2021 Conference Agenda

There will be a one-hour break for lunch.

This session is open exclusively to Disability:IN certified disability-owned business enterprises (DOBE), and will provide the opportunity to interact and learn from Disability:IN corporate partner, Wells Fargo, on a variety of topics.

During this one-on-one speed networking session, company representatives will be matched to NextGen Leaders who possess the field of study, educational background, and/or experience they are seeking in potential job applicants. Matchmaking is exclusive to Disability:IN corporate partners.  The matching between the company and the NextGen Leaders will be conducted ahead of time, and companies will be provided the participants’ names and resumes prior to the conference. Prior registration is required.

Join us for an accessible morning yoga session put on by the Challenged Athletes Foundation and EoS. “Vinyasa” is where there is a dynamic flow from posture to posture. The flowing movement is aligned and linked to the breath so you move with each inhale and exhale. Keeping blocked energy within our body is unhealthy, and a vinyasa class can help release any negativity or stress you may be holding on to! Feel the exhilarating energy at sunrise to start your day the right way! All fitness levels welcome. Mats will be provided.

            When you think about diversity and inclusion, you might think about racial or gender representation. But there are 1.3 billion people worldwide who make up another distinct group: People with disabilities. This group is the missing piece in the global conversation about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Investors and shareholders increasingly view disability inclusion as a vital component of the “S” in environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing.

Businesses can and should be a force for good and achieving that requires putting all of your employees, customers, suppliers and community first. To make progress, companies need to treat it as a business priority with goals, plans, measurement, and accountability.

Remarks:

• Jill Houghton President & CEO at Disability:IN 
• Chad Jerdee, Board Chair at Disability:IN and Retired General Counsel at Accenture

Panelists:

• Nedra Dickson, Managing Director, Global Supplier Inclusion & Diversity Lead at Accenture
• Ted Kennedy, Jr., Partner at Epstein Becker Green, Co-Chair of the Disability Equality Index (DEI), and Board Member at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)

Fireside Chat:

• Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Chief Accessibility Officer at Microsoft

Companies that were disability inclusive before the pandemic were better prepared for the disruption of the pandemic because they had fostered workplace flexibility. This included a focus on mental and physical wellness that stressed work life balance and resulted in higher retention. Learn how these flexible companies weathered the crisis while caring for their employees’ physical and mental health.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn how companies that prioritized disability inclusion had an advantage during the pandemic.
2. Understand how the pandemic fostered workplace flexibility that benefited all employees and how to sustain that advantage. 
3. Describe how the pandemic changed the conversation on mental health and substance use and advanced corporate supports, including peer support. Gain tips and techniques to improve work life balance and strengthen retention

Moderator:

• Colum Slevin, Senior Director, Positive Play Experiences at Electronic Arts

Panelists:

• Kevin Fitzpatrick, EEO/AA Compliance Director at PepsiCo
• Tariq Malik, Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Target

Just starting your accessibility journey? Have budget approval and executive buy-in and figuring out what’s next? This session will share best practices for building, advancing, and sustaining a digital accessibility framework that delivers results across the organization. Topics include: roles and cross-functional teams (including HR, procurement, communications and more), Chief Accessibility Officer and other leadership models; initial and sustained buy-in; accountability, maturity models, policies, and standards, learning and development, testing, growing and advancing disability leadership, budgeting issues.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the components of a digital accessibility framework and how to implement, sustain and grow them
2. Understand the importance of disability leadership in all phases of the digital accessibility framework
3. Recognize advantages and pitfalls of accessibility maturity models

Moderator:

• Sabrena Foxx, Senior Director of Enterprise Accessibility at Ally Financial 

Panelists:

• Paul Gallagher, Global Digital Accessibility Lead at Procter & Gamble 
• Meg Grow, Senior Consultant, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Boston Scientific 

This session will offer a deep dive into examples of leading and emerging best practices of ERG’s working with Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, and hiring managers in order to create a more open and inclusive work environment.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand how E/BRGs can support employees throughout the employment lifecycle.
2. Learn how to determine the appropriate roles E/BRGs should play when engaging with other teams–when to lead, support or advise.
3. Explore approaches for engaging hiring teams to increase awareness and inclusion.
4. Identify strategic partnerships with other E/BRGs, business stakeholders, and external partners.

Moderator:

• Rachel Weiss, Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition at Honeywell

Panelists:

• Andrea Eselunas, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leader at UnitedHealth Group
• Linda Zhao, Manager, Candidate Experience at Pfizer

This session will focus on why disability should be included in corporate ESG criteria and strategies, with an emphasis on the historical discrimination people with disabilities have faced in the workplace and the benefits of disability inclusion to businesses, corporations, and the U.S. economy as a whole.

Moderator:

• Apoorva Gandhi, Senior Vice President, Multicultural Affairs, Social Impact and Business Councils at Marriott

Panelists:

• Michael Lopez, Senior Vice President, Environmental, Social & Governance at Abercombie & Fitch

You chose to attend this conference because you want to hear what your industry peers are doing to be more disability inclusive.  Participation in this session is the first step. You will hear directly from individuals who experience a wide range of apparent and non-apparent disabilities. They will share what actions, words and interactions they consider good disability etiquette and what are the disability faux pas. This session will also offer a safe environment to ask those questions that seemed too awkward to ask.

Learning Objectives:

1. An understanding of how certain words or actions may be considered micro-aggressions
2. How respectful communication and interactions can help you successfully include employees, clients and customers in your business
3. Why authentic disability etiquette can positively impact your business

Moderator:

• Karen Roy, Brand Ambassador at Numotion 

Panelists:

• Chris Fawcett, Global Co-Chair of Pearson Able at Pearson
• Maxwell Huffman, QA Manager at Aspiritech
• Karen Perham-Lippman, Manager Supplier Diversity and ESG at Xcel Energy

Measuring supplier diversity results has always been centered around an organization’s spend with diverse-owned businesses, at both a Tier 1 and Tier 2 level. However, as supplier diversity continues to evolve and align with Environmental, Social, and Governance practices, new approaches to measuring results have emerged. Hear directly from supplier diversity leaders on how innovative metrics are telling a more comprehensive story of supplier inclusion.

Learning Objectives

1. Learn how companies are approaching traditional spend and non-spend metrics in their measurement of supplier diversity program results
2. Understand the effective solutions in managing diverse supplier data
3. Discover the new approaches to measuring results, including impact

Panelists:

• T.J. Lewis, Head of Supplier Diversity at Ally Financial
• Simone Ray, Director of Supplier Diversity at Hilton 

Disability inclusion is more than the sum of its parts. Corporate leaders, corporate functions and each business unit must commit through words and deeds to sustaining equity and inclusion. This session will highlight actions that will advance the corporate culture beyond accessibility to equity and inclusion.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define ableism and how to address it in a corporate setting.
2. Understand how leadership commitment to universal design and accessibility are sustainable processes, not just outcomes.
3. Demonstrate the impact corporate-wide, well-organized accommodations policies and practices have in preparing employees with disabilities for their current and future roles.

Panelists:

• Alleace Gibbs, Vice President, Communications at Northrop Grumman Corporation 
• Anne Hudson, Accommodations Program Manager at Southwest Airlines 
• Catherine Nichols, Vice President, Office of Accessibility at Salesforce

These sessions are open exclusively to Disability:IN certified disability-owned business enterprises (DOBE), and will provide the opportunity to interact and learn from Disability:IN corporate partners on a variety of topics.

Accessibility: The Key to Unlocking INnovation

With more than 1 billion people with disabilities in the world, come experience “Show and Tell” on some of the latest accessibility innovations.

Panelists:

• Monica Goel, Executive Director, CVS Health Accessibility at CVS Health
• Navin Thadani, CEO & Co-Founder at Evinced

Hosted by: Microsoft

Disability-Owned Business Pitch Perfect Challenge

Certified Disability-Owned Businesses will pitch corporate leaders with innovative products and services.

Pitch Judges:

• Raul Suarez-Rodriguez, Director, Economic Inclusion & Supplier Diversity Merck
• Christopher McKelvy, General Partner, K. Ventures 

Hosted By: MassMutual

Employees, customers, suppliers, and the general public need accessible and usable software and other digital tools to engage with our products and services.  An accessible procurement program, involving disabled employees throughout the employment journey is essential to recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, retaining, and advancement of employees with disabilities, and to customers’ delight and satisfaction. Procurement, accessibility, and supplier diversity professionals have the unique opportunity to unleash the power of inclusion by helping to drive positive change with digital accessibility.  Join our panel of experts to learn why accessible procurement is a business imperative for both technology buyers and sellers.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand essential components of an Accessible Procurement Program from both the buyer and seller perspectives and why digital accessibility matters to employees, applicants, customers, and the public.
2. Discover the ways digital accessibility intersects with supplier diversity and procurement and the essential steps to implementing digital accessibility within supplier diversity practices. 
3. Leverage best practices for accessible procurement training and learn how to embed accessibility into your organization’s procurement processes. 

Moderator:

• Matt Ater, Vice President Business Development and Software Engineering at Vispero

Panelists:

• Laura Allen, Head of Strategy, Accessibility & Disability Inclusion at Google
• Nedra Dickson, Managing Director, Global Supplier Inclusion & Diversity Lead at Accenture
• Steve Framil, Corporate Accessibility Lead at Merck

This session will focus on key updates at the federal level in the disability and ESG spaces. Hear from corporate and government leaders about key legislative and regulatory policy updates impacting the business and disability communities. The conversation will discuss the SEC’s Human Capital Management rulemaking, disability inclusion in ESG, disability employment policy, and other key legislative and regulatory updates. Disability:IN will also discuss its new policy agenda.

Moderator:

• Gerard Dehrmann, Senior Vice President, Government Relations and Public Affairs at Walmart

Panelists:

• Rylin Rodgers, Disability Policy Advisor at Microsoft
• Katie Wonnenberg, Principal at Public Private Strategies

Panelists:

• Shakti Harris, Head, US Inclusion and Diversity at Bayer

Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) are proud to announce the launch of the 2022 Global Disability Equality Index. The Global DEI came into fruition because many of our current partners expressed a desire to benchmark inclusion efforts around the world, both within their own brand as well as other industries. Join us to learn more about the Global DEI and how to be a part of it, as well as hhigh level findings from the 2021 Pilot of the GDEI.

Moderator:

• Dorothy Garcia, Director, Global Disability Equality Index at Disability:IN

Panelists:

• Katherine (Katie) Bush, Project Manager at Catalent
• Dawn Henderson, Senior Consultant of Quality Engineering at LexisNexis
• Michael Matthews, IT Infrastructure Site Service Coordinator and Virtualization Contributor at Solvay
• Kelley Smith, Talent and Diversity Strategic Advisor at Citigroup

Communications and Marketing are where the rubber meets the road when it comes to accessibility. In this session, we’ll cover how organizations can continue or begin their journey towards creating more inclusive and accessible content with guidelines for social media, customer-facing content, digital assets, and framing.

Learning Objectives

1. Training teams on the “Why” reasoning behind the importance of the accessibility lens on marketing and communications.
2. General practices and standards for inclusive and accessible social media content.
3. Guidelines for simple ways to create more accessible digital assets.

Moderator:

• Ron Pettit, Director, Disability Inclusion & ADA Compliance at Royal Caribbean

Accenture’s research, The Disability Inclusion Advantage, found that disability inclusive companies financially outperform their peers. This session will highlight the contributions of employees with disabilities using business case studies and provide techniques to track the impact of disability innovation on corporate processes, accessible products, and brand loyalty.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify multiple strategies to engage the disability community for the development of accessible products and packaging and brand loyalty.
2. Demonstrate the creativity and problem-solving contributions of people with disabilities using real-world business case examples.
3. Learn how to track and report metrics on how inclusion has impacted corporate processes and innovation.

Moderator:

• Megan Dolan Sr. Manager, Communications JLL Americas

Panelists:

• Thomas Wlodkowski, Vice President, Accessibility at Comcast NBC Universal

Whether your E/BRG is in the process of formation or has been in existence for a while, committed leadership and membership from all levels throughout the organization is necessary to develop and drive meaningful initiatives. This session will highlight strategies for addressing the value proposition for employee and management involvement to ensure successful membership and leadership recruitment, retention, and engagement.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explore how to develop programming that addresses membership needs while also contributing to the company’s disability inclusion strategies and aligning with other company goals and sustainability objectives.
2. Learn to recognize and manage the issues that are common with volunteer roles such as limited time due to competing work priorities with full time roles and volunteerism fatigue.
3. Identify approaches to garner company leadership support for clearing barriers to participation and ways to champion employee recognition for their involvement and associated benefits.

Moderator:

• Samantha Warren, Director, DEI at GlaxoSmithKline 

Panelists:

• Jake Hytken, DEI & ERG Engagement Manager at Snap Inc.
• Steven Johnson, Global Head, Culture, Diversity and Inclusion at Lowes Companies
• Cecilia Persson-Ramos DEI Employee Resource Group Leader at Intuit

These sessions are open exclusively to Disability:IN certified disability-owned business enterprises (DOBE), and will provide the opportunity to interact and learn from Disability:IN corporate partners on a variety of topics.

The pandemic has accelerated a mental health crisis. Accenture estimates that 90% of employees have been touched by mental health challenges, either personally or through someone they are close to. When businesses recognize this and create a culture that supports employees’ mental well-being, employees are more likely to speak openly, know where to go for help or advice, increase their productivity, and are more than twice as likely to love their jobs.

Panelists:

• Camille Chang Gilmore, Vice President Human Resources, Global Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Boston Scientific 
• Hale Pulsifer, Vice President Customer Accessibility at Fidelity

During this one-on-one speed networking session, company representatives will be matched to NextGen Leaders who possess the field of study, educational background, and/or experience they are seeking in potential job applicants. Matchmaking is exclusive to Disability:IN corporate partners.  The matching between the company and the NextGen Leaders will be conducted ahead of time, and companies will be provided the participants’ names and resumes prior to the conference. Prior registration is required.

Join us for an accessible morning HIIT training put on by the Challenged Athletes Foundation and EoS. To get that “after burn” effect, you want to train with timed intervals of hard work (strength and cardio), followed by active recovery. Pushing your heart rate to high levels will scorch calories and leave you exhausted, yet feeling amazing! All levels welcome as options and modifications are provided. No equipment necessary except a mat, mats will be provided.

Disability:IN Corporate Partners are pre-matched with certified DOBEs, V-DOBEs and SDV-DOBEs, to make their pitches and discuss potential connections.

NextGen: Discover The Future of Work

Unleash the disability advantage and leverage the power of human potential. Now is the time to dive in to the workforce of the future.

Panelists:

• Jonathan Harmatz, Senior Associate at Bristol Myers Squibb
• John McGonagle, Chair, Able & Allies BRG at Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Kristen Hayden, Champion Diver
• Megan Lawrence, Global Director Accessibility and Disability Inclusion at NIKE

Hosted By:

Innovation Lab

NextGen teams will compete to bring bold, game-changing ideas to systemically address the world’s biggest challenges and build a world where we all realize our power to create change.     

iLab Judges:

• Kerry Stith, Senior Vice President, Accessibility Director at PNC Financial Services

Hosted by: T-Mobile

Disability Equality Index (DEI) top scoring companies will share how they used the DEI as a roadmap to become more inclusive. Participating brands will discuss why they chose to take the DEI, their initial expectations and key findings. They will also share their top five DEI generated workplace initiatives and their successful outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

1. Review how top scoring DEI companies are using DEI data as a roadmap to full workplace inclusion.
2. Discover best and evolving practices to launch your disability inclusion efforts.
3. Explore key DEI findings and learn how to turn them into initiatives to advance disability inclusion across your enterprise.                

Moderator:

• Ilene Albert Executive Director, Digital Equity & Accessibility at Cox Communications

Panelists:

• Russell Shaffer, Senior Director - Global Culture, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Walmart
• Angel Colon Sr. Director Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Kroger

As more companies are setting and operationalizing goals looking through the lens of Environmental, Social, and Governance practices, the value and impact of supplier diversity has rightfully gained more attention. Join us for this panel discussion on the growing importance of ESG performance and how supplier diversity is aligning with these key metrics to achieve significant goals.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand what ESG is and how supplier diversity contributes to this broader landscape.  
2. Discover the tools and resources available to advance ESG results
3. Learn how your diverse suppliers can support your organization in achieving your ESG goals

Moderator: 

• Kenyatta Lewis, Executive Director Supplier Diversity, Sustainable Procurement & Training at MGM Resorts International

Panelists:

• Theresa Harrison, Global ESG Services Leader at Ernst & Young
• Carlos Terrazas, Disability Inclusion Manager at McDonald's

Mental health conditions are more common now than ever, but they are also treatable. The effects of COVID-19 are triggering mental health conditions or exacerbating existing ones. So why don’t we talk about them as openly as physical conditions? Treatment for the most common conditions is effective 80 percent of the time, yet only 33 percent of the people who need help will get it. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), commonly available through employers, offer free, confidential services but generally have extremely low use in the 3-5% range. More needs to be done to break the stigma and foster workplaces that encourage people to reach out for help when they need it. This session will explore promising practices on how employers are educating and providing resources to their employees.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define the connection between stress management, high performance, and mental health
2. Explore specific strategies on how to identify the signs, break the silence and encourage employees to get help
3. Describe wellbeing and EAP utilization rates since the COVID-19 outbreak.
4. Identify innovative ways for company benefits to achieve a more holistic approach that values wellbeig

Panelists:

• Carla Carlisle, Director at TIAA 
• David Gifford-Robinson, Diversity & Inclusion Manager - External Partnerships at Ericsson 

Looking to create a culture of accessibility that drives awareness and impact?  Need action steps to motivate teams and leadership?  Join Disability:IN partners as we share best practices to grow accessibility culture and belonging across the organization. Topics include: internal champion programs, ethical hackathons, and accessibility labs, planning and participation by employees and community members with disabilities, internal communications to spread accessibility knowledge and amplify accessibility wins, and leveraging times like Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) and National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) to build community and accessibility in your organization.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explore best practices for creating fun, impactful, and ethical hackathons and accessibility labs with employees and community members with disabilities.
2. Gain insight into the importance of building accessibility culture and how an accessibility champions program can help.
3. Embrace best practices for harnessing cross-organizational teams to advance digital accessibility at times like Global Accessibility Awareness Day, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Moderator:

• Kelsey Hall, Director of Customer Experience/UX at McDonald's

Panelists:

• Jennison Asuncion, Head of Accessibility Engineering Evangelism at LinkedIn
• Mike McCabe, Employee Experience Accessibility PMO at JPMorgan Chase
• Kara Zirkle, Accessibility Product Manager, Education and Consulting at Dell

Neurodiverse employees are already in the workplace. Hiring programs should acknowledge this fact and create a welcoming, inclusive culture for candidates, and new and existing neurodiverse employees. This session will outline the actions companies have taken to create a safe space that supports, advances, and retains employees who are neurodiverse.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain how-to go beyond hiring to impact neurodiverse employees’ journeys through the workplace.
2. Illustrate how corporate wide training leads to skills to support and develop individuals who are neurodiverse.
3. Describe how to create a safe space where people are comfortable disclosing… or not.

Moderator:

• Erin Evans, Director, Inclusive Talent Strategies at Prudential Financial

Panelists:

• Stephen DeStefani, Diversity & Inclusion Director, Senior Vice President at Wells Fargo 
• Natalia Lyckowski, Global Neurodiversity Advancement Leader at IBM
• Jamell Mitchell Global NCoE Ecosystem Leader Ernst & Young

These sessions are open exclusively to Disability:IN certified disability-owned business enterprises (DOBE), and will provide the opportunity to interact and learn from Disability:IN corporate partners on a variety of topics.

Supplier diversity professionals often look to their colleagues across industries to gain insights into ways to improve their own program practices, grow opportunities for diverse-owned businesses, and maximize available resources to achieve their goals. Regardless of where you are on your supplier diversity journey, you won’t want to miss this panel discussion on the stand-out strategies that are shaping the future of supplier diversity.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discover effective ways to build a new and relevant business case for supplier diversity and how to best engage internal champions
2. Learn about useful tools, resources, and strategies essential to help drive positive results
3. Understand how organizations are continuing to advance supplier inclusion on the global stage

           Moderator:

• Joyce Bender, Chief Executive Officer at Bender Consulting Services

Panelists:

• William Holmes, Director, US Supplier Diversity at Novartis

Since COVID emerged, work environments have dramatically changed. Some organizations have needed to continue to operate in-person throughout the pandemic, while others are still operating virtually or have implemented hybrid workplaces. Many E/BRGs are instrumental in supporting employees during COVID lockdowns and operate in their evolving workplaces through inclusion building initiatives. Many have also taken advantage of the virtual work environment to expand their E/BRG programming to include employees around the globe. The panelists will share approaches their E/BRGs have utilized to support members and provide useful programming within ever-changing work environments.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explore tips for ensuring flexible and effective work environments.
2. Take away practical solutions to address virtual meeting fatigue and ensure virtual meetings are accessible.
3. Learn about E/BRG involvement in mental wellness and caregiver support programs that have come to the forefront during COVID.
4. Gain insights into effective inclusive management skills.

Panelists:

• Jax Cowles, Merchandising Coordinator at Gucci
• Adrian Hawkins, Senior Immunology Account Manager at Novartis
• Marie Marquardt, Audit Managing Director at KPMG

A soup-to-nuts roadmap for producing inclusive and accessible meetings, conferences, and events. How can organizations craft positive experiences for all attendees of in-person, virtual, and hybrid events? Panelists will cover best practices from pre-planning to thank you emails.

Learning Objectives:

1. What elements need to be considered during the pre-planning period? Including pre-data surveys, registration pages and forms, accommodations budget, legal considerations, etc.
2. Considerations for inclusive and accessible hybrid events. 
3. Guidelines for next steps following the event. Including recording and disseminating virtual sessions, post-data surveys, and feedback channels.

Panelists:

• Suzanne Baugh, CEO at Q&A Events
• Apoorva Gandhi, Senior Vice President, Multicultural Affairs, Social Impact and Business Councils at Marriott
• Isabelle Gordon, Head, US Meeting & Convention Management at Bayer
• Andrew Houghton, President at Disability Inclusion Solutions

It’s been more than two years since the global Covid pandemic upended the nature of work and customer engagement across the globe. Whether we soon put the pandemic in the rear-view mirror, or whether there is a permanent shift in how the global corporation operates, we have all learned significant lessons about the importance of accessibility to evolving technologies, to our employees, and to our customers.  Join corporate leaders as we discuss digital accessibility in physical, digital, and mixed reality spaces and explore together how we can best ensure digital inclusion of people with disabilities during times of digital transformation.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discover best practices for inclusive digital technology in hybrid work and customer environments
2. Learn strategies to ensure full inclusion of employees with disabilities in a hybrid workplace
3. Understand the issues of digital inclusion for emerging technologies (virtual reality, metaverse, etc.)

Moderator:

• James Deignan, Inclusive Workplaces Lead at Texthelp

Panelists:

• Darryl Adams, Director of Accessibility at Intel
• Laurie Henneborn, Managing Director at Accenture

Hear from corporate ESG professionals about how you can integrate disability inclusion into your ESG priorities. Learn about resources to help you on this journey, how to begin identifying people with disabilities for your board of directors, and more.

Moderator:

• Rhett Buttle, Principal at Public Private Strategies

Panelists:

• Janine Jansen, Global Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Lead at Organon 

These sessions are open exclusively to Disability:IN certified disability-owned business enterprises (DOBE), and will provide the opportunity to interact and learn from Disability:IN corporate partners on a variety of topics.

This event is exclusively for companies who scored a 100, 90 or 80 on the 2022 Disability Equality Index (DEI).

During this dinner, Disability:IN will present the 2022 Inclusion Awards and DEI top-scoring companies will be recognized. Stop by early to get a cocktail and take photos!

Performance by Lachi

Lachi is a creative artist, singer, songwriter, inclusion advocate, and Founder of RAMPD who's released songs with major and international labels and artists, collaborating with some of the biggest names in Dance music. Boasting millions of streams, Lachi's music has debuted on national charts, aired on TV, radio and film, and has been featured in Billboard, Forbes, NY Times, Hollywood Reporter and Essence to name a few.

Performance by Lachi Hosted By: Northrop Grumman Corporation

Emcee:

• Wil Lewis, Global Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer at Experian 

Remarks:

• Jill Houghton President & CEO at Disability:IN
• Ted Kennedy, Jr., Partner at Epstein Becker Green, Co-Chair of the Disability Equality Index (DEI), and Board Member at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)

Hosted by: Experian

The military has its own culture. It has a language, a style, and unique code of conduct. As a result, the transition that occurs when veterans and their families leave the military world and re-enter civilian life can be difficult. The social and workplace norms of the military do not always align with those in civilian life. The employer plays a crucial role in the transition and can be helpful by creating a veteran-informed culture in the workplace. By creating a veteran-informed culture, employers will help veterans make a positive connection to their new work environment, leading to increased engagement and ultimately higher retention rates, which benefits both the veteran and the company.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand military culture and disability to leverage recruiting
2. Learn how you can support the veteran transition process and help them understand and take pride in their new disability status
3. Gain information on practices and programs that lead to successful retention

Panelists:

• Lance Dorsey, Director Supplier Diversity & Sustainability at SONY
• Lucy Del Gaudio, Manager, Culture & Engagement at Prudential Financial
• Odie Gray, President at Dominus Gray

As resource groups begin to mature and seek ways to elevate their impact, many pivot their focus to include alignment with broader business objectives. Hear from peers who have made this transition as they share their successes, lessons learned, and impact to their businesses.  This session will also offer examples of initiatives ERGs can undertake in partnership with various departments within their companies to positively impact both disability inclusion and the bottom line.

Learning Objectives:

1. How to evolve the purpose of your resource group from employee focus to broader business impacts.
2. Determine strategies for aligning E/BRG goals to business objectives.
3. Gain insights into how to effectively foster collaborative internal partnerships to drive advances in disability inclusion while contributing to the company’s bottom line.
4. Identify different ways to highlight accomplishments that promote the value of the E/BRG.

Moderator:

• Vivian Ayuso-Sanchez, Director DEI, Disability & Affirmative Action at Walgreens

Panelists:

• Shaun Amabile, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Associate at BlackRock
• Alison Faye, Johnson Co-Chair of Raytheon Technologies ADAPT ERG at Raytheon
• Jenn Padgett, Manager, Internal Partnerships at General Motors

If corporate recruiters are not disability inclusive, employment opportunities will remain closed to candidates with disabilities. This panel will discuss how they overcame disability stigma in cultures around the world to create inclusive job descriptions and a recruiting process that seeks and welcomes candidates with disabilities.

Learning Objectives:

1. Demonstrate global real-world examples to overcome disability stigma.
2. Learn how-to globally adjust your recruitment practices by engaging the disability community and understanding country rules/regulations & customs.
3. Describe how to weave inclusive language into job descriptions and inclusivity into employer branding.
4. Learn how to establish culturally sensitive onboarding.

Panelists:

• Tara Buffi, National Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Senior Recruiter at Deloitte
• Amanda Scott, Senior Specialist, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility at Enbridge

Open exclusively to Disability:IN certified disability-owned business enterprises (DOBE), this matchmaking event will allow DOBEs to meet and find ways to work together.

Our Inclusion Works companies through the Global Disability Equality Index (GDEI) found that executive leadership and Business/Employee Resource Group Engagement are key to advancing disability inclusion and self-identification around the globe. With a majority of disabilities being nonapparent, learn how corporations are inspiring inclusive cultures by highlighting disabilities as a strength and not a vulnerability.