Workplace mental wellness considerations can show up in a variety of ways and look different from one employee to another. That’s why open dialogue between employees and managers is critical to ensure the right balance is struck between employee needs and business priorities. An estimated 12 billion working days globally are lost every year to depression and anxiety according to the World Health Organization – a number that could be reduced through a greater emphasis on workplace wellness. This session explores practical tips for employees and managers for navigating potentially sensitive conversations that can result in meaningful mental health discussions that bring about greater trust, understanding, empathy, and collaboration.   

Learning Objectives:

1. Define the roles and responsibilities for managers and employees in addressing mental wellness concerns, ensuring accountability without overstepping boundaries.
2. Identify actionable steps to create a culture of trust and openness where employees feel empowered to seek support and managers feel equipped to provide it.
3. Learn tools and techniques for initiating and navigating sensitive mental wellness conversations with empathy, clarity, and professionalism.

Speakers:

• Ina Charles, Accessibility & Fairness Lead at Lyft
• Amanda Dulberg, Senior Manager of Inclusion & Well-Being at UNFI
• Mel Shea, Employee Relations Director (Accommodations, Accessibility and Life Events at Ally Financial
• Amy Smith, Chief Well-Being Officer at Deloitte
• David Sotolongo, Sr Director, Better Workplace at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

Everyone is welcome to join us for the Disability:IN 2025 ERG/BRG Challenge finals.  Each ERG/BRG will showcase what they have done to improve accessibility for their employees, customers, or the business.

Come hear about these innovative accessibility initiatives and cheer on your favorite ERG/BRG Challenge finalist! 

Speaker:

• Stephen Peacock, VP, Provider and Product Strategy, Edelman Financial Engines
  

Disability etiquette is always changing and can vary depending on the situation and individual preferences. However, there are some basic guidelines that everyone can follow.  This session is for everyone, whether you're new to disability issues or have experience.  It will cover respectful language and behavior, and how to avoid unintentionally offensive words or actions.  Professionals with both visible and nonapparent disabilities will share their insights and best practices.  The session will also provide a safe space to ask those potentially awkward questions you might hesitate to ask elsewhere.

Learning Objectives:

1. How to recognize language and actions that might exclude people with disabilities.
2. How respectful interactions can improve relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, and the community.
3. Gain insight into your own experiences and questions in a supportive environment.

Speakers:

• Jax Cowles, Project Manager, Product at Gucci
• Dustin Giannelli, CEO & Founder at Hears Dustin
• Alexander Lieberman, Business Services Analyst at Wells Fargo
• Rachel Magario, Principal User Experience Designer at Oracle
• Tom Tarrant, Managing Director, Marketing Communications at Jeffries

Building strong supplier relationships is key to a thriving business. This forum fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing among procurement and supplier development leaders. Join us to explore best practices in supplier development, learn from real-world case studies, and network with peers to build valuable connections. Together, we can create more resilient and innovative supply chains.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify successful supplier development initiatives and best practices inclusive of disability.
2. Understand the impact of supplier development on disability-owned business enterprises (DOBEs).
3. Discover strategies for engaging with and developing DOBEs.

Speakers:

• Joyce Bender, CEO, Bender Consulting
• Heather Herndon Wright, Director, Supply Chain Diversity & Sustainability, Vistra Corps
• Tiffany Jones, Senior Manager, Business Diversity, TIAA
• T.J. Lewis, Sr. Director of Supplier Development & Sustainability, Ally Financial
• Binny Mathews, Chief Procurement Officer, Accenture
• Natalie McGrady, Sr. Director, Global Sustainability & Supplier Diversity, Cargill

Taking a mature enterprise accessibility program to the next level can come with many challenges, especially if the next step involves international expansion. Success requires optimizing existing accessibility initiatives, leveraging emerging technologies, and ensuring compliance with evolving global standards such as the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) and European Accessibility Act (EAA) as well as the recently updated Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA. This session delves into advanced strategies and innovative approaches to enhance accessibility, focusing on the latest trends, technologies, and best practices for scaling programs globally with continuity, cohesion, and consistency.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explore advanced techniques for auditing and enhancing your current digital accessibility efforts, including how to identify and address gaps, streamline processes, and ensure continuous improvement while aligning with global standards.
2. Discover how innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and augmented reality (AR) can be integrated into your accessibility strategies to provide innovative solutions and enhance user experiences.
3. Learn how to implement evolving global accessibility regulations and guidelines such as the Accessible Canada Act (ACA), European Accessibility Act (EAA), and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA to ensure compliance and consistency in operations across international markets.

Speakers:

• Stephen Framil, Corporate Global Head of Accessibility, Merck
• Kelsey Hall, Head of Accessibility, ADP
• Anni Lano, Enterprise Accessibility Program Director, Honeywell
• Ada Lopez, Sr. Manager, Lenovo
• Annette Rosta, Accessibility Leader, KPMG

People with disabilities represent a powerful and underserved consumer segment, yet they can often go overlooked in mainstream marketing campaigns. A recent blog post from the United Spinal Association estimates the global spending power of people with disabilities and their family members at $13 trillion annually. This session examines how brands can develop campaigns that genuinely connect with consumers with disabilities by focusing on accessible content, intentional messaging, and harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to gather consumer insights. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Discover the market potential of consumers with disabilities and the behaviors and trends of this market segment.  
2. Understand how artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance disability-inclusive marketing strategies and improve engagement with consumers with disabilities, including best practices for ensuring AI-powered content creation and personalization tools are accessible and bias-free.
3. Explore practical examples of brands successfully engaging consumers with disabilities and how they’ve built customer trust and loyalty.

Speakers:

• Elodie Fichet, Head of Brand Accessibility - Devices & Services, Amazon
• Jennifer Lang, VP, Marketing, Customer Experience & Insights, TD Bank
• Victoria Lim, Senior Manager of Executive and External Communications, Experian
• Kellie Mater, Chief Marketing Officer, CAI
• Lara Ziobro, SVP, Global Communications and Marketing, Weber Shandwick

The Disability Index is poised to revolutionize how organizations measure and improve disability inclusion across the globe. This session will highlight the latest workforce trends, showing how the Disability Index offers a data-driven perspective on where companies stand—and where they need to go. We’ll dive deep into the new universal question set and evaluation framework, providing actionable insights to help your organization align with global standards. Don’t miss this opportunity to be at the forefront of disability inclusion!

Learning Objectives:

1. Explore global workforce trends and how the Disability Index acts as a powerful tool for organizations to track and accelerate disability inclusion.
2. Gain an in-depth understanding of the new universal question set and performance indicators for the Disability Index.
3. Learn how to leverage the Disability Index’s data-driven insights to drive actionable improvements in the workplace.

Speakers:

• David Casey, Chief Inclusion and Social Impact Officer at Tapestry
• Nicholas Iadevaio, Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at L'Oreal Groupe
• Joseph Lewis, Strategy Optimization & Insights Director at Guardian Life
• Yvette Pittman, Global Culture & Inclusion Partner at Biogen
• Alyssa Ryanjoy, Senior Business Manager, Human Resources & Strategy at TruStage

This session will cover the legal rules and regulations that support and encourage hiring people with disabilities. We'll break down the key laws that protect people with disabilities from discrimination in the workplace and identify some steps that explain what employers can take to comply. This includes topics like reasonable accommodations, the hiring process, and creating an inclusive work environment. No matter where you work in the business, this session will provide a clear understanding of the legal landscape surrounding disability-inclusive employment.

Learning Objectives:

1. Key Laws & Regulations: We'll explain the major laws that protect people with disabilities in the workplace, like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
2. Reasonable Accommodations: We'll discuss what reasonable accommodations are, how they work, and what the law requires employers to provide.
3. Inclusive Hiring Practices: We'll cover best practices for attracting and hiring qualified talent with disabilities to compete for employment opportunities.
4. Creating an Inclusive Workplace: We'll explore ways to build a workplace culture that values and supports all employees.

Speakers:

• Angel Enriquez, Director of Employee Experiences, Inclusive eXperiences and Technology, Amazon
• Jamie Kauther, Associate General Counsel at Edward Jones
• Craig Leen, Partner, K&L Gates
• Daniel Milbeck, General Counsel - US & Canada, GE Healthcare
• Katie Vlieststra Wonnenberg, Principal, Public Private Strategies

Employee development programs that are inclusive of people with disabilities focus on creating opportunities for growth and skill-building while removing barriers that may limit participation. These programs are designed to accommodate employees’ diverse needs, ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed in their roles and advance within the organization. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn how-to create disability inclusive career development programs that are open to all employees who qualify.
2. Identify disability inclusive employee development strategies that work for business and the career growth of talent with disabilities.
3. Learn key components of inclusive Career Development Programs.

Speakers:

• Matthew Baird, Senior Staff Economist at LinkedIn
• Michele Matthai, Director, Culture, Diversity & Inclusion at Dell
• Keisha McNeil, Director of Inclusion & Head of Enterprise Education at Southern California Edison
• Chaitanya Nangia, Director - Compliance & Operational Risk Executive at Bank of America
• Ashley Young, Talen Management Lead at Humana

Disability self-identification rates are low at most companies, in most cases, less than 5 percent. It is estimated that one in four employees has a disability, but the workplace self-identification data are not consistent with the facts. Leaders make decisions and allocate resources and benefits based on internal demographics, metrics, and vocal advocacy. This session will focus on the tools and techniques that have encouraged higher self-identification rates in corporate workplaces and the resulting advances and benefits to all employees.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn how to develop a communication plan for global self-identification with a clear value proposition.
2. Learn the successful techniques companies use to increase their disability self-identification rates.
3. Gain an understanding of culturally appropriate messaging that resonates with employees with disabilities.

Speakers:

• Miguel Castro, Global Director, Strategic Inclusion and Workplace Accessibility at SAP
• Ashley Darnell, Senior Director of Global DEI at Boston Consulting Group
• Manisha Mehrotra, Head of Inclusion, Europe Middle East and Africa and Americas at Bloomberg
• Reggie Miller, Culture & Inclusion Officer at GE Vernova
• Kristen Watkins, Americas Diversity & Inclusion Manager at Kearney

This session explores how innovation in web and mobile technology can create truly inclusive digital experiences for everyone, including people with disabilities. We'll cover the foundational principles of web and mobile accessibility and why they're more critical than ever in today's digital landscape. As technology rapidly evolves, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), we'll examine how innovation can be harnessed.

Learning Objectives:

1. WCAG Updates: We'll go over the newest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and explore how to implement them across your digital platforms.
2. Accessibility Challenges & Innovative Solutions: We'll identify common web and mobile accessibility barriers and delve into cutting-edge solutions, including emerging technologies and design approaches, to ensure your platforms are usable by everyone.
3. AI and Accessibility: We'll look at how new technologies like AI and machine learning affect accessibility and how they can be used to improve both user experience and efficiency.

Speakers:

• Jennison Asuncion, Head of A11y Engineering Evangelism at LinkedIn
• Andrew Holbrook, Chief Accessibility Officer at Wells Fargo
• Francis Hyatt, Executive Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer at Liberty Mutual
• Jake Konerza, Senior Director Digital Accessibility at Target
• Shelby Mitchell, Senior Manager, Digital Accessibility at Discover

Strong business connections are more critical than ever as Employee/Business Resource Groups (E/BRGs) are increasingly called upon by senior executives and business segments for insights on how to recruit, hire, develop, and market to employees and customers with disabilities. This session provides best practices for identifying and leveraging the talents, expertise and leadership of disability E/BRG executive sponsors.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discover how to identify executive sponsors that can help disability E/BRGs in setting goals that are aligned to organizational key performance indicators.
2. Discuss how executive sponsors can model cultures of trust and transparency which empower disability E/BRG members to speak from their experiences and champion innovation.
3. Explore different methods disability E/BRG leaders deploy when engaging their executive sponsors as thought partners and champions for their E/BRG strategies and programming.

Speakers:

• Julie Colwell, Managing Vice President, Human Resources and ARG for PwD Executive Sponsor at Marriott
• Lynne Davis, Senior Manager, Supplier Relations at Toyota
• Paul Gennaro, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at New York Life
• Sundeep Reddy, EVP & Chief Accounting Officer at Salesforce
• Cynthia Vodopivec, SVP - Environmental, Health & Safety at Vistra Corp

This session will explore the unique strengths and potential contributions of service-disabled veterans in the workforce. We will delve into practical strategies for creating a competitive but inclusive hiring process for qualified candidates, addressing common misconceptions, and fostering a workplace culture that empowers everyone to thrive. Participants will gain actionable insights into recruitment, onboarding, accommodation, and retention, ensuring their organizations can effectively tap into the rich talent pool of service-disabled veterans.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the Value Proposition: Participants will be able to articulate the unique skills, experiences, and value service-disabled veterans bring to the workplace, including leadership, resilience, and adaptability.
2. Implement Inclusive-focused Hiring Practices: Participants will be able to identify and implement best practices for recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding service-disabled veterans, including strategies for addressing potential barriers and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.
3. Develop Supportive Workplace Strategies: Participants will be able to develop and implement strategies for providing reasonable accommodations, fostering a culture of inclusion, and promoting long-term retention of service-disabled veteran employees.

Speakers:

• Lance Dorsey, Director, Global Responsible Sourcing at Sony Pictures
• Curtis Kelley, DEI Program Manager at TD Synnex
• Karen Lavariere-Sanchez, Director, Voya Cares Practice COE at Voya Financial
• Robert Opp, Sourcer at TD Bank
• Hetal Parikh, President & Co-Founder at Rangam Consultants

Walk the meeting space at the Gaylord Palms to become oriented with the space. Tours will depart from the Conference Registration Desk, located on floor 2.