2024 Conference Agenda

Walk the meeting space at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas to become oriented with the space. Tours will depart from the Conference Registration Desk, located on floor 4. 

Walk the meeting space at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas to become oriented with the space. Tours will depart from the Conference Registration Desk, located on floor 4. 

The Neurodiversity @ Work Employer Roundtable, a collection of employers committed to neurodiversity-focused hiring initiatives, is hosting an event designed to provide valuable insights and strategies for embracing neurodiversity in the workplace.

1:00 PM – 2:15 PM

Opening Presentation: Join us for an exciting event focused on the practical implementation of Neurodiversity programs in the workplace. This "TEDx-style" event will feature inspiring stories, diverse perspectives, and actionable insights to help organizations kickstart and scale successful Neurodiversity initiatives.

2:15 PM – 4:00 PM

Roundtable Open House: Following the presentation, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in a roundtable open house. This interactive segment allows you to converse with various employers, explore different topics, and gain a deeper

understanding of creating a supportive and neuroinclusive culture from experts leading the way in Neuroinclusion.

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. 

The Social Corner is a space for connecting our in-person attendees with the broader business community and our at-home audiences around the world. Partners will be given the opportunity to participate in a live interview discussing their company's disability inclusion efforts & conference experience with Disability:IN's followers. These interviews will be edited and published on the Disability:IN social channels.  

Appetizers will be provided.

Music by DJ Kazeem

Music Hosted by: Becton Dickinson

Kick off your conference day with Achilles International, where you’ll be lead through a 30-minute session designed to energize both body and mind. This accessible, circuit-style workout is perfect for everyone, requiring no equipment or prior experience. Join us to start your day with positivity and movement!

Walk the meeting space at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas to become oriented with the space. Tours will depart from the Conference Registration Desk, located on floor 4. 

2024 marks a decade of the impact of the Disability Equality Index and Inclusion Works (IW). Since their inception, participation in the Disability Equality Index has grown 6x – from 80 companies in the inaugural year to 485 in 2023, and Inclusion Works companies have hired nearly 400,000 employees with disabilities over the last ten years. We kick-off the 2024 Global Conference & Expo by mapping business inclusion trends around the world with insights from the DEI, featuring the wisdom of participating  Inclusion Works companies that have made disability inclusion a strategic business priority. We will dive into the future of building inclusive businesses for all as well as the growing importance of publicly reporting your disability data.   

Speakers: 

• MaryAnn Beebe – Lead Accessibility Program Engineer at General Motors
• Ebony Burt – Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Wells Fargo
• David Casey – Chief Inclusion and Social impact Officer at Tapestry
• Jesse Cortez – Chief Diversity Officer at McKesson
• Camille Chang Gilmore – VP Human Resources, Global Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at Boston Scientific
• Robert Dolan – President & CEO at Cashman Photo Enterprises
• Jill Houghton – President & CEO at Disability:IN
• Katherine Lees – CEO at Dozanü Innovations
• Brendan Nelson – President, Boeing Global at Boeing
• David Sneddon – Vice President at Google
• Leslie Wilson – Executive Vice President, Global Workplace Initiatives at Disability:IN
• Marissa Woodbeck – Head of Digital Accessibility for Experience Design for U.S. Bank

Each culture perceives disability through its unique cultural lens, and culture has a profound impact on inclusive workplace strategies. This session will feature LATAM corporate leaders discussing the topics below and outlining how they are engaging their workforces while acknowledging the cultural influence on disability inclusion.

• The Impact of Culture on Disability Inclusion in LATAM Workplaces
• Approaches to Disability Etiquette and Language for Colleagues, People Managers & Recruiters
• LATAM Accommodations/Adjustments Policies and Practices

Panelists:

• Margarita Abella – LATAM Corporate Disability Inclusion Consultant at Disability:IN
• Gabriela Burgardt – Head of Diversity Equity Inclusion Latam at Adidas 
• Leonardo Knittel Dias – ENABLED Global President at Chevron 
• Ezequiel Massa – Head of Diversity & Inclusion, Latin America & Carribean at SAP
• Pamela Trevino – Talent & Development Director at DHL

Talent acquisition initiatives specifically designed to attract qualified candidates with disabilities are a focus of most corporations as 57% of the participants in the 2023 Disability Equality Index indicated their company has an external disability hiring goal of some kind. However, the nature, measurement and reporting of such hiring goals can vary dramatically from company-to-company. How companies support potential recruits with disabilities can also differ greatly as just 69% of 2023 Disability Equality Index respondents reported they make all job candidates aware of the option to request an accommodation for the interview. This session examines the corporate recruitment and hiring best practices that can result in the increased attraction and employment of talent with disabilities. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Explore inclusive recruitment strategies that actively attract candidates with disabilities, ensuring a diverse talent pool. 
2. Learn tips for creating accessible and bias-mitigated application processes, interviews, and assessments to provide equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities. 
3. Discover the importance of building partnerships with disability organizations and utilizing accessible communication channels to reach and engage potential candidates. 

Moderator:  

• Kasey Kirwin – Talent Acquisition Manager at Honeywell 

Panelists: 

• Christine Aurigemma – Senior Manager, Candidate Experience at Pfizer 
• Joyce Bender – Chief Executive Officer at Bender Consulting Services 
• Luke Mann – Senior Manager – Talent Acquisition at Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Charles Mason II – Talent Acquisition Team Leader at Southwest Airlines 

The United Nations estimates that 1.3 billion people globally live with a disability, yet the pool of certified Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (DOBEs) doesn’t currently reflect this significant portion of the world’s population. Disabled business owners have been reluctant to disclose their disability status for a multitude of reasons, much less certify their businesses as disability-owned. As more corporations are including DOBEs within their supplier diversity and inclusion initiatives, the need to increase the number of contract-ready DOBEs is a top priority. This session highlights best practices for identifying potential DOBEs currently in respective corporate supply chains and attracting new suppliers eligible for DOBE certification.  

Learning Objectives: 

1. Gain insight into the challenges that impact supplier self-disclosure and effective solutions that can be implemented to increase voluntary disclosure and the pursuit of certification. 
2. Discover the elements of the new DOBE I.D. Toolkit developed by Disability:IN and innovative approaches to identifying and engaging with Disability-Owned Business Enterprises. 
3. Learn practical techniques for sharing resources with procurement and sourcing teams, prime suppliers, Employee/Business Resource Group members, and other key stakeholders that will help to increase DOBE spend. 

Moderator:

• Casey Oakes – Head of External Relations; Supplier Inclusion & Sustainability at Google 

Panelists:

• Heather Cox – President at Certify My Company
• Meredith Melecki – Senior Manager, Global Supplier Diversity at Dell
• Nadine Mullings – Senior Manager, Supplier Inclusion at Walmart Inc.
• Raul Suarez-Rodriguez – Director, Global Economic Inclusion & Business Diversity at Merck

An organization’s greatest resource is its people, and the stories of your people are powerful tools for recruiting and retaining talent, connecting with customers and building brand equity, and creating a culture of belonging. Employee/Business Resource Groups (E/BRGs) can amplify the voices of your organization by working with marketing/communications colleagues to integrate accurate, affirming, and authentic personal narratives into your corporate storytelling strategy for maximum impact. This session will examine techniques for how E/BRGs and marketing/communications teams can highlight individual experiences of people with disabilities to craft compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Understand how to identify compelling personal narratives within your organization and create welcoming and accessible channels for individuals to share their stories. 
2. Learn techniques for effectively incorporating compelling personal narratives into communications strategies. 
3. Explore methods for handling diverse perspectives responsibly and effectively to ensure messaging campaigns are accurate, affirming, and authentic to the subject as well as impactful to the audience. 

Moderator: 

• Jenna McMullin – Vice President of Space Communications at Lockheed Martin Corporation 

Panelists: 

• Austin Alpern – Senior Business Consultant – Americas Disability BRG Leader at Ernst & Young
• Shivani Annirood – Corporate Communications Manager at TD Bank
• Kiki Ehlers – Director of Communications at Wabtec Corporation
• Victoria Lim – Senior Manager, Corporate Communications at Experian
• Joanna Del Orbe Mejia – Communications & Enablement Specialist at Salesforce

While disability etiquette is ever-evolving, globally situational, and open to individual interpretation, there are universal attitudes, behaviors, and language that can help you set a firm foundation. Whether you’re a newcomer to the disability community or a seasoned veteran, everyone can benefit from established etiquette best practices. This session features professionals with apparent and non-apparent disabilities outlining the fundamentals of sound etiquette and providing a safe space to get answers to those questions that might be too awkward to ask elsewhere.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn what ableism means and how certain words and actions could be considered non-inclusive.
2. Discover how respectful and disability-inclusive conversations and interactions can expand the potential for favorable employee, customer, supplier, and community experiences for your business.
3. Gain insight into your own disability etiquette situations and scenarios during a safe space open discussion.

Moderator: 

• Dr. Elsa DeGoias – Senior Analyst, Disability Inclusion & ADA Compliance, Royal Caribbean Group at Royal Caribbean 

Panelists:

• Darryl Adams – Director of Accessibility at Intel 
• Carron Gibbs – Managing Director – Global Delivery Lead at Accenture  
• Lauren Lobrano – Principal Program Manager, Disability Inclusion at Amazon 
• Danny Tanchez – Manufacturing Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman Corporation 

Self-identification campaigns enable organizations to better understand their global workforce, facilitate dialogue, and create programs that support diverse employees. Employees with disabilities, however, might be reluctant to self-identify for a variety of valid reasons. A disability-focused self ID campaign can help shape the narrative surrounding global self-identification and inspire employee participation. This session will explore the basics of building a disability self ID campaign, including how to secure legal and leadership support; create effective marketing through storytelling; and considerations on how to collect and report data. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Define self-identification and self-disclosure and gain an understanding of how effective self-disclosure through storytelling can translate to increased rates of voluntary and confidential self-identification. 
2. Learn best practices for effective global self ID campaigns, including selecting a platform for data collection, crafting an enterprise communications campaign, navigating legal and privacy considerations, and establishing governance for appropriate data stewardship and transparency. 
3. Identify internal stakeholders who can play a pivotal role in self ID initiatives, including Legal, Human Resources, Corporate Communications, and Employee/Business Resource Groups, and strategies for effective collaboration to maximize impact. 

Moderator: 

• Jennifer Williamson: Senior Director Culture and Diversity at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals 

Panelists:

• Ann Anaya – SVP & Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Cencora
• Dennis Malinis – Director for Global Disability Inclusion at Expedia
• Damu McCoy – Executive Vice President, Head of Talent Acquisition at Wells Fargo
• Hillary Wool – Partner at Boston Consulting Group

Active support from committed C-Suite leaders who drive initiatives across the organization is vital for creating and sustaining truly accessible and inclusive cultures. Such mature programs are rare, however they are the goal of every accessibility professional. While each is organizationally unique, mature accessibility programs often feature similarities in terms of structure and have evolved over time to be embedded in corporate culture. This session provides an advanced look at hard lessons learned, effective communication use cases, and proven strategies for enhancing, expanding, and sustaining a maturing accessibility program.  

Learning Objectives: 

1. Understand the accessibility landscape, learn about the latest trends and advancements in the field, and discover how to avoid pitfalls along the way.  
2. Delve into how to secure leadership support and effectively plan and implement advanced accessibility strategies that align with your organizational goals. 
3. Explore how to measure the success of your accessibility efforts, such as through the Disability Equality Index, and use these insights to continuously improve your program strategy and initiatives. 

Moderator: 

• Andrew Holbrook – Chief Accessibility Officer at Wells Fargo 

Panelists:   

• Kim Findura – Director of Web Accessibility at Prudential Financial  
• Claudia Gordon – Senior DEI Consultant - Accessibility at T-Mobile 
• Preety Kumar – CEO at Deque Systems 
• Kelly Risser – Accessibility Banking Director at U.S. Bank 

Accessibility directly impacts all aspects of disability inclusion. New developments continuously unlock paths for more people to participate meaningfully and fully. This session explores revolutionary progress in digital accessibility and the critical role of communications leadership in modeling accessibility for all. At the heart of matter, we celebrate the powerful everyday innovations driven by talent with disabilities.   

Lunch will be provided. 

Speakers:

• Ryan Asdourian – Chief Marketing Officer at Lumen
• Dylan Barrell – Chief Product/ Technology Officer at Deque Systems
• Gwennie Cheung – Global Marketing + Communications Lead, Inclusion & Diversity at Accenture 
• Nedra Dickson – Managing Director, Global Supplier Inclusion & Sustainability Lead at Accenture 
• Jenny Lay-Flurrie – Vice President, Chief Accessibility Officer at Microsoft 
• Catherine Nichols – VP, Office of Accessibility at Salesforce 
• John Pluhowski – Senior Vice President, Chief Communications Officer at TD Bank
• Jessica Rafuse – Director, Accessibility Strategic Partnerships & Policy at Microsoft
• Diogo Rau – Executive Vice President- Chief Information & Digital Officer at Eli Lilly and Company 
• Navin Thadani – CEO & Co-Founder at Evinced
• Jeff Wissell – Chief Accessibility Officer at Disability:IN

The Disability Equality Index celebrates 10 years of corporate disability inclusion benchmarking in 2024, and in the United States is now trusted by more than 70% of the Fortune 100 and nearly half of the Fortune 500. This milestone year for the Disability Equality Index was marked by the international expansion of scored benchmarks in seven countries, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom, following a two-year unscored global pilot that engaged nearly 100 companies. This session provides findings from the 2024 Disability Equality Index and offers a look ahead to the future of the global benchmark. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Look ahead at the future of the Disability Equality Index and how it will continually evolve to meet the changing needs of global multi-national corporations that are committed to advancing disability inclusion. 
2. Gain insights on how multi-national companies are leveraging the Disability Equality Index to develop and evolve global disability inclusion strategies to engage enterprise leadership and utilize the benchmark to establish and track success metrics. 
3. Explore best practices for building inclusive global programs for employees, customers, and suppliers with disabilities. 

Moderator:  

• Laurie Henneborn – Managing Director at Accenture  

Panelists: 

• Stuart Persky – Director, EEO & HR Compliance at Sanofi
• Jessica Rafuse – Director, Accessibility Strategic Partnerships & Policy at Microsoft 
• Dominique Sellers – VP, Supplier Diversity & Sustainable Sourcing at Paramount 
• Jessica Vanscavish – Head of Disability, Absence, Life & Support Health Products at Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

Physical space accessibility is the degree to which an environment is usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. Accessible design for all advances usability by considering the diverse needs of all potential users from the outset. This session introduces the key design principles, requirements, benefits, challenges, and financial considerations that result in sustainable practices across a global organization. 
 
Learning Objectives: 

1. Understand the concepts and principles of accessible design for all and how they relate to physical space accessibility, including an examination of global best practices in strategic development and implementation. 
2. Learn how to make work life healthier, safer, and more productive while promoting a sense of belonging and engagement. 
3. Discover how to secure executive support, navigate challenges, and achieve measurable results. 

Moderator: 

• Andrew Houghton – Principal at Disability Inclusion Solutions  

Panelists: 

• Angel Enriquez – Director, Inclusive Experiences & Technology, Employee Experience at Amazon
• Emily MacKinnon – Director of Emerging Experiences at Starbucks 
• Andrea Snead – Director, DEI at United States Tennis Association 
• Don Watson – SVP Real Estate and Facilities Management at Oracle

Depression, generalized anxiety, and other mental health conditions are a constant and consistent component of daily life for the people they affect. There is no choice to check your mental health at the door when beginning your work day; the only option is to navigate the workplace with a focus on mitigating triggers and maximizing wellness. This is best achieved through a collaborative effort that involves active engagement from employees living with mental health conditions along with their colleagues, managers, and the organization at large. This session will delve into proactive strategies for fostering workplace wellness and a culture of inclusion while also highlighting specific tactics for accommodating and supporting employees living with mental health conditions.  

Learning Objectives: 

1. Equip participants to recognize the signs of depression and anxiety in themselves and their colleagues and provide positive ways to respond and offer support in a professional manner. 
2. Identify and discuss common workplace stressors that can impact mental health along with practical strategies for building resilience such as self-care and stress management techniques. 
3. Examine effective organizational policies, leadership practices, and environmental shifts that can create cultures of inclusion and well-being which can serve to destigmatize mental health matters and open up necessary dialogues that result in psychologically safe workplaces. 

Moderator: 

• Nicholas Iadevaio – Vice President DEI at L’Oreal USA

Panelists: 

• Brittany Harrison – Mental Health Workstream Co Lead for the Capabilities Resource Group at Capital One 
• Amal Hussain – Senior Specialist, Global Inclusion and Diversity at Gallagher
• DeShaun Wise Porter – VP, Strategic Pathways and Recognition at Hilton
• Eria Myers – Consulting Clinician at Deloitte

A growing number of countries are implementing disability hiring quotas. These quotas establish a baseline requirement for businesses; however, compliance often raises awareness of disability inclusive benefits and motivates companies to meet and go beyond minimum standards to hire and retain talent with disabilities. This session highlights best practices from businesses that are meeting and exceeding in-country hiring quotas, and how they are recruiting and supporting employees with disabilities in those countries.

Learning Objectives

1. Gain insight into a sample of countries around the globe that have disability employment quotas and an overview of requirements for employers operating in these markets.
2. Learn best practices for how to source disability talent in markets with quotas and strategies for how to create a disability inclusive culture that is supportive for new hires and existing employees who newly disclose.
3. Explore how to go beyond compliance with quotas to establish stretch goals focused on exceeding government requirements and the organizational commitment required to lead in this area.

Moderator: 

• Scott Drach – VP of HR at Boeing Global 

Panelists: 

• Neil Barnett - Director of Accessibility at Microsoft
• Gabriela Burgardt – Head Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Latin America at Adidas 
• Alisha Fernando - Head of Diversity & Inclusion, APAC at Bloomberg 
• Joanne Neddo – Global Vice President, DEI at Sodexo

The pursuit of larger corporate clients for many smaller Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (DOBEs) can often be daunting and sometimes disappointing. When the lack of experience, size, and capacity to deliver on a large scale gets you down, look no further than potential Tier 2 opportunities to grow your portfolio. Often overlooked or discounted, Tier 2 contracts can positively impact your bottom line while also putting your company on a path to larger clients. This session aims to empower DOBEs to capitalize on Tier 2 procurement opportunities for capacity-building, growth, and sustainability when Tier 1 contracts currently seem out of reach.   

Learning Objectives: 

1. Receive practical guidance on navigating Tier 2 procurement processes, including certification requirements, supplier qualification criteria, and engagement strategies. 
2. Explore best practices for positioning your business as a valuable Tier 2 supplier.  
3. Discover the importance of building sustainable partnerships with Tier 1 suppliers, corporations, and advocacy partners to create lasting business opportunities. 

Moderator:  

• Brian Hall – Sr. Advisor; Supplier Diversity – SBLO at Shell USA, Inc. 

Panelists: 

• John Croswell – Partner & Founder at Strong Tower 
• Hannah Kain – CEO at ALOM 
• David Orme – Director, Enterprise Supplier Programs at Cox Communications 
• Heather Herndon Wright – Director, Supply Chain Diversity & Sustainability at Vistra Corp 

Going beyond compliance and demonstrating business value and social impact is essential for growing a fledgling accessibility program into a flourishing one. It’s crucial that companies with successful accessibility programs continue to strive for impact while also measuring metrics that prove the need for and benefits of requested resources. This session explores how to gain increased leadership support and effective strategies and tactics for requesting additional funding and headcount to grow your early-stage accessibility program.  

Learning Objectives: 

1. Discover how to find the key stakeholders and decision-makers across the organization who can influence the growth and sustainability of your accessibility program. 
2. Develop a compelling business case and a strategic plan for expanding your existing accessibility program as well as establishing a procurement accessibility program. 
3. Learn to implement best practices and standards for integrating accessibility into organizational culture, processes, and products while also developing measures for success and validation. 

Moderator: 

• Bert Floyd – Sr. Manager, Accessibility at TD Bank

Panelists:

• Elana Chapman – Accessibility Research Manager at Fable 
• Sam Latif – Company Accessibility Leader at Procter & Gamble
• Megan Lawrence – Global Director of Accessibility and Disability Inclusion at NIKE
• Greg Williams – Chief Architect at Deque Systems

There are many ways in which disability Employee/Business Resource Groups (E/BRGs) can collaborate across the enterprise to raise employee voices and foster inclusion. When the collective resources of all E/BRGs and other internal partners are pooled to drive initiatives, such cooperative efforts have the potential to produce greater results. This session offers global examples of initiatives E/BRGs can undertake, such as supporting self-identification campaigns, accessibility initiatives, and talent recruitment and advancement strategies, to positively impact both disability inclusion and the bottom line. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Learn how to identify key internal stakeholders and develop strategic partnerships to gain buy-in and support for E/BRG initiatives. 
2. Discover how to foster cooperative intersectionality among E/BRGs representing other diverse populations, create a cohesive community to shape policy and program changes, and build a more inclusive culture for all. 
3. Explore how E/BRGs can leverage organizational expertise and the experience and passion of allies to drive positive outcomes. 

Moderator: 

• Cora Okine – Associate Director at Verizon

Panelists: 

• Joseph Braun – Electric Distribution Supervisor at Exelon 
• Doug Fischer – Sr. Human Factors Engineering Associate Technical Fellow at Boeing 
• Jonathan Goldstien – National Co-Chair, Capabilities CRG at CVS Health 
• Justin Mcneeley – Global ERG Co-Lead at Fidelity  

Celebrate ten years of the Disability Equality Index by honoring the Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion around the world in 2024 and recognize the Inclusion Award Winners. This year, the benchmark opened to companies in eight markets around the world: Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This awards ceremony acknowledges today’s top scoring companies while looking toward tomorrow’s multinational trends in disability inclusion.   

Speakers:

• Joyce Bender – Chief Executive Officer at Bender Consulting Services
• Tony Gladney – Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at MGM Resorts International
• Angela Harrell – SVP, Chief Diversity & Corporate Impact Officer at Voya Financial
• Jill Houghton – President & CEO of Disability:IN
• Supriya Jha – Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at SAP
• Sarah Loucks –  Autism at Work Global Lead at SAP
• Liliana Robu – Principal | Purpose & DEI Leader at Deloitte
• Russell Shaffer – Executive Vice President, Programs and Strategy at Disability:IN

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. 

Speaker:  

• Joyce Bender – Chief Executive Officer at Bender Consulting Services  

The Social Corner is a space for connecting our in-person attendees with the broader business community and our at-home audiences around the world. Partners will be given the opportunity to participate in a live interview discussing their company's disability inclusion efforts & conference experience with Disability:IN's followers. These interviews will be edited and published on the Disability:IN social channels.  

Appetizers will be provided. 

Kick off your conference day with Achilles International, where you’ll be lead through a 30-minute session designed to energize both body and mind. This accessible, circuit-style workout is perfect for everyone, requiring no equipment or prior experience. Join us to start your day with positivity and movement!

Walk the meeting space at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas to become oriented with the space. Tours will depart from the Conference Registration Desk, located on floor 4. 

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

Our disabilities provide us with highly valuable skills such as creativity, critical thinking, communication, empathy, adaptability, and flexibility to thrive in an ever-evolving employment landscape. For many of us, pride in being is fostered through mentorship and connection to other people with disabilities. This session celebrates #DisabilityTalent at every level of an organization and career stage. Hear pitches from Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (DOBEs) with the next big idea to launch their business forward and from our NextGen Leaders who have been innovating new ideas throughout the conference.  

Lunch will be provided. 

Speakers:

• Rachel Ardoin – Supply Chain Advisor- US Supplier Diversity at Shell USA, Inc. 
• Chiril Calin – AI/ML Software Engineer at Pfizer
• Fiona Dawson – Founder & Director at Free Lion Productions
• Antoine Hinton – Director, Supplier Diversity at Dollar General 
• Brian Horn – Chief Operating Officer at Disability:IN
• Wil Lewis – Global Chief DEI & Talent Acquisition Officer at Experian
• Manisha Mehrotra – EMEA Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Bloomberg
• Rich Prange – Vice President – Real Estate, Facilities, Sustainability and Professional Services at Discover 
• Julie Rakes – Senior Manager, Supplier Diversity at Capital One
• Amanda (Mandy) Scipione – Head of Global Diversity and Inclusion at Fidelity 
• Tiffany Solberg – SVP, Life Event Services Manager – International Operations & Disability Strategy at Bank of America 
• Annette Underwood – Chief Diversity Officer at Vistra Corp

Accessibility is an increasingly important factor when it comes to a corporation’s brand sentiment. A recent study showed that 39% of users expect brands to ensure that content is accessible to those with disabilities.  This session offers practical guidance for prioritizing accessibility across various social platforms, strategies for educating teams, and leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to create content that everyone can access. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Explore accessibility best practices tailored for major social media platforms including LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, X, and TikTok. 
2. Learn strategies for incorporating accessibility guidelines into creative briefs along with tactics for motivating and educating social media teams to prioritize accessibility in content creation. 
3. Discover how to leverage AI to create inclusive content responsibly and effectively. 

Moderator:  

• Austin Balaich – Creative Director at Sorenson Communications 

Panelists: 

• Jennison Asuncion – Head of A11y Engineering Evangelism at LinkedIn 
• Angela Barker – Director of Accessibility at UKG
• Steve Ducos – Head, Inclusive Marketing & Media Capability at Johnson & Johnson
• Kellie Mater – Chief Marketing Officer at CAI

Join corporate representatives to learn APAC-based companies’ workplace inclusive efforts to address compliance requirements and move beyond. Topics to be discussed include:

1. Disability Inclusion in the Workplace: Overcoming Challenges Employees with Disabilities Experience
2. Etiquette and Language for Colleagues, People Managers & Recruiters
3. Impactful APAC Accommodations/Adjustments Policies and Practices

Moderator:  

• David Casey – Chief Inclusion and Social Impact Officer at Tapestry

Panelists: 

• Sam Giese – Manager, Business Systems Analytics Digital Channels at Fiserv
• Ching-Shiuan Jiang – APAC Lead Disability Inclusion Consultant at Disability:IN
• Chaitanya Nangia – Director – Compliance & Operational Risk Executive at Bank of America 
• Miriam Sera Paul – Diversity and Inclusion Director at Micron Technology

Change is happening rapidly as it relates to global sustainability and regulatory reporting requirements for corporations, and such changes have real implications for procurement and supplier diversity professionals. This session highlights the current and anticipated regulations and policies such as the European Sustainability Reporting Standards that are already influencing how companies help drive community impact and economic growth.   

Learning Objectives: 

1. Understand the implications for key regulations, standards, and policies related to global supply chain transparency, ethical sourcing, labor rights, and environmental sustainability. 
2. Learn how to adapt global procurement strategies to ensure compliance with evolving regulatory requirements and international standards. 
3. Delve into insights about future trends, emerging issues, and evolving best practices in responsible procurement.  

Moderator: 

• Brenda Arnold – Supplier Inclusion Program Manager at Robert Half

Panelists:  

• Nino Campos – Sr. Manager, Global Supplier Diversity at Randstad  
• Wade Colclough – Executive Director, Supplier Diversity at Avantor Inc.  
• Eboni Edwards – Global Supplier Diversity Development Manager at CBRE 
• Arpit Gupta – Senior Manager at PepsiCo  

Reasonable accommodations policies are often viewed as the forerunner of workplace disability inclusion programming. Yet as corporations are increasingly global, a compliance-centric, “one size fits all” approach to accommodations is becoming antiquated and constraining for the dynamic modern workforce. Companies are taking a myriad of approaches to their accommodations processes as evidenced by just 58% of 2023 Disability Equality Index respondents reporting that they utilize a centralized accommodations fund and/or allow managers a budget margin for accommodation expenses. This session explores contemporary legal considerations impacting workplace accommodations for today’s globalizing marketplace as well as evolving accommodation solutions and best practices for maximizing inclusion and effectiveness.  

Learning Objectives: 

1. Examine legal frameworks that impact workplace accommodations, including significant country- and region-specific policies, and how to ensure compliance with disability and anti-discrimination laws. 
2. Learn practical strategies for assessing reasonable accommodations/productivity tools requests and implementing effective solutions that take into consideration the diverse needs of employees with disabilities. 
3. Explore various strategic models for structuring a reasonable accommodations program, including optimum organizational positioning and governance; centralized vs. decentralized; global vs. market-specific; in-house vs. outsourced; blending proactive accessibility with reactive accommodations; and more.  

Moderator:  

• Christine Vanek – Director, Global Accommodations & Accessibility at Otis

Panelists: 

• Nikki Alphonse – Sr. Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Operations at Northrop Grumman Corporation 
• Ina Charles – Inclusion & Diversity Partner at Lyft 
• Melissa Sape – Digital Accessibility Service Manager at Dow Chemical Company
• Janet Skaalrud – Occupational Health Lead at Johnson & Johnson

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming almost every industry and facet of modern life – enabling new possibilities and opportunities for people with diverse backgrounds, abilities, and needs. Large language models (LLMs) are just one type of AI that can generate natural language texts based on a given input such as a question or keyword. LLMs have shown promising results in various tasks, such as summarization, translation, dialogue, and content creation. Common concerns and challenges, such as data quality, bias, fairness, privacy, and security, are also present with LLMs and other AI models. This session examines the rapidly changing current state and the fragmenting future directions of LLMs with an accessibility and accommodations lens, highlighting some recent cases and innovations, as well as learnings and best practices focused on the full inclusion of people with disabilities.  

Learning Objectives: 

1. Develop a working knowledge of AI and LLMs, including their potential and limitations, and how they can complement and augment existing accessibility and accommodations tools and solutions. 
2. Gain insights and tips on how to design, develop, and deploy LLMs for accessibility in an ethical and inclusive manner, and how to avoid or mitigate common pitfalls and risks. 
3. Discuss the potential adoption and application of ethical and inclusive principles and guidelines when creating and using AI and LLMs for accessibility. 

 Moderator: 

• Annette Rosta – Accessibility Leader at KPMG

Panelists:

• Samantha Estoesta – Project Manager, Social Innovation at TD Bank 
• Jenny Lay-Flurrie – Vice President, Chief Accessibility Officer at Microsoft  
• David Sloan – Chief Accessibility Officer - Vispero 
• Thomas Wlodkowski – Vice President, Accessibility at Comcast NBC Universal 

Leaders develop future leaders, so it is imperative that senior leaders are involved in shaping and championing development initiatives designed to grow and advance talent with disabilities. The 2023 Disability Equality Index found that 92% of participating companies have a senior executive within two levels of the CEO who is a visible ally for the disability community. Yet just 5% of those same companies indicated that they have advancement and retention programs solely focused on their employees with disabilities. This session features executives and other leaders discussing how to design and deploy professional development and leadership programs for talent with disabilities, including effective strategies for leveraging Employee/Business Resource Groups (E/BRGs) in the process.   

Learning objectives: 

1. Examine effective professional and leadership development strategies that include talent with disabilities and how to measure and report the business benefits of such initiatives.  
2. Discover how executive sponsors listen, learn, and engage, and how they can work with E/BRG leaders to advocate for inclusive talent development strategies. 
3. Discuss methods for tying disability inclusion into the performance objectives of senior leaders to maximize adoption and impact. 

Moderator:

• Kimberly Brown – VP, Facilities, Capital and Logistics Procurement at GSK

Panelists:

• Karl Doss – Workforce Diversity Director (DEI) at Freddie Mac
• Dennis Middleton – Senior Director- Technology at Liberty Mutual
• Cynthia Vodopivec – Senior Vice President – Environmental, Health & Safety at Vistra Corp

Disability Employee/Business Resource Groups (E/BRGs) have become an integral part of corporate inclusion and accessibility strategies with 89% of participants in the 2023 Disability Equality Index indicating that they have such a group and nearly half having been founded in the past five years. Around the globe, disability E/BRGs are advocating for tools that enhance productivity, helping their companies create accessible products and services, and fostering cultures of inclusion. This session explores how companies are growing and strengthening their  global workplaces through the efforts of their disability-focused E/BRGs.  

Learning Objectives: 

1. Learn about voluntary self-identification/disclosure campaigns and other strategies for creating a safe space for employees with disabilities to feel included, share their personal journeys, and engage with the E/BRG community. 
2. Explore ways to expand the membership of your disability E/BRG through deepened engagement with allies. 
3. Discover how to engage your Executive Sponsor to ensure that the E/BRG goals are aligned with the business goals, help make connections across the organization, and remove barriers. 

Moderator: 

• Jennifer Gamboa-Copeland – Director, Inclusion & Belonging at McKesson 

Panelists: 

• NaTasha Brown – Diversity & Inclusion Manager at Meijer
• Yinka Madden – Director, Treasury Services and Global Co-Chair, HEART the Diverse Abilities Resource Group at BNY
• Cecilia Persson-Ramos – DEI Employee Resource Group Leader at Intuit
• Jack Raslawski – Senior Program Manager at Abbott

There’s more to accessibility than simply ensuring that the products and services that you develop internally are useable by people with disabilities. It’s equally important that you take intentional steps to establish a governance structure and procurement process that helps you source digital and physical products from vendors that prioritize accessibility. An effective procurement accessibility program begins with determining which products and services are in scope and then crafting appropriate accessibility contract requirements. This session covers the use of Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs) and Accessibility Compliance Reports (ACRs) along with the implementation of a governance program to ensure accessibility timelines are met.  

Learning Objectives: 

1. Gain a comprehensive understanding of how to incorporate accessibility requirements into service agreements, statements of work, and requests for proposal. 
2. Learn how to assess and evaluate the accessibility of products and services during the procurement process and effective ways to collaborate with suppliers and vendors that might be early on their accessibility journey. 
3. Discover how to use VPATs and ACRs effectively and learn about setting up a governance program to ensure that accessibility timelines and standards are met. 

Moderator:

• Stephen  Framil – Corporate Global Head of Accessibility at Merck

Panelists: 

• Kristian Burch – Director, Accessibility at Salesforce 
• Ronda Hendricks – Director of Digital Accessibility at Fidelity 
• Gloria Lewis – VP-Ethics, Compliance & Accessibility at AT&T 
• Mike McCabe – Employee Experience Accessibility Program Manager at JPMorgan Chase 

We’re rapidly approaching the five-year mark since the first cases of Covid-19 began impacting the population and workplaces in pandemic proportions. Even now we’re still navigating the various complexities associated with returning to the office and how the policies and practices related to the reasonable accommodations process have been significantly altered by Covid-19 itself and its ripple effects. This session explores how to navigate the new normal of requesting and fulfilling reasonable accommodations in a post-pandemic workplace, and how considerations such as returning to physical locations following a prolonged remote work arrangement and the emergence of hybrid working models have introduced complex variables to the process.   

Learning Objectives: 

1. Explore how Covid-19 has introduced a host of new considerations into the reasonable accommodations process, such as the emergence of Long Covid as a covered condition; the impact that Covid had on exacerbating pre-existing disabilities – some of which may not have previously required reasonable accommodations; and how newly-diagnosed disabilities – particularly those related to mental health – resulted from the pandemic. 
2. Discuss how recent additions and revisions to legislative policies in select jurisdictions have changed the landscape for post-pandemic return to work accommodations processes for large employers. 
3. Learn how a coordinated approach to accessibility and accommodations can create a more seamless integration of the digital and physical work environments that can enhance inclusion and productivity by maximizing individual mobility through hybrid models and collective collaboration across workspaces.  

Moderator:  

• Stacy Daigle - Assoc. Director, TGS Culture Lead at Becton Dickinson 

Panelists: 

• Alison Faye Johnson – RTX ADAPT Chair / Global Trade Sr. Manager at RTX
• Conner O’Connell - Benefits Accommodations People Consultant at Google 
• Tiffany Solberg – SVP, Life Event Services Manager- International Operations & Disability Strategy at Bank of America
• Jenny Sonnenberg – Team Lead, Leaves and Accommodations at Discover

Disability-related transparency is on the verge of widespread global adoption for both voluntary and mandatory sustainability reporting. Market pressures and legislative modernization are driving disability indicators into public workforce disclosures. This session examines new research from Disability:IN that illuminates the state of disability reporting among European, Global, and United States Fortune 500 companies as disclosed in companies’ most recent annual sustainability reports and what you can do to stay current. 
 
Learning Objectives:  

1. Dive into disability reporting trends and insights from the European, Global, and U.S. Fortune 500 lists.  
2. Examine the various ways in which disability is reported on such as qualitative and quantitative disclosures across workforce initiatives, inclusive procurement, and accessibility programs.  
3. Develop a foundational knowledge of how market forces and legislative updates are requiring companies to build organizational capacity around disability data – and what you can do to keep up-to-date. 

Moderator:

• Reid Jewett Smith – Director of Research & Policy at Disability:IN

Panelists:

• Lisa Bickel – Chief L&E Counsel Honeywell Aerospace Technologies at Honeywell
• Kelly Copes-Anderson – VP-Head of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Diversity Equity and Inclusion & Talent Management at Eli Lilly and Company
• Jessica Truman – Head of Voya Cares at Voya Financial
• Katie Vlietstra Wonnenberg – Principal at Public Private Strategies

Neuroinclusion is about recognizing and embracing the diverse ways our brains function. It’s an essential aspect of creating an inclusive work environment where everyone can thrive. This session defines neurodiversity while providing an understanding of its impact on business and seeks to equip participants with practical strategies to promote neuroinclusion. 

Learning Objectives 

1. Gain an understanding of and appreciation for the strengths and unique perspectives of neurodiverse individuals across the workplace, marketplace, and supply chain. 
2. Learn how to implement inclusive practices that can create an environment that accommodates and leverages different cognitive styles. 
3. Equip managers with tools to lead neuroinclusive teams effectively, including tips on how to optimize HR processes such as recruiting, onboarding, performance evaluations, development, and advancement. 

Moderator:

• Anthony Pacilio – Vice President Neurodiverse Solutions at CAI

Panelists:

• Chris Grous – Inclusive Technology Specialist at Texthelp 
• Sarah Loucks – Autism at Work Global Lead at SAP 
• Amy Root – Director of Strategic Initiatives, Optum Technology at UnitedHealth Group 
• Hiren Shukla – Global Neurodiversity & Inclusive Value Leader at Ernst & Young 

The Social Corner is a space for connecting our in-person attendees with the broader business community and our at-home audiences around the world. Partners will be given the opportunity to participate in a live interview discussing their company's disability inclusion efforts & conference experience with Disability:IN's followers. These interviews will be edited and published on the Disability:IN social channels.  

Heavy appetizers will be provided. 

As companies increasingly seek to advance global supplier inclusion initiatives, unique opportunities and complex challenges persist. Business leaders are facing key considerations associated with integrating diversity and inclusion initiatives into supply chain management strategies. This session offers a comprehensive exploration of the evolving approach to supplier diversity within the context of global supply chains.  

Learning Objectives: 

1. Understand the global supplier diversity and inclusion landscape, including legislative, regulatory, and privacy considerations, and how to navigate effectively.  
2. Learn the key elements for building impactful global supplier inclusion initiatives beyond the United States, including how to recognize, react to, and recover from critical challenges. 
3. Discover trends and best practices for developing and accelerating global supplier diversity strategies gleaned from the 2024 Disability Equality Index. 

Moderator: 

• T.J. Lewis – Sr. Director of Supplier Diversity & Sustainability at Ally Financial 

Panelists:

• Trevor Boylston - Supplier Diversity Manager at Boston Scientific
• Valencia Cooper – Supplier Diversity Specialist at Cargill
• Ron Tate – Head of Supplier Diversity & Sustainability at Wells Fargo
• Timo Worrall – Director- Global Supplier Diversity & Inclusion at Johnson & Johnson

As the world continues to grapple with unprecedented challenges and economic uncertainties, the specter of burnout looms larger than ever. Unlike diagnosable mental health conditions, burnout doesn't have a distinct label in the DSM-5 or its iterations, yet its effects on individuals and organizations are tangible and far-reaching. The Harvard Business Review estimates annual healthcare spending due to workplace burnout could be as much as $190 billion while Gallup suggests that burned out employees cost companies 34% of salary allocations because they are disengaged from their work. This session delves into the intricate connection between burnout and its repercussions on an organization's bottom line. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Learn the warning signs of workplace burnout and strategies for intervention and mitigation of its personal and organizational effects. 
2. Discover the bottom line impact of pervasive workplace burnout, including increased absenteeism, decreased productivity, reduced engagement, heightened turnover, and difficulty recruiting, along with systemic strategies for lessening its negative effects on organizational culture and business outcomes. 
3. Examine how burnout can uniquely impact employees with disabilities and how to safeguard yourself and your colleagues from its potential pitfalls. 

Moderator: 

• Jon McLeod – Producer, ESPN Communications/ ESPN TRUST Co-Founder/ DisabilityIN Mental Health Committee Co-Chair at DisabilityIN 

Panelists: 

• Anabel Cloutier-Perez – Clinical Manager at The Hartford 
• Ashley Hershey – eLearning Experience Designer at Autodesk
• Patrice Johnson – Director Wellbeing Benefits at MGM Resorts International
• Machell Mims – SVP Human Resources at Lowes Companies

What is accessibility, and why is it important? If you or others inside your organization are asking these questions, then it’s time to learn the basics for building an effective enterprise accessibility program. This session examines the basics of accessibility, including defining key terms, identifying who benefits from accessibility and how, the fundamentals of accessibility standards and guidelines, and where to begin in building a business case for an increased focus on accessibility inside your company

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain an understanding of basic accessibility terminology and the fundamentals of standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
2. Explore the different ways in which accessibility manifests for and benefits individuals with a variety of disabilities, including deaf/hard of hearing, blind/low vision, mobility, and neurodivergent.
3. Discover key concepts for getting accessibility going at your company, including creating a culture of accessibility, getting leadership support, and establishing an operating model.

Moderator: 

• Wade Lagrone, Chief Marketing Officer at Evinced

Panelists:  

• Anna Beninger – Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Liberty Mutual
• Melody Shea – Employee Relations Director at Ally Financial 
• Kerry Stith – Accessibility Director at PNC Financial Services 
• Ki Kwang Sung – CBDO at Dot Inc.

This session will feature a brief overview of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the European Accessibility Act (EAA), and other EMEA rules aimed at workplace and product accessibility. As outlined below, corporate leaders will present their strategies to advance inclusion while striving to meet and exceed EMEA compliance requirements.   

Learning Objectives:

1. Techniques to Plan and Launch Global Self-ID in EMEA, Considering Privacy Restrictions
2. EMEA Accommodations/Adjustments Policies and Practices, Including Physical Accessibility
3. Growing Business/Employee Resource Group Chapters in EMEA to Engage Employees with Disabilities
4. The Importance of Digital & Product Accessibility

Panelists:

• Elaine Carroll – Program Manager/ Regional Lead Disability Alliance ERG at Google
• Neil Griffiths – Global & Europe DEI Director at Kearney
• Frank Justus – BRG Enable Global Co-Lead at Bayer
• Bruce McAlister – General Legal Counsel at GE Aerospace
• Manisha Mehrotra – EMEA Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Bloomberg

Join us for our dynamic closing plenary, where we'll harness the power of lightning rounds to illuminate key actions to advance corporate disability inclusion. Our speakers, each bringing unique expertise and insights, will engage in rapid-fire presentations, offering practical strategies, personal anecdotes, and visionary perspectives as they share their plans for action post-conference.  Using their plans as inspiration, you too will have an opportunity to solidify your own post-conference disability inclusion commitments after a week’s worth of insights.  The areas explored will align with the latest Global Disability Equality Index Action Findings of: Self-ID, ERGs, Accessibility Practices, Board Engagement and Supplier Diversity.  Get ready to leave Las Vegas with a plan to drive even more disability inclusion! 

Speakers: 

• Joyce Bender – Founder and CEO at Bender Consulting Services
• Cathy Donnelly – Chief People Officer at Texthelp
• Dyan Ferraris – Head of Global People Science & Strategy | Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at Uber
• Scott Hoesman – CEO at inQuest Consulting 
• Jill Houghton – President & CEO at Disability:IN
• Heather Lavallee – CEO at Voya Financial 
• Brad Loftus – Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group
• Daniel Tanchez – Manufacturing Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Celeste Warren – VP, Global Diversity & Inclusion Center of Excellence at Merck