Disability Business News
You Need to Know
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Disability:IN DC Metro has STILL MORE WOW for you!
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Wealth of Webinars
Check out our 2022 offerings by signing up at
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Autism Acceptance Month
Perspectives on Neurodiversity and DEIA
(Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility)
April 5, 2022 12:00 - 1:30 PM ET
In honor of World Autism Month in April, Disability:IN DC Metro and K&L Gates are hosting a webinar discussion among leaders in the neurodiversity and autism at work fields. The goal of the discussion is to help attendees learn more about autism and neurodiversity, how workplaces can most effectively accommodate and support employees who are neurodivergent and/or on the spectrum, and developing neurodiversity and autism at work programs.
As part of the focus on autism acceptance and awareness, panelists will discuss common misconceptions about autism and neurodiversity, along with constructive approaches to providing accommodations and support. More generally, panelists will discuss DEIA programming and the importance of including disability as a focus so that individuals with disabilities feel included in the workplace and in the DEIA program itself.
Finally, they will discuss a number of best practices including Disability ERGs, Centralized Accommodation Systems, Fully Accessible Websites and Workspaces, among other topics.
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Craig Leen
Partner at K&L Gates
Former OFCCP Director
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Lori Golden
Abilities Strategy Leader, EY
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Scott Michael Robertson, PhD
Senior Policy Advisor, ODEP
Policy Strategist, Technology Innovator, and Social Scientist
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Tom Downs
Head of Diversity Talent Acquisition, Booz Allen Hamilton
Enterprise Employee Referral Program I Bush Institute Scholar I Veteran
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Carolyn Jeppsen
Co-Founder/CEO/President
BroadFutures, Inc.
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Online Recruitment of and Outreach to People with Disabilities
April 13, 2022 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET
The webinar will focus on the results of Cornell University's research into employer practices related to online recruitment and outreach efforts.
The implications of those results for employer practices will be discussed, and participants will learn about related tools and resources from the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN).
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Remote Training Strategies for Employees with Disabilities
April 19 12:00- 1:00 PM EST
Everyday work has shifted to a remote setting and employees with disabilities face unique challenges in receiving training, participating in meetings, communicating with colleagues and collaborating on team projects. This session will provide best practices and real-world examples of how to maximize equal access to employees with disabilities who are now working remotely. This webinar is ideal for those who deliver reasonable accommodations or assistive technology services to employees with disabilities, as well as assistive technology users.
Webinar highlights include:
- Why implementing accessible remote training is an essential part of reasonable accommodation solutions
- Assistive Technology users' need for specific training on remote conferencing and collaboration tools
- Organizational communication needed prior to conducting remote Assistive Technology training
- Examining remote meeting and collaboration tools regarding their accessibility for employees with disabilities
- Benefits and challenges of screen sharing and remote-control features with Assistive Technology
- Common scenarios and challenges when using remote training tools with Assistive Technology
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MAY 18
The Power of Storytelling
Hosted by
EY
Benefitting Mental Health for All
Date pending
Hosted by
Lockheed Martin
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JUNE 8
Proactive and Intentional Inclusion for Blind and Low Vision Talent
Hosted by Maxar
JUNE 9
The Importance of Chief Accessibility Officers in the
Public and Private Sectors
Hosted by
essentialAccessibilty
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JULY Series
Thought Leader Reflections Series
Dates pending
Featuring
Janet Fiore
John Kemp
The Hon. Kathy Martinez
Alan Muir
The Hon. Neil Romano
Billion Strong
Broad Futures
Global Alliance for Disaster Resource Acceleration
Mid-Atlantic ADA Center
NOD
Respectability
Ruh Global
Valuable 500
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SEPTEMBER
Filling the Great Resignation Gap:
Building Community Partnerships for Success
Expanding Your Pipeline
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NOVEMBER
Value of Veterans
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DECEMBER
Understanding Non-Apparent Disabilities
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Thank you to all our WOW HOST MEMBERS! |
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IN THE NEWS - ARTICLES OF INTEREST |
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Autism Acceptance Month is underway.
Here's why the name is important
USA TODAY
The Autism Society of America announced the suggested shift in terminology last year, urging the media to go along, in order to ignite change in the lives of those with autism and their families, said Christopher Banks, president, and CEO of The Autism Society of America.
"Awareness is knowing that somebody has autism," Banks said. "Acceptance is when you include (a person with autism) in your activities. Help (them) to develop in that community and get that sense of connection to other people."
Knowledge about the condition, which about 1 in 44 U.S. children have been identified with, is still important and Saturday, April 2, is known as World Autism Awareness Day.
In a proclamation released April 1, President Biden said, "I call upon all Americans to learn more about autism to improve early diagnosis, to learn more about the experiences of autistic people from autistic people, and to build more welcoming and inclusive communities to support people with autism."
About 1 in 44 children has been identified with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and more than 2% of adults in the U.S. are estimated to have ASD, the CDC estimates.
Educational and social programs are vital to improving the opportunities of those with autism. Encouraging inclusive employment, living and social environment can help in the acceptance of the autism community, Banks said.
"We believe that through creating connections, we empower everyone in the autism community with the resources to be able to live fully," he said.
- First-responder training: About 20% of young adults with autism will "interact with a police officer" before they turn 21, and people with disabilities including autism are five times more likely to be incarcerated, the group said.
- Employment advocacy: More than 70% of adults with autism are unemployed or underemployed, the group said. "Given the current labor shortage, employers could benefit from expanding their pool of applicants through inclusive hiring practices. Autistic and neurodiverse individuals bring significant skills that can be harnessed when supported through inclusion and accommodations as needed."
Autism Awareness Day history
April 2 became officially recognized as World Autism Awareness Day in 2008 with unanimous declarations from the United Nations General Assembly. The goal has been to help improve the quality of life of those with autism.
The campaign started as "an initiative rooted in the medical model of autism and focused on autistic children and finding a cure," wrote Ludmila Praslova, a professor and director of graduate programs in industrial-organizational psychology at Vanguard University of Southern California, who is autistic, in the Harvard Business Review on Friday.
Now, many autistic adults take a different perspective, she wrote, seeking "acceptance and inclusion rather than a cure and prefer the symbolism of diversity and completeness."
Workplaces, for instance, "can do much better than having an outdated, performative Autism Awareness Day," Praslova wrote. "Celebrating autism acceptance and inclusion rather than simply awareness can not only improve the well-being of your autistic employees."
Contributing: Mike Snider
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National Autism Month
During National Autism Month each April and all year round, the Office of Disability Employment Policy offers a variety of resources to help increase employment opportunities for Americans on the autism spectrum and educate employers about the benefits delivered by workplace neurodiversity. “People on the autism spectrum bring divergent, out-of-the-box thinking to employers across America every day. This, in turn, helps drive innovation,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Taryn M. Williams. “During April, we celebrate their contributions and recommit to ensuring neurodivergent individuals can put their skills and talents to work every month.”
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Mental Health at Work: What Can I Do? |
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Today, one in five working age Americans has a mental health condition. And as our nation rebuilds and rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic, employers in businesses of all sizes recognize that mental health-friendly workplaces are more critical than ever and that the workplace can be an essential source of support.
To help shine a light on this timely and important issue, the ODEP-funded Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) has launched a new public education campaign called “Mental Health at Work: What Can I Do?”
Built around a powerful television and radio public service announcement (PSA) that will air nationwide, the campaign illustrates the roles we all can play in promoting a mental health-friendly workplace. The PSA features the faces and voices of four individuals—a CEO, manager, co-worker and person who identifies as having a mental health condition—each sharing what they can do to promote workplace wellbeing, from setting the tone for an inclusive workplace to providing and requesting assistance and accommodations, to being a source of support to peers and colleagues.
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Mental Health at Work: What Can I Do?
Blogs
In support of the Campaign for Disability Employment’s “Mental Health at Work: What Can I Do?” campaign, U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and Office of Disability Employment Policy assistant secretary Taryn Williams each posted a blog. In “Mental Health at Work: We All Have a Role to Play,” Secretary Walsh emphasizes the importance of supportive policies and practices to make workplaces mental health-friendly. In “The Intersection of Work and Wellbeing, for All Workers,” Assistant Secretary Williams discusses the prevalence of mental health issues in the workplace and ODEP’s programs to address them.
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Time is running out to apply for the 2022 HIREVets Medallion Award! The deadline is April 30th
The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is a great way to show your continued commitment to recruiting, employing and retaining America’s veterans. The award is based on a number of criteria, ranging from veteran hiring and retention to providing veteran-specific resources — with requirements varying for large, medium and small employers.
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NOD + Mental Health America
Launch New Partnership
NOD is proud to announce a new partnership with Mental Health America, a leading non-profit dedicated to uncovering workplace disparities and addressing the psychological needs of the workforce.
Did you know?
- Millions of employees spend more hours in the workplace than at home, and productivity and satisfaction levels are influenced by work cultures.
- Typically, one in five people experience mental illness in a given year, and
- Since the onset of the pandemic, adults reporting anxiety and/or depressive disorder has increased by 30%
All are invited to join us for a four-part webinar series and take a deep dive into the employee perspective on mental health in the workplace—and what employers should be doing to build inclusive and supportive workplaces.
SAVE THE DATES
Tuesday, June 21 | 12:30-1:30 PM ET
Workplace Mental Health: Employee Perspective
Wednesday, July 27 | 12:30-1:30 PM ET
Workplace Mental Health: Effective Practices
Thursday, August 11 | 12:30-1:30 PM ET
Workplace Mental Health: Employer Perspectives
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Events In The DC Metro Area and Beyond |
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nTIDE COVID-19 Updates
April 22, 2022
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm (ET) | Online | Free
Agenda:
• 12:00 pm: Welcome and Purpose of this Special Update
• 12:10 pm: Updated Numbers from the Monthly Current Population Survey
• 12:45 pm: Open Question & Answer period
Presenters:
- Andrew Houtenville, UNH-IOD
- John O'Neill, Kessler Foundation
- Denise Rozell, AUCD
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Professor of Economics / Research Director
Institute on Disability & Paul College of Business and Economics
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Director of Policy Innovation
Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD)
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Director of Employment and Disability Research
Kessler Foundation
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2022 AAPD Leadership Awards Gala
Thursday, April 28 at 6:30 pm Eastern
Join us for the 2022 Leadership Virtual Awards Gala on Thursday, April 28 at 6:30pm Eastern!
Featuring Special Guest:
- Jane Pauley, Host, CBS Sunday News
Additional Special Guests and Honorees will be announced soon!
Tickets are FREE to attend this virtual event! Captioning, ASL, and audio description will be provided.
The event link containing the live stream video will be sent at a later date.
The AAPD Leadership Awards Gala is the one night a year that the disability community comes together with business and government leadership to celebrate the progress of disability rights. This year's Gala will provide a unique opportunity for AAPD's partners, supporters, colleagues, and friends to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act and demonstrate their continued support for access, equity, and inclusion.
If you have questions about sponsorships or are experiencing difficulties registering , please contact development@aapd.com.
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Workplace Mental Health:
An Introduction for Mental Health Awareness Month
Thursday, May 5 | 12:30-1:30 PM ET
Employee expectations have shifted rapidly in recent years, emphasizing an employer's responsibility to foster well-being in the workforce. Yet 70% of employees report increased distraction at work, and 3 in 5 employees report seeking other professional opportunities.
In this webinar, we'll explore the latest research on workplace mental health and discuss how companies can meaningfully support employee mental wellness.
Featuring:
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Workplace Mental Health:
Employee Perspective
Tuesday, June 21 | 12:30-1:30 PM ET
Hear directly from employees about their experience with mental illness, and what employers should know to create inclusive and supportive workplaces.
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Workplace Mental Health:
Effective Practices
Wednesday, July 27 | 12:30-1:30 PM ET
Learn the most effective practices to foster a corporate culture that is inclusive of individuals with mental health disabilities.
Senior leaders from corporate America will share how they've put inclusive policies and practices into action to support mental health at work.
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Workplace Mental Health:
Employer Perspective
Thursday, August 11 | 12:30-1:30 PM ET
Learn from the companies leading the way in addressing mental health in the workplace.
This panel discussion will focus on mental health disabilities from the employer's perspective, offering insight to other leaders on how to support mental illness in the workplace and work together to eliminate stigma.
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2022 National Conferences |
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May 2-3, 2022
The AFB Leadership Conference (AFBLC) aims to increase leadership capacity in order to create a world of no limits for people who are blind. We are committed to putting inclusion to work, which will be a major emphasis of our 2022 AFBLC.
The Helen Keller Achievement Awards Dinner, which takes place during the conference, recognizes the notable achievements of individuals and organizations that are leaders in improving the lives of people with disabilities. Past awardees include Amazon, Apple, Google, and JPMorgan Chase, as well as giants from the performing arts, including Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and Patty Duke.
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Disabilty:IN Conference Registration Now Open!
The Global Corporate Disability Inclusion Event of the Year
- Engage with industry peers, experts and companies to learn how they are gaining the disability advantage, through tools like the Disability Equality Index.
- Meet and discuss opportunities with disability-owned business enterprises (DOBEs), including disabled veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned.
- Celebrate leaders in disability inclusion at the Inclusion Awards and top-scoring companies of the Disability Equality Index as the “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion.”
- Connect with Disability:IN Affiliates and learn how to engage locally.
- Learn how including people with disabilities is playing a role in the future of ESG and sustainability.
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RespectAbility Summit 2022
Sunday, July 31 – Tuesday, August 2 on Capitol Hill
You are invited to join RespectAbility for three days of fantastic sessions that prepare people with disabilities and the disability community for a better future.
This event will be fully accessible, with an ASL interpreter and live captions. We currently expect the event to be in-person. We will require that all attendees be vaccinated, unless they have a medical exemption. This event will also be recorded and shared with open captions.
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Save the Dates!
Mid-Atlantic ADA Conference 2022
TransCen and the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center, in collaboration with the Great Plains ADA Center, will host ADAcon, the 29th Annual Mid-Atlantic Conference on the Americans with Disabilities Act!
Tuesday, October 11, Wednesday, October 12, and Thursday, October 13, 2022
- Call for presentation proposals will be issued in early 2022.
- Registration will open late spring, 2022.
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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 Board
Board Members:
- John Annand, Marriott International
- Jennifer Bassett, Secretary, JBG SMITH Companies
- Tashi Carper, Leidos
- Michelle Crabtree, Town of Vienna
- Ellen de Bremond, Treasurer
- Anjali Desai-Margolin, Gallaudet University
- Tom Downs, Booz Allen Hamilton
- Andrea Hall, Past Chair, General Dynamics Mission Systems
- Sylvia Henri-Wonasue, Lockheed Martin
- Sophie Howard, Chair, General Dynamics IT
- Eduardo Meza-Etienne, eSSENTIAL Accessibility
- Chrisonna Palmer, Vice Chair, EY
- Mary Sauder, Northrop Grumman
- Ryan Walters, Deloitte
- Myra Wilder, BAE Systems
Advisory Board Members:
- Jessica Lee Aiello, iYellow Group
- Meghan Cadigan, KPMG
- Crosby Cromwell, The Valuable 500
- Lori Daly, Diversify Consulting Group
- Ron Drach, Drach Consulting, LLC
- Rikki Epstein, The Arc of Northern VA
- Melody Goodspeed, The Amerian Foundation for the Blind
- Karen Herson, Concepts, Inc.
- Carolyn Jeppsen, BroadFutures
- Craig Leen, K&L Gates, Former OFCCP Director
- Carrie Martin, Maxar Technologies
- Rick Rodgers, The Resource Network
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. 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, now a DC Metro chapter member benefit!
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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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