Dear Friend,

Welcome to the November edition of the Disability:IN Minnesota newsletter! This month is about gratitude and I want to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation for all of you actively engaged in creating more inclusive workplaces. Because of you, we make progress, and we make a difference. Thank you!

Last month, we observed National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), and our work of advancing disability inclusion continues into November and year-round. Yesterday, we hosted our November member meeting, “Creating a Trauma-Aware Workplace: Supporting Employees with PTSD.” Did you know that approximately 6 percent of the U.S. population will experience PTSD in their lifetime? This insightful conversation focused on the impacts of trauma and strategies for creating an inclusive and supportive work environment for survivors. We all have a role to play in breaking the stigma around mental health and making our workplaces more supportive for all employees.

In November, we also observe Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Diabetes Awareness Month, Epilepsy Awareness Month, Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and World Pneumonia Day on November 12, among many others. To view all disability awareness dates and observances, check out Disability:IN’s 2024 Calendar. 

Please mark your calendars and join us for our Virtual Celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3! This annual event celebrates a global initiative to promote the rights, dignity, and contributions of disabled people worldwide. This year's theme will explore “amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.” Participants we’ll hear insights from keynote speaker Aaron Golub, the first legally blind division one athlete to play in a game. Register for free today! 

Thank you for your ongoing dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive community. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay up-to-date with learning resources, upcoming events, and opportunities to support disability inclusion. Together, we are making a difference! 

Warm regards,

Jamie Rudolph

Disability:IN Minnesota Board Chair

ID: Headshot of Jamie Rudolph, a woman with long brunette hair. Jamie is wearing a maroon blazer and smiling at the camera.

2024 International Day of Persons with Disabilities Virtual Celebration

ID: Graphic reads "International Day of Persons with Disabilities Virtual Celebration" in blue and orange text against a white background. Blue and orange bubble icons appear below that read "Tuesday, December 3" and "12:00 PM CDT" in white text. "Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future" in blue text at the bottom of the image. To the right is a photo of Keynote Speaker Aaron Golub, a white man with short brown hair. Aaron is wearing a blue suite and tie and is smiling. Bright yellow lanterns hang in the background of the photo. There is an orange and blue decorative border below the photo. Decorative circles and a confetti ribbon across the poster. Disability:IN Minnesota's logo appears at the top of the image.

Join us virtually to celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) 2024!

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (CDT)

During this interactive session, participants will hear from keynote speaker Aaron Golub and explore themes of "amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future."

Thank you to our 2024 IDPWD event sponsors!

ID: Logos for Disability:IN Minnesota members and event sponsors, nVent, Minnesota Department of Transportation, and US Bank.

Want to sponsor the 2024 IDPWD event?

Invest in disability inclusion today! There are a variety of benefits to sponsoring the 2024 International Day of Persons with Disabilities Event, including recognition during the event, on Disability:IN Minnesota's webpage, on social media, and more. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for the 2024 Virtual Celebration, please contact us at info@di-mn.org.

ID: Graphic depicts an overview of 2024 International Day of Persons with Disabilities Virtual Celebration Sponsorship Benefits by membership level. Benefits include Sponsorship logo on event home slide; sponsor name on Disability:IN MN website; Sponsor logo on Disability:IN MN homepage; Sponsorship logo on event agenda; Social Media sponsor recognition tag; Sponsor logo on virtual background in main room; Five minute welcome at event.

2025 Career Connections Mentoring Program

ID: Graphic reads 2025 Career Connections Mentoring Program in white and blue text against a yellow background. To the left is a photo of a Black man wearing headphones waving hello to someone on a virtual meeting on his laptop. In the top left corner is a circular graphic that reads "Mentee" at the top and "Mentor" at the bottom in dark blue text in front of a green background. A white USB charging cable connects the two words in the center of the graphic.

The application period for the 2025 Career Connections Program will open on November 18 for both mentors and mentees. Learn more about the program and stay tuned for more details on the 2025 cohort coming soon!

Questions about any of our events? Contact us at info@di-mn.org.

Thank you for joining the Disability:IN Minnesota Membership!

Thank you for renewing your membership!

ID: Logos for Disability:IN Minnesota members: Room & Board (new), MSS, Rise, and VAA (renewing)

Calling all Disability:IN Minnesota Members

We want to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to respond to this short membership survey to help inform our programming for 2025. We appreciate your time and feedback.

QR code for the 2024-2025 Membership survey https://forms.office.com/r/iYhBsHtQFW

ACT NOW: Register for the 2025 DEI Index!

The Disability Equality Index covers Culture & Leadership, Enterprise-Wide Access, Employment Practices, Community Engagement, Supplier Diversity and Responsible Procurement (unweighted). Each company participating in the index receives a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion.” The Disability Equality Index was created in 2015 in collaboration with AAPD.

The Disability Equality Index remains the premier global benchmark for disability inclusion policies, trusted by over 70% of Fortune 100 companies and nearly half of Fortune 500 companies. The benchmark now spans eight countries, providing comprehensive insights into workplace disability inclusion practices worldwide.

ID: Graphic reads DEI in bright green text against a dark blue background. Below the banner reads "Best Places to work for disability inclusion" in white text.

November

• November 18, Career Connections Mentoring Program 2025 applications open

December

• December 3, 12:00 - 1:30 PM, "International Day of Persons with Disabilities Celebration" with Keynote speaker Aaron Golub
• December 27, Career Connections Mentoring Program 2025 applications open

Expanding your event to include Disability:IN Minnesota members can increase visibility of your company's disability inclusion efforts and offer learning opportunities to members at varying points in their journey. Contact us today to add your disability inclusion event to our calendar!

Disability:IN Minnesota is an employer-led endeavor that promotes best practices that enhance employment and career opportunities for skilled individuals who have a disability.

Our members are committed to disability-inclusive hiring practices and love to share best practices and ideas for recruiting, hiring, on-boarding and supporting candidates and employees with disabilities.

Learn more about our organization and benefits or contact us today.

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