Disability Business News
You Need to Know
January 2021
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Welcome to 2021!
On behalf of our Board Chair, Officers, Board Members and Advisory Members, we at Disability:IN DC Metro wish all of you a
Happier and Healthier New Year!
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Celebrating the Life of
Richard Thornburgh
The Arc of the US celebrates the life of Former Pennsylvania Governor and U.S. Attorney General Richard “Dick” Thornburgh, a champion in the disability rights movement who played a crucial role in the passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Mr. Thornburgh died last Thursday. He was 88.
Throughout his career, Mr. Thornburgh fought for equal rights for people with disabilities. He was instrumental in forever changing life for people with disabilities in the U.S. and helping to lay important groundwork that we continue to build upon today. The ADA advanced the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in many critical areas including employment, state and local government services, privately operated public accommodations such as hotels, restaurants, stores, museums, transportation, and telecommunications.
We are grateful for Mr. Thornburgh’s persistent advocacy in support of the ADA and bipartisan spirit demonstrated throughout the passage and subsequent implementation of the ADA. He helped so many understand the importance of empowering people with disabilities by removing barriers and through his leadership.
We send our deepest condolences to his wife Ginny Thornburgh, a lifelong advocate for people with disabilities, and the entire Thornburgh family.
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Did you miss the virtual 2020 Harkin International Disability Employment Summit: Realizing the Value of Inclusion?
Click the link below to watch the recording
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The Harkin Institute is working on refining the closed captions and transcript for this event and will have updated versions of each available in January. In the meantime, you can access a copy of the transcript here.
The live chat from the virtual Summit is also available upon request. Please contact Emily Schettler.
Help support future Harkin Summits, ongoing work in disability employment and other programming with a contribution to The Harkin Institute. You can make a gift here.
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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.”
"In This Together" Campaign Continues
Please Donate!
Shop Amazon Smile!
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!
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2021 DC Metro Webinar Schedule |
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We will be posting our first quarter 2021 Webinar Schedule SOON!
As we do each year, we are looking for host companies and suggested topics.
Please email Katherine to discuss becoming a webinar host!
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IN CASE YOU MISSED THESE PAST DC METRO SESSIONS
Our YouTube Channel
Thanks to our hosts, presenters, and attendees!
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Support Our Mission 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
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The Hon. Katherine McCary, CEO |
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Board Members:
- John Annand, Marriott International
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Jennifer Bassett, Secretary, JBG SMITH Companies
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Michelle Crabtree, Hyatt
- Ellen de Bremond, Treasurer
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Anjali Desai-Margolin, Gallaudet University
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Tom Downs, Booz Allen Hamilton
- Dan Ellerman
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Andrea Hall, Past Chair, General Dynamics Mission Systems
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Sophie Howard, Chair, General Dynamics IT
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Eduardo Meza-Etienne, eSSENTIAL Accessibility
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Chrisonna Palmer, Vice Chair, EY
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Carrie Schroeder, PwC
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Jamel Walker, Northrop Grumman
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Ryan Walters, Deloitte
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Myra Wilder, BAE Systems
Advisory Board Members:
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Orly Barbosa, Sandy Spring Bank
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Meghan Cadigan, KPMG
- Crosby Cromwell
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Ron Drach, Drach Consulting, LLC
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Rikki Epstein, The Arc of Northern VA
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Sylvia Henri-Wonasue, Lockheed Martin
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Karen Herson, Concepts, Inc.
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Cynthia Richardson-Crooks, DC BLN Founding Chair
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Rick Rodgers, The Resource Network
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Kia Silver-Hodge, C5 Consulting, LLC
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Bob Vetere, C5 Consulting, LLC
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Sue Werber, C5 Consulting, LLC
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Get Involved with our "Sister Organization"
in the Greater Richmond Area
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.
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COVID-19 Resources
NOW ON OUR WEBSITE!
As the leading regional business on disability inclusion, it seems critical to provide our employers with important information on COVID 19. Check out the listings on our website. Contact us if you have others to add!
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IN THE NEWS - Articles of Interest |
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HP Hardware Accessibility Testing Guide
Accessibility Program Manager
Working with customers, as well as groups within and outside of HP, I continue to learn more about the importance of hardware accessibility. I've seen how hardware accessibility builds inclusion and provides access to technology for everyone, including (but not limited to) people with disabilities.
One of my projects this year was creating the HP Hardware Accessibility Testing Guide. The guide is a collection of best practices that are used at HP to test the accessibility of our hardware. It is not a substitution or alternative to user testing, but when combined with user testing, provides more accessible hardware outcomes. It is built on our collective experience with hardware testing with people with disabilities throughout the product lifecycle.
In July 2020, the first version of the testing guide was released internally to HP employees. As part of HP's commitment to making products and services easier to access and simpler to use for people with disabilities and age-related limitations, we have chosen to publish the HP Hardware Accessibility Testing Guide publicly to be transparent with our customers about exactly how we test for accessibility and what goes into our accessibility conformance reports. We also welcome the opportunity to continue improving the guide. We hope its public release sparks a conversation with others about the best accessibility testing procedures to improve technology and benefit consumers universally.ew Award Criteria
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Registration for the
2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Program
is OPEN
Open January 1, employers like you will be able to register, or update your existing registration, to participate in the only federal award program that recognizes employers who recruit, employ, and retain veterans.
Recipients of the HIRE Vets Medallion Award are part of an elite group that is dedicated to investing in the professional development of our nation’s veterans. If this sounds like you, visit HireVets.gov to view requirements and see what past recipients have to say about the program.
The award program is open to employers of any size. There were 675 recognized in 2020 and we expect 2021 to be even bigger!
Whether this is your first time participating, or you have received the award in years past and want to demonstrate your continued commitment to America’s veterans, visit HireVets.gov for the most up-to-date information on registering and applying.View Award Criteria
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It's Time to Throw Your Hat in the Ring!
NILG 2021 National Conference
August 1st - 4th
The Program Committee is seeking speakers who will innovatively, directly, and effectively address topics involving affirmative action, diversity, equal employment opportunity, outreach to individuals with disabilities and veterans, and other areas of interest to conference attendees in keeping with our 2021 theme of Strike A Chord for Equality and Compliance.
Proposal Submission deadline is January 18, 2021.
Final program determinations will be made by February 15, 2021
Presenters will be notified via email about their submission status.
For additional information, questions, or concerns about the speaker protocol, please contact the NILG 2021 National Conference Program Committee at NILGConference@gmail.com.
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About the Conference
The NILG 2021 National Conference will be held at the Omni Nashville Hotel in Tennessee, adjacent to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the famed Ryman Auditorium, and walking distance to the famous Lower Broadway.
Nashville is one-of-a-kind, and we’re currently seeking new and innovative topics and fresh perspectives that match the vibe of the city.
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Presentation Topics
We strive to offer a balanced schedule of programs to address current and emerging topics in the equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, and regulatory compliance fields. Here are some sample categories:
Nuts and Bolts - The basic how to's
Application - Applying the material presented for day-to-day activities
Advanced - Theoretical, predictive, etc.
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Proposal Content
We are seeking presentations for both pre-conference and conference sessions. Presenters for pre-conference sessions should note that the NILG 2021 National Conference seeks to provide opportunities for attendees who are new to the equal opportunity/ affirmative action/government compliance field.
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We welcome new faces to our stage each year!
Our goal is to find the most effective speakers who can provide interesting, thought-provoking, valuable information to attendees. Dive in to submit to speak today, or discover more information about the proposal process
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by
Two plaintiffs have filed a nationwide class action complaint against Zoom Video Communications, Inc. for its alleged failure to make its conferencing services accessible to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The complaint alleges that the company’s policy of charging $200.00 per hour or more for captioning violates the ADA and prevents individuals with hearing disabilities from effectively using the conferencing service.
DECEMBER 21, 0
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ADA Brings
People With Disabilities Into Public Life
Interview:
WATCH NOD'S PRESIDENT ON SPECTRUM NEWS 1
NOD President Carol Glazer joined Spectrum News 1 to discuss the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act:
“Before the ADA, there were no curb cuts and people who had mental health or what was then called ‘mental retardation’ would be sent away to institutions. People with #disabilities weren’t seen. They were out of sight, out of mind. One of the things the ADA did is, it brought people with disabilities into public life,” Carol explains.
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EEOC Guidance on COVID-19
Vaccination Programs
This guidance, included in Section K, "Vaccinations," sets out the legal principles that apply under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), and other workplace laws to employer vaccination programs, both mandatory and voluntary.
The most frequent question received by EEOC so far is whether employers can require employees to get vaccinated for COVID-19, but as noted in the document, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Rather, this new guidance explains the many legal considerations that employers must take into account when developing vaccination policies.
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An Employer’s Guide To Implementing Disability Accommodations In 2021
Paula Morgan, Forbes Diversity & Inclusion Contributor
The economic crisis brought about by Covid-19 touched the lives of all Americans, but individuals with disabilities were faced with more challenges than most. About 1 million people with disabilities lost their jobs between March and August, and at 12.3% – the unemployment rate for the disability community is double the national rate of 6.2%.
The arrival of a Covid vaccine brings hope to many that life will return back to normal. But for individuals with disabilities, a return to any semblance of normal isn’t good enough. In order to improve working conditions for the disabled community, employers must begin 2021 with a plan for improving and creating more diverse and accessible workplaces.
Individuals with disabilities are often overlooked during the hiring process, but they are motivated and qualified to work in a variety of in-demand industries. Many employers incorrectly assume that hiring people with disabilities is complicated and expensive, but in reality, these concerns stem from common misconceptions around accommodations and people with disabilities in the workplace.
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Message from Lou Orslene
learning the various processes required of a new federal manager.
The Employer and Workforce Policy Team also continues to research and develop policy guidance regarding the impacts of COVID-19 on the employment of people with disabilities. In 2021, we plan to focus this research and guidance on the long-standing social inequities exposed by the pandemic. Over the next several months, we will engage with the eleven organizations comprising the Inclusion@Work Leadership Council and the federal partners of the Federal Exchange on Employment and Disability, among others, to better understand the issues and to propose policy solutions.
Please know that if you ever have suggestions for developing policy either at the enterprise or federal level, I am very much open to hear them. Let’s use this present crisis as an opportunity to leapfrog over the persistent employment barriers faced by people with disabilities towards that more inclusive future. Together we can not only recapture the steady pre-COVID job growth but also move more confidently forward in this new economy.
Again, I am grateful for our past collaborations and look forward to working with and learning from you in my new position.
Best to you for 2021.
Lou
Louis E. Orslene
Office of Disability Employment Policy
Director, Employer & Workplace Policy Team
U.S Department of Labor
200 Constitution Ave., NW, S-1303
Washington, DC 20210
Mobile: (724)-884-3041
Office: (202)-693-7928
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Future of Work Podcast
The Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology released an episode of its Future of Work podcast on "Building Neurodiverse Talent Pools." During the podcast, Jhillika Kumar, Founder, and CEO of Mentra, discusses creating meaningful career opportunities for the neurodiverse community.
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Research-to-Practice Tool
A new EARN “research-to-practice” tool, entitled Online Recruitment of and Outreach to People with Disabilities, summarizes strategies that can increase a company’s likelihood of attracting candidates with disabilities during the talent acquisition process. Distilled from a recent review of literature on the topic, these practices fall into four main categories—online messaging, outreach and recruitment, application processes and accessibility, and establishing partnerships to broaden talent pools. Access the research-to-practice tool.
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Events In The DC Metro Area and Beyond |
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Friday, January 8, 2021
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm (ET)
Online | Free
Join us for our monthly webinar detailing findings of the latest Jobs Report release, announcements from the disability employment field, and guest presenter David Jones, Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services
Agenda
- 12:00 pm: Overview of National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) Jobs Report Release with Andrew Houtenville, UNH-IOD and Elaine Katz, Kessler Foundation
- 12:10 pm: News from the field of Disability Employment with Denise Rozell, AUCD
- 12:25 pm: Guest Panelist David Jones, ACL
- 12:45 pm: Open Question & Answer period for attendees
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Webinar - The Future is Digital: How 2020 Transformed the Student Job Search for Good
January 14, 2021
10:00 AM PT | 12:00 PM CT | 01:00 PM ET
Can’t make the date?
Nearly one year into the pandemic and HR leaders have found themselves with a flock of unanswered questions. Are students excited about remote work? Do they miss attending on-campus events? What were they hoping to gain out of virtual fairs?
In Handshake's third annual Campus to Career report, we put a rest to these unsolved campus recruiting mysteries.
By attending this webcast, viewers will be able to:
- Hear how COVID-19 transformed the job search for millions of students;
- Discover the lessons learned about virtual recruiting from thousands of employers; and
- Learn reliable digital engagement strategies going into the spring.
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The National Business & Disability Council (NBDC)
at The Viscardi Center
presents
Office Hours
January 21, 2021
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
Featuring Susan Scott-Parker of Business Disability International
Although artificial intelligence is often marketed as an objective tool, AI-based hiring practices can be discriminatory towards people with disabilities and yet another barrier to securing employment. During this Office Hours, we'll explore:
- Applicant tracking systems (ATS) and whether or not they are equal for all applicants.
- Resume screeners and how these systems may not have been trained on data or writing styles of users with diverse cognitive and intellectual abilities.
- Facial analysis software assessment and how they may be discriminatory.
- Conversational agents, also known as chatbots.
Come with an open mind and your questions, as we will have time for Q&A.
Mark your calendar! NBDC’s Office Hours will take place the third Tuesday of each month, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET. Closed Captioning will be provided for every session.
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Partners for Youth with Disabilities, Inc.
By registering here you will gain access to both live sessions of these trainings, the training recordings, and all session materials.
$99 for non-members
Introduction to Disability & Inclusion
January 22nd, 1-3pm Eastern
This training provides an overall introduction to disability and inclusion, covering such topics as different ways of defining disability, what is ableism, inclusive language and etiquette, and how to be an ally. Learn disability inclusion best practices so you can become more understanding, accommodating, and comfortable in any situation working with or alongside people with disabilities.
Creating Inclusive & Accessible Events & Activities
January 29, 1-3pm Eastern
If you’re running a youth program or event, it’s important to proactively consider various inclusive design strategies during your planning efforts. This workshop will provide both practical tips and tools for designing inclusive activities. Participants will leave the session with an understanding of universal design principles, including how to modify or adapt existing activities and how to proactively design activities using inclusive strategies.
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Making the Connection:
Aging, Transportation and the ADA
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
2:00 - 3:30 PM Eastern
The webinar will focus on transportation and mobility options for seniors when driving is no longer possible. Topics will include the importance of mobility for social connections and health, the range of mobility options, role of caregivers, transportation accessibility, and ADA considerations. Information on finding community resources for transportation, role of mobility managers, assistance from aging services and Centers for Independent Living, will also be provided.
Speakers: Ken Thompson and Heather Edmonds, National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC)
- There is no charge to view this session.
- Real-time captions will be available.
Continuing Education Recognition
- Certificate of Participation / ADA Coordinator Training Certification Program (ACTCP) ($10 fee)
- Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) ($20 fee)
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Achieve Data-Driven
Higher Standards with the Tracker
Thursday, January 28, 12:30-1:30PM ET
All are welcome to join and learn about the redesigned Disability Employment Tracker and how it can be a game changer for your inclusion strategy. Find out why the Tracker is the nation’s top benchmarking tool.
We’ll also explore how Corporate Leadership Council members are outperforming their peers using the Tracker. This session is your chance to learn how to stay ahead of the competition.
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SAVE THE DATE!
BILG Meeting February 9, 2021
9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Happy New Year, BILG community,
We are excited to kick-off the new year with our first virtual meeting!
Christopher Durham and Meredith Gregston, Duane Morris LLP, will be presenting on Audit Best Practices. The event program will last from 9:30am-12:00pm Eastern on February 9, 2021. The BILG is seeking SHRM/HRCI credits for this presentation. Additionally, we will be inviting representatives with the OFCCP and EEOC to brief our members on agency updates.
Please save the date for this event. A full agenda, topic description, and registration link will be provided on January 19, 2021.
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Tuesday-Friday February 9-12, 2021
12:00 pm - 1:15 pm (Eastern)
We hope you will join us for our four-part virtual release of the Annual Disability Statistics Compendium on February 9-12, 2021, 12:00-1:15 pm. During this webinar series, experts will present three web-based tools (Compendium, Supplement, and State Report) that make finding and using disability statistics easier for individuals working on legislative and other matters relating to persons with disabilities.
Agenda
Day 1 – Release of the Annual Report, Compendium and State Reports
Day 2 – Updates on Federal Data Collection Efforts
Day 3 – Implications of COVID-19 for the Population with Disabilities
Day 4 – Intersectionality – Disability and Black/African Americans
(subject to change)
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JULY 12 - JULY 15, 2021
Las Vegas
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NILG 2021 National Conference!
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
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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.
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![[Open Captions] 2020 Harkin International Disability Employment Summit](https://web-extract.constantcontact.com/v1/thumbnail?url=https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ccj29d-EFWY/hqdefault.jpg)
