Judy Quigley
Executive Director

Disability:IN Wisconsin
From our Executive Director
Exciting Times at Disability:IN Wisconsin
 
We are so excited to announce the fourth annual Wisconsin Ability Summit.  This will be an in-person event sponsored by Rockwell Automation. 
 
Save the Date
Wisconsin Ability Summit
Thursday October 13
8:00 am – 3:00 pm
More details will be available in next month’s newsletter
 
I also want to call your attention to a grant opportunity from Partners with Business. These grants are ideal if you are in HR, Talent Acquisition or an E/BRG Leader and are working to launch or grow your hiring initiative to employ and support workers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This grant program provides a business with connections to funding, technical support and promotion as an organization that is doing amazing work. More information is available below.
An important message from our Board Chair, Tracy Glorioso
This year Disability:IN Wisconsin is recognizing an individual who embodies inclusive leadership through the 1st ever Derek Smith Leadership Award for Disability Inclusion. This award will specifically recognize leadership within an organization where an individual has developed or influenced business disability programs and/or services that resulted in measurable, significant and positive outcomes, or dramatically improving disability employment opportunities.
Let me share why Derek Smith and his impact inspired this award.

Derek Smith, Old National Bank, COMMERCIAL BANKING EXEC, SVP. was one of our original members and 1st chair of Disability:IN Wisconsin. When we talk about an individual who embodies inclusive leadership, focuses on building cultures within organizations, communities and can measure positives outcomes while improving disability employment opportunities, we got inspired by Derek. This is what Derek Smith has brought as a strong leader to the Disability:IN Wisconsin team and continues to do so as a leading charter member and active board member. When the decision to honor Derek’s contributions to Disability:IN Wisconsin was brought to our strategic session it was a unanimous decision by the board of directors on how his legacy was going to be remembered.

If this story and style of leadership resonates with a leader within your organization then our ask is for you to review the criteria and submit your nomination “prior” to the deadline of Thursday, July 14th. This is a great opportunity to recognize someone within your organization for their accomplishments and commitment. This link contains the full details of the Derek Smith Leadership Award.
Welcome to our Newest Members
WEC Energy Group logo
WEC Energy Group

Sustaining Member
Split Star Company Logo
Splitstar Productions

Business Member
The Employability Project
Non-profit Partner
From Lisa George, Vice President Human Resources at WEC Energy Group

“We have a long history of valuing diversity as an integral part of our corporate culture. Making sure our workplace is inclusive means employees can bring their best and do their best in providing affordable, reliable and clean energy.

We are pleased to support Disability:IN Wisconsin and look forward to working with them in partnership with our Health and Disability Allies business resource group, whose mission is to engage employees who have a shared interest in or experience with a physical or mental health concern or a disability by providing support, addressing stigmas, and promoting understanding and inclusion.”
It's time to nominate a leader to receive the first
Derek Smith Leadership Award
for Disability Inclusion
Derek Smith Leadership Award image
Working Together: Ensuring People with Disabilities Feel Welcome and Included in the Workplace
Through all phases of employment, a basic understanding of “disability etiquette” is essential. Disability etiquette means respectful ways to communicate with and about people with disabilities. A basic understanding of disability etiquette can help ensure everyone feels welcome and included in the workplace.

CUNA Mutual Group will share their work and lead this Member-Only event's candid conversation.
  • Bill Schultz is an Enterprise Procurement Analyst and has been with CUNA Mutual Group for four years. He is a lead team member for the Allies for Disabilities ERG and a member of the Disability Equality Index Working Group. He is passionate about disability advocacy and disabled sports.
  • Takeyla Benton is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) analyst at CUNA Mutual Group. She works closely with all the Engagement Resource Groups, serves on the Disability Equality Index Working Group and is a lead member for the African American ERG. She has a passion for all things related to DEI efforts including mindfulness, self-care, and intersectionality to enhance belonging and love. 
  • Kirby Wenger is a business leader with multiple-years' experience in direct-to-consumer marketing, data and analytics at Cuna Mutual Group. She is the Executive Sponsor for the Allies for Disabilities Engagement Resource Group supporting strategy, talent development, membership engagement and executive advocacy. 
  • Nicole Eidal is an implementation program manager with CUNA Mutual Group and is a lead team member on the Allies for Disabilities ERG. She has a passion for ideas, improvements, mindfulness and learning.

This session offers some general guidelines and best practices for interacting with people with disabilities in the workplace. These are basic recommendations and some suggested etiquette. Use your best judgment and common sense and consider the personal preferences of the
person with whom you are interacting.

Join the conversation and share your businesses best practices on respectful communications and interactions with people with disabilities.

Partners With Business
The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (WI BPDD) seeks to partner with businesses interested in hiring more people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). 
  • Grant funds of up to $25,000 are available for a WI-based business to launch or grow their hiring initiative to employ and support workers with IDD.
  • The goal of the Partners with Business project is to support businesses to tap into new talent and learn best practices for finding, hiring, and supporting workers with IDD. 
  • Grantees receive technical assistance and training from a WI BPDD project consultant to plan and implement their hiring initiative.
 
Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on June 17, 2022. 
 
Please contact Molly Cooney at molly.cooney@wisconsin.gov or 608-266-0266 with any questions. 
SEPTEMBER 15, 2022
IRONWOOD GOLF COURSE
With sponsorship from Rockwell Automation, Disability:IN Wisconsin will host our 2nd Charity Golf Outing.

Last year was awesome. This year will be a new course for us to play. Please hold the date to golf, network, and celebrate together.

Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Disability:IN funded this video highlighting the business case for disability inclusion.

They partnered with Dustin Grella, certified DOBE Dusty Studio.