Virtual Agenda

Inclusion Works Breakfast and Lunch

Inclusion Works Reception

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This breakout session will explore neurodiversity in global workplaces with an emphasis on developing a culture that fosters understanding and belonging. Speakers from the regions of the world will discuss inclusive recruitment practices, accommodations, and outline actions companies can take to ensure neurodiverse employees thrive and contribute to their companies’ success. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn how to develop a culture that fosters understanding and belonging of neurodiverse employees.
2. Identify actions companies can take to recruit and accommodate neurodiverse talent around the world.
3. Identify practical tools for facilitating the success of neurodiverse individuals at work.

Speakers:

• Maya Cox, Associate Manager at Public Consulting Group
• Bryan Gill, Head of Office of Disability Affairs at JPMorgan Chase
• Beverly Miller, Associate Director, Skills First, Diversity & Inclusion Future Talent Partnerships & Events at Merck
• Amy Root, Director, People Team Innovation at UnitedHealth Group

This session will give your disability Employee/Business Resource Groups (E/BRGs) tools to help advance disability inclusion and accessibility, even when your organization is going through changes.

Learning Objectives:

1. Navigating Change: Learn how your disability E/BRG can anticipate and manage organizational changes, so they don't negatively impact disability and accessibility initiatives.
2. Building Alliances: Discover how to create strong partnerships with different teams and departments to support and champion disability inclusion for all.
3. Maintaining Momentum: Develop strategies to keep disability inclusion and accessibility a priority and advance these efforts even during times of uncertainty and shifting priorities.

Speakers:

• Dominique Fortes, Associate Finance Manager at Unilever
• Nicole Griffin, Disability Program Manager at Pfizer
• Giselle Martinez, Global Director of Employee Engagement at Johnson Controls
• Brandon Nnodi, Director, Inclusion & Belonging at UnitedHealth Group
• Kerry Stith, SVP, Accessibility Director at PNC Financial Services

The disability inclusion landscape for companies based in and/or doing business in the European Union (EU) is shifting in significant ways because of emerging new legislative requirements. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), European Accessibility Act (EAA), and other legislative mandates have made disability a material issue in both operations and reporting for EU corporations. This session provides specific updates on the EU’s legislative initiatives that impact workplace disability inclusion, and the accessibility of products bought and sold in the EU’s single market.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify which companies are required to comply with the European Union’s disability inclusive policies.
2. Understand how the EU’s legislative initiatives focused on disability inclusion and product and service accessibility impact companies worldwide doing business in the single market.
3. Learn how EU legislative initiatives benefit business and expand market share.

Speakers:

• Davide Dent, Professor at Parexel
• Frank Justus, Global ERG ENABLE Lead at Bayer
• Constantin Nuernberger, Associate at White & Case LLP
• David Sneddon, Vice President Google Tech Ads EMEA at Google