concepts.
The Grand Prize is $100,000. All winners will receive travel to Washington, D.C., mentorship from experts in the field, and promotion of their business innovation models. Participating businesses will receive feedback on their proposals and permission to use the “Administration for Community Living Inclusive Talent Pipeline Partner” logo.
The Deadline
: Submit a proposal by February 14, 2020.
|
|
|
|
PAVE Connect: A new virtual employment service
By Domenick Lasorsa
In recent years, Paralyzed Veterans of America’s employment program, PAVE: Paving Access for Veterans Employment, has observed that traditional hiring and employment fairs are ineffective for many PAVE clients — the overlooked and undervalued veteran workforce. Veterans with disabilities, especially those who are significantly injured or ill, are less likely to attend large public events with crowds or in locations that are not easily accessible. Thus, PVA created PAVE Connect, a virtual employment initiative with timely and relevant career information.
PAVE Connect is designed to bridge the gap by reaching veterans, caregivers and spouses, when and where they need it. The program provides members of the veteran community the opportunity to interact with employers and employment experts, as well as access to an online, on demand library of recorded presentations. The goal is for veterans and their families to discover a wide range of meaningful education, volunteer, and employment resources and opportunities.
Employers will also be a large part of this virtual program. PAVE Connect will allow recruiters the opportunity to interact with small groups of engaged veterans about opportunities at their companies. Employers will be able to promote career paths from the convenience of their office with no travel or expenses. The hope is that employers will gain as much as they give. PVA staff have observed that there is pertinent information that some employers lack on the topics of accommodations and veterans with disabilities. PAVE Connect allows us to educate them on how to employee veterans with significant disabilities, while they provide clients with opportunities for success. It’s a win-win situation for veterans and employers, and in return for PVA.
PAVE Connect will effectively address the unemployment and underemployment of veterans. Failing to support veterans employment robs society of the valuable skills and strong work ethic of the veteran population. Lack of employment or regular engagement in activities can lead to increased risk of depression, low self-esteem and other health issues negatively impacting veterans and their families.
The Americans with Disabilities Act National Network states that 57% of disabled veterans reported concerns that they face discrimination during the hiring process because of their disability. The reality of ill-informed employers coupled with veteran’s uncertainty of how to access quality assistance can create more stress in the job search process. The combination of engaging employers and veterans can help to alleviate some of this stress via education and partnerships.
PAVE Connect provides veterans and their families with the support needed to avoid discrimination and remedy the underemployment and unemployment of veterans.
|
|
Save the Date for February nTIDE Lunch & Learn Webinar
Friday February 7, 2020 at 12 Noon EST
Join nTIDe for their monthly webinar detailing findings of the latest Jobs Report release, announcements from the disability employment field, and special guest presentations.
Agenda
12:00 pm: Introduction and Welcome, Andrew Houtenville, University of New Hampshire
12:05 pm: Overview of National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) Jobs Report Release
John O'Neill, Kessler Foundation
12:10 pm: Announcements from the Field of Disability Employment Denise Rozell, Director of Policy Innovation, AUCD
12:20 pm: Guest Presenters: Richard Petty, Director IL-NET Training and Technical Assistance Center; Director, National Center for Aging and Disability; Co-Director, ILRU; Assistant Professor, UT McGovern Medical School Seth Hoderewski & Joe Michener, Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (Allentown, PA)
12:50 pm: Open Question and Answer Period for Attendees
|
|
Save the Date!
February 11, 2020
Holiday Inn Washington - Capitol
550 C Street NW
Washington, DC
|
|
WEBINAR: "Digital Accessibility Fundamentals for Websites, Documents, and Videos"
Thursday, February 27, 2020 at 1pm ET
Join NBDC, in conversation with industry experts from
The Viscardi Center
and
ACS
, as we explore the fundamentals of digital accessibility. Panelists will provide an overview of the three core components of digital accessibility: website accessibility, document accessibility/document remediation, and video content. This webinar will focus on how accessibility can be implemented across the span of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and how it ultimately impacts people across the spectrum of ability.
During the session, participants will learn:
- Basic requirements for digital accessibility
- Legal requirements for different organizations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- How we make websites, digital documents and video content accessible
- Tips on where to start making your digital assets accessible
This webinar will be focusing on digital accessibility at a rudimentary level and will be beneficial for most people interested in understanding accessibility, regardless of background or previous knowledge. Professionals in the following functions would find this webinar beneficial:
- Web Masters and Marketing
- Software/Web Development and IT
- Human Resources and Recruitment
- Vendor Sourcing and Procurement
- Risk Management and Compliance
- Attorneys and Legal Counsel
***
This event is approved for 1.0 HR general recertification credit hour through the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) and Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
***
|
|
Internship and Job Fair Information for Employers
Gallaudet University's Spring 2020 Internship & Job Fair
Friday, March 6, 2020
11 AM - 3 PM
Field House Gymnasium
The Career Center is excited to announce the Spring 2020 Internship and Job Fair! Participating in this event will provide employers with opportunities to recruit from hundreds of eager and qualified candidates, add to diversity recruitment strategies, and increase or maintain visibility at the world's only university in which all programs and services are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students.
|
|
2020 AAPD Leadership Awards Gala
March 10, 2020
Washington Hilton
1919 Connecticut Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20009
The AAPD Leadership Awards Gala provides a unique opportunity for AAPD’s partners, supporters, and colleagues to show their support of disability rights and inclusion for all Americans with disabilities, while bringing together the disability community with business and government leaders for one night each year.
Join us as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of AAPD and 30 years since the passing of the ADA. The annual AAPD Leadership Awards Gala will take place on March 10th at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC.
Special guests and awardees will be announced soon!
|
|
The 2nd Annual Digital Accessibility Legal Summit
Updates, Best Practices & Core‑Concept Training
Thursday, April 23, 2020
American University Washington College of Law
Washington, DC
The main summit on the 23rd is a full day of current-issue talks from leading experts in the legal and accessibility fields, together with networking opportunities:
- Deepa Goraya (Disability Rights Maryland)
- Prof. Robert Dinerstein, (Washington College of Law)
- Marcie Lipsitt (Education Advocate)
- Pina D'Intino (Aequum Global Access)
- Karen Peltz Strauss, Esq. (Accessibility Legal Consultant)
- Minh N. Vu (Seyfarth Shaw, LLP)
- Eve Hill (Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP)
- Karl Groves (Tenon)
- Jon Avila (Level Access)
- Jennifer Chadwick (Siteimprove)
- Deborah Ruh (Ruh Global)
An optional one day course is offered on Wednesday April 22: "Organizational Risk Assessments and Risk Mitigation Tools":
- Dr. Chris M. Law (Accessibility Track)
- Pina D'Intino (Aequum Global Access)
An optional half day workshop is offered on Friday April 24: "Guidelines for Legal and Accessibility professionals":
- Tim Elder (TRE Legal Practice)
- Kristina Launey (Seyfarth Shaw, LLP)
|
|
Disability:IN 2020 Annual Conference
Registration Now Open!
Early Bird Deadline:
February 14, 2020
Regular:
June 12, 2020
Late & Onsite Registration:
Disability:IN Conference registration fees will increase on June 13, 2020. The cost for all attendees, regardless of organization type, will be $1,500
Registration Pricing
|
|
*3-Day Package WITHOUT Inclusion Awards Dinner Includes: Conference breakfasts, lunches and receptions.
*3-Day Package WITH Inclusion Awards Dinner Includes: Conference breakfasts, lunches, receptions and the Inclusion Awards Dinner.
Disability:IN Corporate Partners: Please reach out to
Mackenzie@DisabilityIN.org
with any questions regarding your partnership or COMP codes.
Exhibitor Pricing
|
|
Job Accommodations Network Academy
|
|
Conference Hotel
Make sure to reserve your room at our host hotel, the Ritz Carlton and JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, FL, using the link below to get the best price. Accessible rooms are also available, on a first come, first serve basis, information on booking accessible rooms is on our website.
|
|
Lights! Camera! Access! (LCA)
Coming to Baltimore Fall 2020
LCA is designed for aspiring media professionals with disabilities who want to explore careers in all forms of media and technology.
LCA regional career exploration summits are designed for aspiring media professionals with disabilities who want to explore careers in all forms of media and technology.
Are you, or someone you know…a media employer looking for aspiring
filmmakers, storytellers, video game developers, writers, performers,
directors, editors, musicians, dancers, or animators with a disability?
Are you, or someone you know… a college student, recent graduate,
transitioning youth or Veteran with a disability?
LCA is coming to Baltimore to empower aspiring media professionals
- television
- film and documentaries
- advertising
- news
- theatre
- interactive, including video games
LCA is designed for college students, recent graduates, transitioning youth and Veterans with disabilities. We are planning to produce LCA Baltimore next September or October.
LCA Objectives:
Increase
employment of people with disabilities in front of/behind the camera
Improve
disability images
Increase
accessible media with captions and audio descriptions
For context, check out
TV Guide
coverage of BBDO-hosted
LCA NYC:
This is NOT a job fair – LCA is a Career Exploration Summit
We have produced Lights! Camera! Access! (LCA) San Diego Career Exploration Summit with 24 talented aspiring media professionals with disabilities meeting BBDO ad agency, Cox Media, ABC News 10, La Jolla Playhouse, National Disability Theatre, creators of the Amazon Prime show ABLE, and others.
|
|
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
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.
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. W
ith 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
