DISABILITY NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW
JUNE 2023
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Disability Is Who We Are and What We Do
June Monthly Awareness
Although these topics may appear unrelated, they share a common goal of shedding light on the challenges and barriers faced by people within these communities. One term that becomes crucial when discussing these issues is "intersectionality."
Intersectionality refers to the interconnected nature of social identities, such as race, gender, sexuality, disability, and more, and how they can overlap and influence a person's experiences and opportunities. It is essential to prioritize intersectionality in the workplace and inclusivity plans.
explains why considering intersectionality is crucial. It emphasizes that in order for workplace inclusion efforts to be effective, it is necessary to take into account the intersecting identities and experiences of every person. Failing to prioritize intersectionality can undermine the success of DEI efforts and even result in unintentional harm.
By recognizing and understanding the diverse identities and experiences that people bring to the workplace, we can create a more inclusive environment that respects and values everyone.
Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month
Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS) Awareness Month
Migraine and Headache Awareness Month
Hemiplegic Migraine Awareness Month
PTSD Awareness Month
Helen Keller Deaf Blind Awareness Week (June 26-28)
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WELCOME HR LEADERS ASSOCIATION MEMBERS! |
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We are the Disability:IN Affiliate serving the National Capital Region. We are a business to business non profit organization that can serve as your business partner for disability inclusion. We provide education, professional development, resources and peer to peer access to our members who are HR practitioners, Compliance professionals, Diversity Equity and Inclusion leaders, ERG leaders, Talent Acquisition and Supplier Diversity. We hold both in person and hybrid events on topics including Neurodiversity, Accommodations and Accessibility, Internships, Veterans and Intersectionality.
As a sponsor, we are excited to add you to our newsletter distribution. We believe that you will find our disability inclusion education and network valuable, increasing your diversity to include talent with disabilities in your workforce. If you are a federal contractor, getting engaged with us will help you increase your Section 503 results. You need not become a member to participate with us, but we do offer special HRLA New Member discounts.
We invite you attend one of our upcoming events as our guest. We look forward to getting to know you!
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Congratulations to our New Officers!
Disability:IN DC Metro elected new officers at our 2023 Annual Meeting.
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Ryan Walters, Chair
Healthcare ERP Manager
Deloitte
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Meghan Cadigan, Vice Chair and Secretary
Senior Manager
KPMG
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Ellen de Bremond, Treasurer |
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Check out our Latest Website Section featuring Professional Development and SME Disability Consultants!
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Are you atending the 2023 Disability:IN
Global Conference and Expo?
Visit Us in Orlando!
If your organization has a presence in the Washington DC National Capital Region, be sure to stop by the Disability:IN DC Metro Exhibit Booth and meet our leaders! We will demo our Professional Development Courses, introduce our Certified DOBEs and introduce you to the Disability Leaders Collaborative!
Meet Disability:IN DC Metro at our booth in the Exhibit Hall!
Learn more about our Professional Development Courses.
Drop by for a demo and register to win a free course!
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DC Metro June Virtual Event
June 28th DC Metro A11y Program
8th Annual Accessibility Forum
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Make plans to attend our 8th Annual Accessibility Forum, a virtual event hosted by Level Access taking place on June 28th 10 am to 12 pm EST. Check out our website and your Inbox for registration and more event details.
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Take a look at these articles about accessibility! |
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Looking for NextGen Talent?
Disability:IN DC Metro will soon have direct access to current college students and recent grads seeking full time and part-time and summer opportunities in the National Capital Region. If you have a need for talent, contact us!
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Free Access Extended to June 30, 2023 |
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Disability Inclusion IQ
Disability 101
Free Access Extended to June 30, 2023
The course addresses:
- Appropriate language: Terminology, Person-First, Identity-First, Neurodivergent
- Disability etiquette: Appropriate Interactions
- Accessible, short, self-paced, and cloud-based.
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DRIVING CHANGE- CREATING OPPORTUNITY
The Latest News
The Office of Disability Employment Policy
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NDEAM 2023: "Advancing Access and Equity: Then, Now and Next” |
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Accommodations: Low Cost, High Impact
A report recently published by the ODEP-funded Job Accommodation Network reveals that the benefits of providing accommodations for workers with disabilities significantly outweigh the costs. Key findings, based on a survey of employers over the past four years, are that nearly half (49.4%) of accommodations cost nothing to implement, and 43.3% incur a one-time median cost of only $300. In addition, a majority (68.4%) of employers surveyed reported that the accommodation they made was either very effective or extremely effective, leading to multiple direct and indirect benefits. Another 18.3% of employers said accommodations were somewhat effective.
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Adopting an Integrated Telework Policy for Employees with
and without Disabilities
This publication from the Office on Disability Employment Policy in the U.S. Department of Labor (ODEP/DOL) provides a framework for employers to craft a comprehensive policy that addresses telework and hybrid work provisions for all employees.
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EARN Wins MUSE Creative Award for the Website, Diversity & Inclusion Category
The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion won a Website - Diversity & Inclusion 2023 MUSE Creative Silver Award for AskEARN.org. Hosted by the International Awards Associate, MUSE Creative Awards is an international competition for creative professionals who inspire others with their concepts, ideas or designs. The awards are composed of a series of competitions that honor excellence from various fields. EARN is thrilled to receive recognition under this category as it promotes resources, tools and valuable information to help advance and integrate disability inclusion in the workplace and into organizational DEIA plans.
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IN THE NEWS - ARTICLES OF INTEREST |
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SHRM Disability Inclusion Pledge
Building Diverse, Equitable, Inclusive and Accessible Workplaces for People with Disabilities
Research reveals that approximately 25% of adults have a disability. Despite the progress disabled people have made in and out of the workplace, there is still more we can do to ensure that workplaces are equitable and fully inclusive of employees with disabilities.
That is why SHRM, in collaboration with the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the U.S. Department of Labor and ABLE today, has launched the 2023 Disability Inclusion Pledge to give HR professionals and business executives the tools they need to build better workplaces for disabled workers.
Why Take the Pledge?
By promoting diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplaces for people with disabilities, HR professionals can lead the discussion on this critical topic and benefit from the skills and talents of workers with disabilities while directly contributing to major long-term business objectives, including:
- Low turnover rates, medical expenses, and time off for people with disabilities compared to employees without disabilities.
- More innovative, diverse, and inclusive workplaces.
- Building a more skilled workforce.
- Comprehensive DEIA strategies.
- Reaching a large untapped talent pool.
- Opportunities for federal and state tax incentives.
Step 1:
Take the Pledge to Promote Diverse, Equitable, Inclusive
and Accessible Workplaces for People with Disabilities
Step 2:
Showcase your commitment by sharing the “I Signed the Pledge”
badge in your email signature, on your organization’s website,
and social media using the hashtag #PledgeInclusion.
Step 3:
Build Your Organization’s
Disability Employment DEIA Plan with Resources from:
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SHRM’s Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., Named One of the Most
Influential People in Washington, DC
SHRM President and Chief Executive Officer Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, was named to Washingtonian’s Washington DC’s 500 Most Influential People of 2023 list. The list features 500 authorities and advocates outside the government who are playing big roles in Washington, D.C.’s policy debates. Taylor was recognized for his work in the business and labor category.
Taylor is a sought-after expert and voice of all things work who connects ideas to the HR profession and is sparking conversations about the future of work. Under Taylor’s leadership, SHRM has increased appreciation HR as it continues to experience transformative change and innovative thinking. Through SHRM’s policy work, he has built bridges across the political spectrum, partnering with leaders and policymakers aligned with SHRM’s vision of building better workplaces for a better world in areas such as workforce development, equity, flexibility and leave, health care, immigration and governance. With the two recent acquisitions of Linkage and CEO Academy, and as the world’s largest HR business and trade organization, SHRM now serves nearly 325,000 members across 165 countries, impacting the lives of more than 235 million workers and families globally.
“We as leaders must work to foster strong, intentional workplace environments that lead to cultural alignment, business success and, ultimately, a better world of work,” Taylor said. “I'm honored to be recognized by Washingtonian’s Washington DC’s 500 Most Influential People list and will continue to work on behalf of SHRM and the profession of HR to drive change and to serve HR professionals, executives, policymakers and business leaders.”
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New Research Paper!
From Compliance to Culture:
Self-ID in the Era of Disability Inclusion
Disability:IN's Director of Research, Reid Jewett Smith, Ph.D., set out to explore the landscape of self-identification. During her research, she found her own identity squarely in the middle of the subject.
This groundbreaking research paper contains recommendations around corporate disclosure of disability data, inclusive ways to define disability, and the importance of education in bringing more people to the conversation.
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NEW!
Now Enrolling Select Companies
in the NOD Engagement Survey
We’re launching the new NOD Engagement Survey, in partnership with the Employer Disability Practices Center (EDPC), to measure employee perceptions on the culture and climate of disability inclusion within their organizations.
You’ll receive:
- Your companies’ results benchmarked against other participants
- Impact analysis determining which inclusion strategies are most effective
- Insights + trends derived from the group data
Enroll Today
Invitations to participate are limited to only 30 employers, and we’re currently only offering this opportunity to companies that are NOD Leadership Council members or have completed the NOD Employment Tracker.
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EEOC Releases New Resource on Artificial Intelligence and Title VII
Outlines Considerations for Incorporating Automated Systems into Employment Decisions
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released a technical assistance document, “Assessing Adverse Impact in Software, Algorithms, and Artificial Intelligence Used in Employment Selection Procedures Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” which is focused on preventing discrimination against job seekers and workers. The document explains the application of key established aspects of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII) to an employer’s use of automated systems, including those that incorporate artificial intelligence (AI). The EEOC is the primary federal agency responsible for enforcing Title VII, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity).
Employers increasingly use automated systems, including those with AI, to help them with a wide range of employment matters, such as selecting new employees, monitoring performance, and determining pay or promotions. Without proper safeguards, their use may run the risk of violating existing civil rights laws.
“As employers increasingly turn to AI and other automated systems, they must ensure that the use of these technologies aligns with the civil rights laws and our national values of fairness, justice and equality,” said EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows. “This new technical assistance document will aid employers and tech developers as they design and adopt new technologies.”
The EEOC’s new technical assistance document discusses adverse impact, a key civil rights concept, to help employers prevent the use of AI from leading to discrimination in the workplace. This document builds on previous EEOC releases of technical assistance on AI and the Americans with Disabilities Act and a joint agency pledge. It also answers questions employers and tech developers may have about how Title VII applies to use of automated systems in employment decisions and assists employers in evaluating whether such systems may have an adverse or disparate impact on a basis prohibited by Title VII.
“I encourage employers to conduct an ongoing self-analysis to determine whether they are using technology in a way that could result in discrimination,” said Burrows. “This technical assistance resource is another step in helping employers and vendors understand how civil rights laws apply to automated systems used in employment.”
The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information about the EEOC is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.
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Post-Pandemic Employer Considerations: EEOC Updates COVID-19 Technical Guidance as Public Health Emergency Expires
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nTIDE May 2023 Jobs Report: Job numbers rebound bringing people with disabilities close to previous high in employment
East Hanover, NJ – June 2, 2023 – In a sharp reversal, employment indicators rebounded for people with disabilities in May, according to today’s National Trends in Disability Employment – semi-monthly update (nTIDE), issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). Employment appears to be remaining strong despite the threats to the labor market posed by the debt ceiling crisis and ongoing efforts to control inflation.
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New Online Alliance Aims to Inspire More Accessible Technology for People with Hearing Loss
The Industry-Consumer Alliance for Accessible Technology (ICAAT) is designed to enable consumers and technology developers to connect, work together and inspire better technology from the ground up. Industry representatives can enlist consumers with hearing loss in product research and testing, and consumers can engage in discussion groups and share user experiences.
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The Global Alliance is an association that endeavors to raise the quality of captions throughout the captioning industry by:
- Empowering consumers and captioners as they work together to influence change and policy.
- Spreading education and awareness about achieving and maintaining equal and effective communication access.
- Providing the NER-Certified Speech-to-Text Provider certification to sustain the quality of all methods of captioning.
- Providing educational and networking opportunities for captioning consumers, captioning advocates, and captioners.
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Events In The DC Metro Area and Beyond |
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July 19, 2023
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Virtual
This virtual conference is for people with disabilities, employment consultants, vocational rehabilitation counselors, disability advocates, and other service providers.
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U.S. Access Board to Hold Town Hall Meeting in Baltimore
July 25, 2023, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. (ET)
National Headquarters of the
National Federation of the Blind Members Hall
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
Please register for in-person attendance by July 1, 2023.
Information for listen-in only virtual attendance will be available soon.
Registration: Provide full name and organization (if any) to
The U.S. Access Board will hold a public town hall meeting on Tuesday, July 25 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. (ET) at the national headquarters of the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland. Presidentially appointed Access Board members and representatives from other federal member agencies will be present to hear from the local community about the state of accessibility in Baltimore and the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area. Following the town hall meeting, there will be a reception and networking opportunity from 3:30 – 4:30 (ET), sponsored by the Maryland Department of Disabilities.
The town hall meeting and reception are open to all members of the public.
The Access Board invites in-person oral comments on accessibility. Registrants who wish to make in-person oral comments must indicate their request to speak when emailing events@access-board.gov. Public commenters will be allotted two minutes to make their comments.
The town hall meeting will be available via online streaming; however, individuals attending virtually will not be able to make comments.
American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and Communication Access Real-time Transcription (CART) services will be provided. The Access Board has a fragrance-free environment policy and requests that all attendees refrain from wearing perfume, cologne, and other fragrances and use unscented personal care products. Requests for other reasonable accommodations must be submitted by July 1, 2023 to Rose Marie Bunales at events@access-board.gov.
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UPCOMING FALL EVENTS
OCT 4, 2023 1PM - 2PM
Explore ways to expand employment options for neurodivergent job candidates and how to effectively support and engage with neurodivergent job seekers and staff.
NOV 9, 2023 1PM - 2PM
DiversityInc’s Founder will lead a discussion on how businesses can create a welcoming and supportive environment where veterans with disabilities can thrive.
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DON'T MISS THESE
NATIONAL CONFERENCES
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Join us at SHRM23
June 11-14, 2023
Join us at SHRM23 for the largest gathering of HR professionals on Earth in one of the most vibrant cities in America: Las Vegas, NV. The event will include four days of peer-to-peer networking, inspiring addresses from top business and HR leaders, competency-based HR seminars, hands-on workshops, plus curated content focused on some of the most pressing issues facing HR: DE&I, workplace culture, talent acquisition, and retention, and more.
If you have additional accommodation requests or have any questions, please reach out to us using this accommodation form. Please allow for an appropriate lead time for any accommodation request. You will receive a response within 1 business day acknowledging receipt.
For the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo 2023 at the special group rates, available here on an exclusive basis. Additionally, all requests related to hotel accommodations should be directed to the hotel venue. If you have additional questions about hotel accommodations, please reach out to shrm@mcievents.com.
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The Place to be for Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity / Inclusion fields
August 1 - 4, 2023 Phoenix, Arizona
We are looking for speakers and participants to come and help us TRANSFORM FOR TOMORROW.
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Learn More About DC Metro |
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2023 Disability:IN DC Metro Programs
Theme: Intersectionality
Join us as we hold Hybrid and Virtual Events!
- Intersectionality: June LGBTQ Pride Month
- Intersectionality: July Disability Pride Month, ADA Anniversary
- Intersectionality: August Supplier Diversity including Disability Owned Businesses
- Intersectionality: September LatinX Heritage Month and Disability
- Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
- November Celebrating Veterans with Disabilities in the Workplace and as Entrepreneurs
- Intersectionality: November Native American Heritage Month and Disability
- Celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- The Growing Role of the Chief Accessibility Officer
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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
- Professional Development courses
- 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:
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Jennifer Bassett, Immediate Past Chair, JBG SMITH Companies
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Meghan Cadigan, Vice Chair and Secretary, KPMG
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Tashi Carper, Leidos
- Rahsaan Coefield, Lockheed Martin
- Ellen de Bremond, Treasurer
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Anjali Desai-Margolin, Gallaudet University
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Tom Downs, Booz Allen Hamilton
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Andrea Hall, General Dynamics Mission Systems
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Sophie Howard, General Dynamics IT
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Eduardo Meza-Etienne, Level Access
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Mary Sauder, Northrop Grumman
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Ryan Walters, Chair, Deloitte
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Myra Wilder, BAE Systems
Advisory Board Members:
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Jessica Lee Aiello, iYellow Group
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Michelle Crabtree, Town of Vienna
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Crosby Cromwell, The Valuable 500
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Lori Daly, Diversifi Consulting Group and Chair, Community Outreach
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Ron Drach, Drach Consulting, LLC
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Diane Monnig, The Arc of Northern VA
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Melody Goodspeed, The American Foundation for the Blind
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Karen Herson, Concepts, Inc.
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Carolyn Jeppsen, BroadFutures
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Craig Leen, K&L Gates, Former OFCCP Director
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Carrie Martin, MAXAR Technologies
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Rick Rodgers,The Resource Network and Chair, Disability Supplier Diversity
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Kia SIlver-Hodge, Enterprise Community Partners
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 Professional Development Courses 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 for 2023
Please Donate!
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!
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