Disability Business News
You Need to Know
January 2020
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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
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*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
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Job Accommodations Network Academy
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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.
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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 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)
- Federal Updates
- Generational Inclusion
- Intersectionality
- Marketplace
- Mental Wellness/Health
- Recruiting and Hiring Mangers
- Self-ID
- Supplier Diversity
- Veterans
Program Host Opportunities
Are you looking for an opportunity to provide free training to your employees? Become a Program Host! (Limited 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, need an invoice or planning for next year's budget, 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
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Andrea Hall,
Chair
Diversity & Inclusion Sr. Manager
- General Dynamics Mission Systems
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The Hon. Katherine McCary
CEO, Executive Director
President
C5 Consulting, LLC
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Board Members:
- 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
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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)
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IN THE NEWS - Articles of Interest
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Workforce Recruitment Program
The 2020 Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) database is now available on a new website platform for employers seeking interns or employees with disabilities. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense, WRP is the premier resource of qualified college students and recent graduates with disabilities from more than 325 colleges and universities nationwide. Anyone with a federal email address can access the database of 1,850 students by signing up as an employer at
www.wrp.gov
. Every candidate is eligible for federal hiring under
Schedule A
, and the database is searchable so employers can find job candidates with the specific skills they require. Employers in the private and nonprofit sectors can gain access to the WRP candidate database by emailing
askearn@cornell.edu
.
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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.
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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.
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Honoring the Employers who Hire our Nation's Heroes
Registration for the 2020 HIRE Vets Medallion Program opened January 1st, employers like you will be able to register 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.
More than 400
were recognized in 2019, and we expect 2020 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.
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ANA Legal & Regulatory Free Webinar: The Rise in ADA Accessibility Problems
Tuesday January 14, 2020 at 1 pm EST
This webinar will cover how the Americans with Disabilities Act is impacting businesses that interact with customers online and how companies can mitigate risk by creating inclusive web, mobile, and product experiences through digital accessibility testing.
Speakers
Simon Dermer
Chief Executive Officer
eSSENTIAL Accessibility Inc.
Eve Hill
Partner
Brown Goldstein Levy, LLP
Jack Mazzara
Counsel, Advertising, Marketing and Promotion
FCA U.S. LLC
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WEBINAR: "Best Practices for Ensuring a Disability Inclusive Culture"
Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 1pm ET
Organizations that master disability inclusion develop a culture that supports professional development, employee engagement and has the full buy-in of senior executives. These employers have learned that diversity includes individuals and veterans with disabilities, and have benefitted from the talents, skills and abilities they offer.
Join NBDC on Thursday, January 16th, 2020 at 1:00 PM ET for our webinar, "Best Practices for Ensuring a Disability Inclusive Culture," presented by Kevin M. Fitzpatrick, Senior Compliance Manager - Employment Law Team, PEPSICO. Kevin oversees the dozens of Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) audits currently under review where he regularly receives notices of compliance in these efforts.
During the session, participants will learn best practices and implementable strategies for creating a disability inclusive culture, including:
- Encouraging self-identification
- Inclusive recruitment and interview processes
- Proactive accommodation procedures
-
***
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).
***
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Free Webinar -
Stand Up and Be Counted: Strategies to Increase Self-Identification
Jan 16 1-2 pm EST
T
oday, employers across the U.S. are recognizing the value of a workforce inclusive of people with disabilities and using a variety of innovative strategies to bring them on board. The primary method for measuring success and identifying opportunities for improvement is to invite applicants and employees to self-identify as having a disability. 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.
Join us to
:
Presenters
:
- Robert Gaglione, Deputy Director, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
- Jennifer Sheehy, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Disability Employment Policy
- Tina Williams, Deputy Director, Division of Program Operations, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
- Michael Murray, Director, Employer Policy, Office of Disability Employment Policy
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Save the Date!
We hope you will join us for the Release of the Annual Disability Statistics Compendium on February 11, 2020 in Washington, DC.
The agenda is being developed. Participate in person or online. Watch for a link to register in the fall!
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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!
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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)
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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.
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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
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.
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