Disability Business News
You Need to Know
March 2021
|
|
Meet Our New Advisory Board Members
Disability Leaders in the News
|
|
Director of Judicial Education, George Mason University and Former Director of OFCCP
joins the
Disability:IN DC Metro Advisory Board
Craig E. Leen is an experienced attorney, senior executive and academic, who has served in government at the federal, county, and municipal levels, as well as in the private sector. He most recently served as the Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) in the U.S. Department of Labor, after previously serving as Deputy Director and Senior Advisor.
Craig was a very active Director, known for his transparency and engagement with the stakeholder community, with numerous directives, rulemakings, information collections, enforcement programs, and compliance assistance resources issued by the agency during his tenure. Craig is also well-recognized as a strong advocate and resource on disability inclusion initiatives, with the Section 503 focused review program he championed winning a Secretary’s Honor Award from the U.S. Department of Labor.
Indeed, Craig received three Worker Protection Awards from the Department of Labor in November as part of the Secretary’s Honor Awards, including one for the Section 503 focused review program. In addition, he also received an award from the AAAED in October for his work supporting disability inclusion.
Craig is a Professorial Lecturer in Law at The George Washington School of Law, and a Member of the Board of Directors for Circa. Craig also is on the Faculty of The Institute for Workplace Equality. He has also previously taught on the adjunct law faculties at Florida International University and the University of Miami.
Join the ASK CRAIG webinar sessions from CIRCA.
|
|
CEO, iYellow Group, TCS Interpreting
joins the
Disability:IN DC Metro Advisory Board
Jessica Moseley, M.A., SHRM-CP, NIC, a CODA, is a social entrepreneur passionate about ensuring accessibility in the workplace. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at iYellow Group, whose mission is to ensure equitable access for all. iYellow Group is made up of TCS Access, TCS Interpreting and iYellow Captions. Jessica has been featured in Kiplinger, Forbes, Inc. Magazine and Success Magazine and was recognized by the Washington Business Journal in the 2017 class of Women Who Mean Business. She serves as a Regional and Local Board Member of Entrepreneur's Organization and Deaf in Government. She is an active mentor and coach to hearing and Deaf Entrepreneurs and is a frequent judge for pitch competitions. Jessica received her Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Marymount University and dual Bachelor’s degrees from James Madison University in Communication Sciences and Human Resource Management.
|
|
RECENT BOARD MEMBER CAREER MOVES
CONGRATULATIONS
|
|
Crosby Cromwell, Valuable 500 |
|
|
Congratulations to Board Advisor, Crosby Cromwell
Valuable 500
Crosby is Leading Partnerships for the Valuable 500, responsible for developing and supporting the community of 500 global companies committed to disability inclusion. She is also leading Inclusive Research & Community Development in the Americas for Open Inclusion a customer insights firm based in London, focused on inclusion and accessible customer insights.
|
|
Congratulations to Board Member Dan Ellerman, MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Director, Global Inclusion and Diversity at Mars
Dan has served as chair and has been a DC Metro board member for more than seven years. He is a a true leader in global disability inclusion.
|
|
Congratulations to Tom Downs, Booz Allen Hamilton
Diversity and Military Talent Acquisition Lead
Tom has served on our Board for several years and has a strong commitment to veterans.
Learn about Booz Allen's decades-long commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how the firm is working to lead by example in ensuring fairness and the advancement of equity in the business and across our communities.
|
|
Congratulations to Michelle Crabtree SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Town of Vienna, VA Government
Human Resources Director
Michelle has been a DC Metro Board member since 2012. She is an exemplary HR professional!
|
|
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!
|
|
2021 DC Metro Webinar Schedule |
|
Annual Federal Updates
ODEP, EEOC, OFCCP
Hosted by General Dynamics Mission Systems
March 25, 2021
2:00-4:00 pm ET
Once registered, you will receive a link to log into the webinar a few days prior.
The Disability:IN DC Metro Program Calendar kicks off 2021 with a welcome by our Former Board Chair, Andrea Hall, Senior Manager, Diversity and Inclusion, General Dynamics Mission Systems, followed by key presentations.
OFCCP: Director Jenny Yang
ODEP: Deputy Secretary Jennifer Sheehy
Lou Orslene, Director, Employer and Workforce Policy Team
Renee Tajudeen, Director, Policy Communications and Outreach
EEOC: Commissioner Andrea Lucas
Registration Opening Soon for these April events!
April 29
Autism and LatinX Intersectionality
Hosted by General Dynamics IT
April TBD
Moving Forward to Leadership
|
|
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
|
|
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!
|
|
Disability Leaders
IN THE NEWS
|
|
The Hon. Kathy Martinez
Named as CEO
Disability Rights Advocates
For the last three decades my focus has been to improve social and economic justice for people with disabilities, especially concerning women and people of color. It is truly an honor to be a part of the next chapter with the amazing staff and partners at Disability Rights Advocates.
With offices in California and New York, Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) is the leading national nonprofit disability rights legal center. Its mission is to advance equal rights and opportunity for people with all types of disabilities nationwide.
|
|
New Leadership at TCSAccess
Jessica Moseley, CEO of iYellow Group is excited to announce the appointment of Matt Belcher as President of TCSAccess. Matt joined TCSAccess in 2011 and has worked tirelessly to raise the bar in the field of Assistive Technology.
Matt has served as member of the Franklin/Southampton Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors, and as mentor in his community schools. When Matt is not raising the Assistive Technology bar, he is raising the bar in BBQing as an avid pitmaster and BBQ enthusiast. Matt graduated from Radford University and majored in Business Administration. He lives in the Greater DC area with his wife and their two children.
There are exciting changes taking place at TCSAccess in 2021. TCSAccess joins TCS Interpreting, iYellow Captions and iYellow Managed Services as the iYellow Group. The iYellow Group is committed to advancing equitable access for the Blind and Low Vision and Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities.
|
|
IN THE NEWS - Articles of Interest |
|
OFCCP ANNUAL REPORT
Message from Our New Board Advisor
As former OFCCP Director Craig Leen is pleased to have designed the award-winning Section 503 Focused Review Program with our disability inclusion partners at the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). We highly encourage contractors to review this report and reach out to OFCCP and ODEP to seek compliance assistance and subject matter expertise in the area of Section 503 compliance and disability inclusion. The Section 503 Focused Review Program is dedicated to achieving the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of employment. Individuals with disabilities make up approximately 25 percent of the population and deserve full inclusion. It is essential that our country uses the skills and talents of all workers, including individuals with disabilities.
|
|
Biden Pandemic Strategy
Puts Focus On People With Disabilities
As President Joe Biden introduces a coordinated federal approach to address the COVID-19 pandemic, he’s turning attention to the virus’ impact on people with disabilities.
Biden laid out a broad 200-page plan and signed a slew of executive orders late last week to increase access to vaccines, require masks in certain settings and implement a host of other moves in the face of a raging pandemic. Among the many changes he announced are several aimed at curtailing the coronavirus’ outsized impact on the disability community.
|
|
Message from OFCCP Director Jenny Yang
The newly-appointed director of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) posted a message outlining some of her goals for the future work of the office. OFCCP helps federal contractors and subcontractors comply with anti-discrimination laws and regulations. "I look forward to working with each of you as we continue the journey of tackling inequality and advancing fairness and dignity for all in the workplace," said Yang.
Director Yang will be presenting at DC Metro's Annual Federal Updates Webinar March 25.
|
|
OFCCP Updates Supply & Service Scheduling List
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) is announcing changes allowing it to more thoroughly evaluate contractors through the strategic allocation of limited agency resources.
On September 11, 2020, OFCCP published Release 1 of its fiscal year (FY) 2020 Supply and Service Scheduling List. This list was comprised of 2,250 evaluations: 500 compliance reviews (which include establishment-based reviews, Corporate Management Compliance Evaluation (CMCE) reviews, Functional Affirmative Action Program (FAAP) reviews, and university reviews); 500 accommodation focused reviews; 500 promotions focused reviews; 250 Section 503 focused reviews; and 500 compliance checks.
OFCCP recently has amended this list by removing all establishments selected to receive focused reviews and compliance checks. The evaluations that will proceed include establishment-based compliance reviews, CMCE reviews, FAAP reviews, and university compliance reviews. An amended Corporate Scheduling Announcement List (CSAL) and amended methodology have been posted on the agency website.
In taking this approach, OFCCP will build on the successes and lessons learned from the Section 503 and VEVRAA Focused Review program to strengthen the enforcement of its laws protecting people with disabilities and veterans during comprehensive compliance evaluations.
|
|
There's Still Time to Apply for the 2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Award
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that its Veterans' Employment and Training Service is accepting applications for the 2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Award, presented annually to employers that meet standards for excellence in the recruitment, hiring and retention of America’s military veterans.
|
|
Persons with a Disability – Labor Force Characteristics 2020
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released "Persons with a Disability – Labor Force Characteristics 2020." The data, collected as part of the Current Population Survey, show that in 2020, 17.9 percent of persons with a disability were employed, down from 19.3 percent in 2019. For persons without a disability, 61.8 percent were employed in 2020, down from 66.3 percent in the prior year. The unemployment rates for persons with and without a disability increased from 2019 to 2020, to 12.6 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively. Data on both groups for 2020 reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to contain it.
|
|
Melwood’s 2021 Ability Awards
Calling for Nominations!
.
Melwood is calling for nominations of outstanding employers, researchers, policymakers, organizations and individuals who are working to advance the field of employment for people with disabilities and injured veterans:
-
Melwood’s Accelerator Award celebrates individuals, programs, and/or organizations that are paving the way for ADA 2.0 by innovating and pushing boundaries towards the goal of a fully inclusive, neurodiverse workforce.
-
Melwood’s Advocacy Award recognizes individuals, programs, and/or organizations whose advocacy has had a substantial impact on the employment rights of people with disabilities.
-
Melwood’s Impact Award honors individuals, programs and/or organizations that have achieved extraordinary outcomes related to neurodiversity and employment.
-
Melwood’s Resiliency Award recognizes a person or organization that had the commitment and was successful at providing services, assistance, and/or accommodations to individuals with disabilities or injured veterans during the COVID-19 crisis.
You may nominate yourself or others for the 2021 Melwood Ability Awards. The judges panel includes key representatives from Marymount University, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, Dominion Energy, Prince George’s County, Kaiser Permanente, NFP | The Meltzer Group, and the Special Olympics. Awards Criteria. The deadline for nominations is July 1, 2021. Submit your nomination.
Plan to join us virtually on Thursday, October 7, 2021 for a lively celebration of the people and organizations who are impacting, accelerating, and advocating for people with disabilities and injured veterans in the areas of employment. Melwood will award the Advocacy, Accelerator, Impact, and Resiliency awards, recognizing the outstanding individuals, employers, researchers, policymakers, and innovative companies that have advanced the field of employment for individuals with disabilities and injured veterans. The awards ceremony will feature members of Congress, Biden Administration officials, notable figures in the fields of disability advocacy and employment and, of course, the finalists and winners of Melwood’s 2021 Ability Awards. During the formal program, the audience will also have a chance to participate in a silent auction packed with exciting art, travel, and entertainment packages. After the formal program, guests can go to various interactive rooms for social mixing and networking. Sponsorships Additional details can be found on our website.
|
|
ODEP at 20: Driving Change through Accessible Technology
Nathan Cunningham, a policy advisor in the Office of Disability Employment Policy, posted a blog on "ODEP at 20: Driving Change through Accessible Technology." Cunningham, who has low vision, discusses how accessible technology, including emerging technology, plays a vital role in allowing employees with disabilities to succeed in the workplace. He outlines ODEP's policy priorities to ensure that technology tools are accessible to all as part of the future of work. "Full inclusion means employees with disabilities can access a range of necessary supports to excel and help their teams and businesses succeed," said Cunningham. "Technology is one such support."
|
|
NDEAM 2021
Your Input is Desired!
As many of you know, Renee serves as Director, Policy Communication and Outreach at U.S. Department of Labor; Office of Disability Employment Policy and has presented annually to the DC Metro chapter. She will do so again at our Federal Updates webinar. Every year, she and her team are charged with the creation of a communications tool celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month. She is seeking employer input for themes for this year's NDEAM.
Please contact Renee to share your thoughts!!
|
|
NEW JAN BLOGS
The Job Accommodation Network has published two new blogs. In the first blog, Linda Carter Batiste, JAN Principal Consultant and Legislative Specialist, provides questions and answers on "Requesting and Negotiating Accommodations During the Pandemic." The second blog, "A Conversation with Julia Martensson of Specialisterne," presents an interview between JAN Lead Consultant Melanie Whetzel and Julia Martensson, Senior Talent Acquisition Manager of Specialisterne. They discuss Specialisterne's employment programs for individuals with autism and other members of the neurodivergent community.
|
|
Events In The DC Metro Area and Beyond |
|
nTIDE Lunch & Learn
Season 6, Episode 33
March 5, 2021 12:00 PM Eastern Time
Description
• 12:00 pm: Overview of National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) Jobs Report Release – Andrew Houtenville, UNH-IOD & John O'Neill, Kessler Foundation
• 12:15 pm: News from the field of Disability Employment – Denise Rozell, AUCD
• 12:30 pm: Guest Panelist - Betty Siegel, The Kennedy Center for the Arts
• 12:45 pm: Open Question & Answer period for attendees
|
|
March 9, 2021
2:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. CT / 12:00 p.m. MT / 11:00 a.m. PT
Presented by RespectAbility in Partnership with
Helen Keller Services & Doug Roland Films
RespectAbility Board Member Delbert Whetter sits down with the team behind “Feeling Through” which is currently on the Academy Awards’ shortlist for Best Live Action Short. In “Feeling Through,” a late-night encounter on a New York City street leads to a profound connection between a teen-in-need and a DeafBlind man. Authentically cast in that role is actor Robert Tarango, who is the first deafblind lead in a film ever.
Join us in conversation with writer/director/producer Doug Roland, producer and CEO of Helen Keller Services, Sue Ruzenski, and co-lead actor Robert Tarango. ASL interpreters and Live captioning will be provided.
|
|
Mental Health and Wellness
in the Workplace
Thursday, March 11, 2021
2:00 PM to 03:00 PM
Now more than ever, companies are prioritizing mental health and wellbeing. Creating a workplace culture that supports all employees is a good business practice, especially given the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Join the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) and Merck to find out how to “bring your A game” to cultivate a culture of resilience and wellness throughout your organization. As an industry leader in disability inclusion, Merck will share successful approaches to wellness and proven business practices from the Mind Well program that replaces the silence and stigma associated with mental health with acceptance and compassion. EARN will discuss resources from the Mental Health Toolkit that highlight the four “A’s” of a mental health-friendly workplace: awareness, accommodations, assistance, and access.
In partnership with the National Industry Liaison Group, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), and EARN will share employment expertise and effective employer practices on mental health and wellness in the workplace.
Speakers:
- Diana Gulick, Associate Director, Benefits and Wellbeing, Merck
- Nakisha Pugh, Senior Policy Advisor, ODEP
|
|
Do's and Don't in Accommodating Deaf Employees
March 11, 2021
1pm - 2 pm
|
|
NBDC Office Hours
Let's Discuss: Digital Accessibility- Reducing Liability
March 16, 2021
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
Featuring The Viscardi Center’s Digital Accessibility Team
Michael Caprara, CIO, and Jim Corporal, Account Executive
This session will focus on making the world more inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities. The discussion will assist you with helping your organization meet evolving industry standards and making sure customers, students and employees with disabilities get the most out of your digital media – website, documents, videos.
During this Office Hours, we'll explore:
- The experiences of people with sight, hearing and mobility disabilities when they use, or can’t access, technology.
- The rise of digital accessibility lawsuits and how you can reduce your company’s risk.
- Cost effective solutions to make your website accessible and ensure Section 508 and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance.
- How to make events and meetings inclusive for all - inside and outside of your organization.
- Simple steps to take to build digital accessibility into the framework of your organization.
Come with an open mind and your questions, as we will have time for Q&A.
There is no fee to join us, but you must register.
|
|
A Life Like Yours" Benefit Breakfast Registration
March 25, 2021
8:00-8:30 am
Join the Arc of Northern Virginia to raise critical funding required to provide information, education, direct support services, and advocacy to meet the needs of the 39,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities of all ages and their families in Northern Virginia.
|
|
Deaf Entrepreneurship Network
Innovate and Adapt
April 9-10, 2021
The conference is open to anyone who may or may not have their own businesses. All presenters will share their resources, knowledges, and experiences in American Sign Language.
Deaf Entrepreneurship Network Inc was founded in 2016 to fulfill the need for Deaf entrepreneurs to connect, collaborate, nurture, and network ideas among like-minded entrepreneurs, investors, and the community at large with full access to American Sign Language. We are a startup community dedicated to educating, inspiring, empowering, and connecting Deaf and hard of hearing entrepreneurs with resources needed to launch or grow their business. To accomplish this, we actively partner with different individuals, programs, and organizations to help aspiring and current entrepreneurs to accomplish their goals.
|
|
Save the Dates!
Date: June 7 – 10, 2021
2:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. CT / 12:00 p.m. MT / 11:00 a.m. PT
Duration: 2 hours each day
You are invited to join RespectAbility for four days of fantastic sessions that prepare people with disabilities and the disability community for a better future.
These events will be free and fully accessible, with an ASL interpreter and live captions. Transcripts of each event will be posted following the presentations as well. Each event will also be recorded and shared with open captions.
|
|
Now Virtual
JULY 12 - JULY 15, 2021
|
|
NILG 2021 National Conference!
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
|
|
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 Board
Board Members:
- John Annand, Marriott International
- Jennifer Bassett, Secretary, JBG SMITH Companies
- Michelle Crabtree, Town of Vienna
- Ellen de Bremond, Treasurer
- Anjali Desai-Margolin, Gallaudet University
- Tom Downs, Booz Allen Hamilton
- Dan Ellerman, Mars
- 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 Martin, MAXAR Technologies
- Jamel Walker, Northrop Grumman
- Ryan Walters, Deloitte
- Myra Wilder, BAE Systems
Advisory Board Members:
- Orly Barbosa, Sandy Spring Bank
- Meghan Cadigan, KPMG
- Crosby Cromwell, The Valuable 500
- Ron Drach, Drach Consulting, LLC
- Rikki Epstein, The Arc of Northern VA
- Sylvia Henri-Wonasue, Lockheed Martin
- Karen Herson, Concepts, Inc.
- Craig Leen, GMU Scalia Law, Former OFCCP Director
- Jessica Moseley, IYellow Group
- Cynthia Richardson-Crooks, DC BLN Founding Chair
- Rick Rodgers, The Resource Network
- Kia Silver-Hodge, Enterprise Community Partners
- Bob Vetere, C5 Consulting, LLC
- Sue Werber, C5 Consulting, LLC
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
