This session is all about making retail spaces accessible and welcoming to everyone, including people with disabilities. We'll explore how to design physical spaces so they're inclusive and easy for everyone to use.

Learning Objectives:

1. Universal Design: We'll cover the seven key principles of universal design and how to use them in stores to make them accessible and user-friendly for both employees and customers.
2. Latest Trends & Best Practices: We'll look at the newest trends and best practices in making physical spaces accessible, including entrances, hallways, restrooms, seating, signs, and even how staff can be trained in disability etiquette.
3. Removing Barriers: We'll discuss common accessibility problems in stores and learn practical solutions to fix them, so people with disabilities can move around and interact more easily.

Speakers:

• Gayatri Agnew, Senior Director, Office of Belonging at Walmart, Inc.
• Everette Bacon, Chief, Blindness Initiatives at Aira
• Stephen Cluskey, CEO at Mobility Mojo
• Kristin Hohn, Head of Disability Inclusion & Accessibility at Eli Lilly and Company
• Monica Reha, Director, Accessibility at Edward Jones

Contemporary corporate considerations concerning accessibility activities are now being influenced by the emergence and evolution of legal frameworks from around the world. The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) and European Accessibility Act (EAA) are now being operationalized and enforced while existing requirements under the new legal interpretations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are presenting both single-country companies and multi-national corporations with more dynamic decision criteria for maximizing compliance, minimizing risk, and making inclusive experiences for customers and employees alike. This session provides an in-depth examination of these emerging legal standards and regulatory frameworks with a particular emphasis on implications for in-house legal and compliance professionals, accessibility practitioners, and marketing communications teams. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain a comprehensive understanding of major accessibility regulations, including the Accessible Canada Act (ACA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and European Accessibility Act (EAA), along with how these laws impact businesses and the importance of compliance in different regions.
2. Explore best practices for developing and implementing global accessibility strategies that align with international standards and support the creation of inclusive experiences while minimizing legal risks and ensuring compliance with evolving regulations.
3. Learn how to adapt digital campaigns, social media, and customer-facing content to align marketing communications initiatives with emerging ACA and EAA standards. 

Speakers:

• Jason Capili, E&C Employment Practices Compliance Leader at PwC
• Helen Henriques, VP, Customer Experience Strategy at Level Access
• Shashank Kapur, Director - Strategy & Growth at BarrierBreak
• Gloria Lewis, VP - Compliance, Ethics & Accessibility at AT&T

This session explores the evolving landscape of neurodiversity in the workplace, moving beyond initial hiring to foster long-term success. The session will also explore new research from Disability:IN on global trends in neurodiversity in the workplace. We'll delve into how AI can be leveraged for skills matching, personalized learning paths, and career mobility for neurodiverse  individuals. We'll also address the critical aspect of creating a truly neuro-inclusive environment, including strategies for designing accessible training, managing performance, and supporting ND progression into leadership roles. Participants will learn how to harness AI's potential while mitigating its potential pitfalls, and discover the vital role of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) in building a supportive community.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to analyze how AI-driven tools can be utilized to enhance neurodivergent talent acquisition, personalized development, and career advancement, including identifying potential pain points and strategies for ethical implementation.
2. Participants will be able to develop actionable strategies for creating a neuro-inclusive workplace culture, encompassing accessible training program design, performance management adaptations, and pathways for neurodivergent individuals to advance into leadership positions.
3. Participants will be able to identify and implement effective support structures, including the strategic utilization of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), to foster a strong sense of community and provide ongoing mentorship for neurodivergent employees.

Speakers:

• Cathy Donnelly, Chief People Officer at Everway
• Tom Norrish, EMEA Neurodiversity Lead at JPMorgan Chase
• Miru Senthiil, Director, Inclusion Strategy & Insights at Sysco
• Hiren Shukla, Global Neurodiversity & Inclusive Value Leader at Ernst & Young

In today's global business world, supplier development is a crucial driver of innovation, resilience, and growth. Moving beyond assumptions to measurable impact is key, and data-driven decisions are essential. This session explores how to use analytics, metrics, and other valuable insights to build engaged global supply chains.  

Learning Objectives:

1. Understanding the Landscape: Gain a deeper understanding of the current global supplier environment and the strategies organizations are employing to maximize positive outcomes.
2. The Power of Data: Explore key analytics, metrics, and benchmarks that validate and strengthen the business case for supplier development.
3. Data-Driven Success: Learn best practices for ensuring long-term success of global supplier development initiatives.

Speakers:

• Wade Colclough, Global Senior Director, Supplier Empowerment at Avantor Inc.
• Joyce Eggers, Global Lead Supplier Diversity at Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA
• Hannah Kain, President & CEO at ALOM
• Dominique Sellers, VP, Head of Responsible Sourcing at Paramount
• Raul Suarez-Rodriguez, Executive Director at Merck

Explore the wide range of Disability Employee/Business Resource Groups (E/BRGs) in this fast-paced lightning round. This session features brief presentations from various disability E/BRG leaders and executive sponsors, highlighting their initiatives, impact, and best practices. Learn how these groups drive disability inclusion across their organizations, foster community, and contribute to organizational success.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify successful disability E/BRG initiatives and best practices.
2. Understand the impact of disability E/BRGs on workplace culture and inclusion.
3. Discover strategies for engaging with and supporting disability E/BRGs.

Speakers:

• Arian Avila, VP, Global Workplace Services Technology & Security Operations at Capital One
• Davide Ferraro, Disability Alliance EMEA Regional Lead - Engagement Manager at Google
• Lyndsey Leask, Operations Manager at DoorDash
• Mary Lipscomb, Talent Acquisition Strategy Program Manager at CVS Health
• Stephanie McCoy, Talent Acquisition Technology & Analytics Senior Specialist at MatchGroup
• Jackie Pugliese, Vice President at Morgan Stanley

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the workplace, and its potential to support employees with disabilities is immense. This session explores how AI tools can be leveraged to create a more inclusive and accessible work environment, from streamlining recruitment and onboarding to providing personalized accommodations/adjustments. We'll delve into practical applications of AI while addressing important considerations around privacy, and ensuring these technologies are used ethically and responsibly.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify AI Applications: Participants will be able to recognize and describe various ways AI can be used to enhance accessibility and inclusion for qualified employees with disabilities across different aspects of the employment lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, training, performance management, and career development. 
2. Tailored Accommodations/Adjustments: Explore how AI-powered tools can personalize accommodations/adjustments to meet the specific needs of employees with disabilities, enhancing their productivity and job satisfaction.
3. Ethical Considerations: Understand the ethical implications of using AI to support employees with disabilities, including issues of privacy, data security, algorithmic bias, and ensuring human oversight.

Speakers:

• Laurie Allen, Sr. Accessibility Tech Evangelist at Microsoft
• Ken Bigler, Head of Accessibility Engineering at Intuit
• Samantha Estoesta, Product Owner, Apply & Screen, Colleague Journey at TD Bank
• Kent Hulett, Senior Learning Consultant at T-Mobile
• Jonathan Moore, Managing Director at Deloitte

A growing number of countries are implementing numerical mandates for disability hiring. These mandates 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 mandates, 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 numerical government mandates and an overview of requirements for employers operating in these markets.
2. Learn best practices for how to source disability talent in markets with numerical government mandates 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 numerical government mandates to establish stretch goals focused on exceeding government requirements and the organizational commitment required to lead in this area.

Cutting-edge companies are increasingly creating competitive advantage by leveraging innovative design principles and emerging technologies to develop inclusive and accessible product experiences that delight all customers. A deep understanding of universal design principles, tactile features, and how to integrate assistive technologies to improve accessibility are essential for staying ahead of the curve of today’s rapidly evolving product life cycle. This session will explore the latest trends and advancements in accessible design, accessibility enhancements for packaging, and other customer-facing products, technology, and service innovations.  

Learning Objectives:

1. Develop an understanding of the latest trends in accessible product and package design, including the use of universal design principles, tactile features, and easy-open mechanisms, that can effectively enhance the customer experience for all users.
2. Discover how to implement accessibility enhancements in packaging and other customer-facing products, including the benefits of incorporating features such as high-contrast colors, clear typography, and audible cues to make products more accessible and user-friendly.
3. Gain insights into how emerging technologies, such as QR codes and the ability for people with disabilities to set up devices out of the box, can be integrated into accessibility strategies to provide innovative solutions and enhance the overall customer experience.

Speakers:

• Sumaira Latif, Company Accessibility Leader at Procter & Gamble
• Megan Lawrence, Senior Director, DEI, Accessibility and Disability Inclusion at NIKE
• Fred Moltz, Chief Accessibility Officer at Verizon
• Christy Vanek, Director, Global Accessibility at Otis
• Chris Yoon, Product Manager, Product Equity at Uber   

This session is about making sure global workplaces are inclusive of employees with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation/adjustment policies (changes to the workplace that help employees with disabilities do their jobs) are a key part of this, but the old "one size fits all" approach isn't working well anymore. Many companies are trying different ways to culturally handle accommodations/adjustments, and this session will explore what works best.

Learning Objectives:

1. Legal Considerations: We'll look at the laws around workplace accommodations/adjustments, including differences between countries and regions, and how to follow disability and anti-discrimination laws.
2. Practical Strategies: We'll learn how to assess requests for accommodations/adjustments or assistive tools and come up with effective solutions that meet the diverse needs of employees with disabilities.
3. Accommodation/Adjustment Program Models: We'll explore different ways to structure an accommodation/adjustment program, including how it's organized (centralized or not), whether it's global or local, if it's handled internally or by an outside company, and how to balance proactive accessibility with responding to individual requests.

Speakers:

• Matt Ater, Senior Vice President at Vispero
• Mandi DeVito, Senior Manager, Employee Accommodations and Accessibility at Walt Disney Company
• Ashley Mapou, Director at Blackrock
• Megan Smith, Director, Global Accommodations at Amazon
• Tiffany Solberg, Senior Vice President - HR Executive - Medical Accommodations and Disability Strategy at Bank of America

Marketing events can be powerful brand touchpoints, however what’s intended to be a brand-building activation can quickly have negative reputational effects if the event is not accessible and inclusive for all. Event design, content accessibility, and on-site accommodations are all key considerations for ensuring that your brand experiences bring everyone to the party. This session explores best practices in designing and executing marketing events that authentically engage and include people with disabilities. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify key accessibility factors for in-person, virtual, and hybrid marketing events, including vendor and budget considerations.   
2. Learn how to integrate disability inclusion into event planning, from speaker selection to pre- and post- event communications. 
3. Explore practical examples of inclusive marketing events, attendee feedback, and the impact on brand perception.

Speakers:

• Gwennie Cheung, Associate Director, Marketing Communications at Accenture
• Apoorva Gandhi, Sr. Vice President, Multicultural Affairs at Marriott
• Michael Nesmith, Creative Director at Amazon
• Yuval Pritz, Industry Marketing Manager at UKG
• Amy Wood, Accessibility Manager, Events, Real Estate/Travel at Salesforce

Most internet traffic today is from mobile phones, so getting accessibility right for your company's mobile app is especially important. Yet building an accessibility program for mobile apps is different from building one for websites and web apps. Join Evinced to learn more about what to expect, how mobile accessibility differs from web accessibility, and what sorts of tools and processes are helpful in building an organization and culture that produces accessible mobile apps.

The Disability:IN Awards Celebration is a fun, reception-style event with music and dancing. There is no formal sit-down dinner.

Speakers:

• Jill Houghton, President & CEO at Disability:IN
• Wil Lewis, Global Chief Inclusion, Belonging & Talent Acquisition Officer at Experian

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.