Are You Headed to Las Vegas?
Learn more about DC Metro at the Annual Disability:IN Conference!
Check out your WHOVA app to connect our the many board members who will be in Las Vegas! Contact Ryan Walters, Chair, if you need help in connecting!
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Since 1990, we celebrate Disability Pride Month annually in July. It's a time for people living with disabilities to honor their many unique talents and skills. Disability, visible or invisible, can happen at any point in a person's lifetime. As individuals, we experience disability differently.
How to Celebrate Disability Pride Month
- Learn. Take time this month to learn more about ableism, disability justice, the experiences of disabled people, and the connections between disability justice and climate justice. ...
- Support.
- Educate.
- Celebrate.
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News from the Board
Disability:IN DC Metro Appointed New Directors at its June Board Meeting.
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Jenn Gauvreau
Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
CGI US Federal
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During the month of July, we recognize several awareness events, including Disability Pride Month, 34th Anniversary of the ADA | |
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National Schizophrenia Awareness Day
July 25
National Schizophrenia Awareness Day on 25 July shines a light on the everyday challenges the millions of people living with a diagnosis of schizophrenia face and how we can tackle the stigma and discrimination around it.
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National Disability Independence Day
July 26
The day not only celebrates the anniversary of the ADA but the law first broke down barriers individuals with disabilities faced every day. It also marked a timeline of change that soon developed. Over time, common barriers such as narrow doors and small bathroom stalls became accessible to wheelchairs. Other examples include braille signs and crosswalks for the vision impaired. The changes improved mobility and safety.
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2024 Disability:IN Global Conference
July 15-18, 2024 in Las Vegas!
Demystifying Disability Inclusion:
Celebrating the 34th Anniversary of the ADA
July 24
Pathways for Hiring People with Disabilities into Clean Energy Jobs
July 24
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KEY NEWS ARTICLES
What is the Value of Affiliate Membership?
Going Above and Beyond the Disability:IN Global Conference
Managing Accommodations During the Great Return to Office
The Olmstead Effect:
Celebrating 25 Years of Positive Change
Exciting New Member Benefits
for
Gold, Silver, Platinum and Titanium Members
On the Verge: Disability and Sustainability Reporting in the Europe Fortune 500
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Disability:IN DC Metro JULY Webinar | |
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Ann Deschamps
Director of the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center
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Robin Jones
Director of the Great Lakes ADA Center
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Demystifying Disability Inclusion:
Celebrating the 34th Anniversary of the ADA
July 24, 2024
12:00 - 1:30 PM ET
REGISTER NOW
Disability:IN DC Metro members contact us for the Promo Code
July 26, 2024, marks the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Since its enactment, the civil rights law has shaped the development of and conversations around disability rights. Join Disability:IN DC Metro, in collaboration with its affiliate partners Disability:IN Chicagoland; Disability:IN Minnesota; Disability:IN Wisconsin; and the Center for Disability Inclusion, for a celebration of the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Ann Deschamps, Director of the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center, and Robin Jones, Director of the Great Lakes ADA Center, will lead a virtual conversation on the evolution of disability inclusion. Learn about the ADA’s impact on building inclusion within a culture that historically has never been inclusive. Discuss the changes in society’s perceptions of disability and its connection to other facets of identity. Understand common stumbling blocks to workplace inclusion. Bring your questions about disability inclusion to this interactive and engaging 90-minute conversation to celebrate the 34th Anniversary of the ADA.
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FALL Disability:IN DC Metro Virtual Events | |
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- Authentic Leadership for Innovation in Accessibility Featuring Frances West, former IBM Chief Accessibility Officer
- Fall Disability ERG Leaders Forum
- Annual Accessibility Forum- Exploring AI
- Procurement and Disability Supplier Diversity
- Supporting Military Spouses and Caregivers
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Upcoming Events in the Capital Area Region
and Beyond
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Pathways for Hiring People with Disabilities into Clean Energy Jobs
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
02:00 PM - 03:30 PM Eastern
Register for the EARN webinar
The Administration’s policy to create well-paying union jobs and economic growth through the deployment of innovative technologies and infrastructure has resulted in a clean energy boom. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are millions of clean energy jobs in the United States. Clean energy jobs are growing faster than overall job growth, and people with disabilities are a vital talent pool to fuel this growth.
The Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) at Cornell University’s ILR School is guiding the nation’s transition to a strong, equitable, and resilient clean energy economy by pursuing three aims: tackling the climate crisis; creating high-quality jobs; and building a diverse, inclusive workforce. The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) will host representatives from CJI to discuss their work on equitable access to clean energy jobs, focused on inclusive pre-apprenticeships.
A robust discussion will follow the presentation. The panel, including professionals from the clean energy industry in Texas, will discuss the success of Deaf hiring initiatives in solar energy production.
In this webinar, you will learn more about:
- Including people with disabilities in the climate jobs industry.
- Developing clean energy pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs.
- Implementing strategies to ensure equitable access to career readiness programs and skills training.
- Creating partnerships to increase disability inclusion in clean energy and aligned industries.
The presenters and panelists include:
- Melissa Shetler, Senior Training and Education Associate, Climate Jobs Institute
- Zach Cunningham, Training and Education Associate, Climate Jobs Institute
- Jason Shaw, Deaf Master Electrician and Solar PV Professional, ENGIE North America
- Tutu Adeniran, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director, ENGIE North America
- Derik Kendrik, Project Manager, Owner, Axium Solar
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What is the Value of Affiliate Membership?
Going Above and Beyond the Disability:IN Global Conference
Disability:IN DC Metro is an affiliate of Disability: IN, serving the National Capital Region. Affiliate membership is separate from Disability:IN National membership. So why does a global organization need to be engaged at the affiliate level? Here's why:
Disability:IN DC Metro (DC Metro) is an employer-led membership-based business association that creates business to business connections, dialogue, and learning within our geographic region of Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland, an area known as the National Capital Region. Our offerings, however, are not limited to geographic location.
All DC Metro corporate member employees enjoy member benefits regardless of their physical geography.
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Managing Accommodations During the Great Return to Office
Is your company returning to in-office work? You’ll need to set reasonable timelines for employees to return to the workplace from teleworking, especially employees with disabilities. They may need time to make adjustments in their personal lives before coming back to the office. Visit the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) for more practical tips.
See JAN’s return-to-office tips
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The Olmstead Effect:
Celebrating 25 Years of Positive Change
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On June 22, 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision that ushered in an era of profound and positive change for people with disabilities in America, as well as the agencies that serve and support them—including the U.S. Department of Labor. The case was Olmstead v. L.C. and the ruling affirmed that disabled people have the right to receive publicly funded services in the most integrated setting possible based on their needs. Read ODEP Assistant Secretary Taryn Williams’ celebration of this enduring decision and see a comprehensive and informative timeline of the 25 most impactful developments in disability rights and protections over the last quarter century.
Read the Assistant Secretary's appreciationSee the 25 most impactful developments.
See the 25 most impactful developments
Watch the Olmstead 25th Anniversary Event
On June 20, leaders from several federal agencies came together in Washington to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. L.C., celebrating the progress it spurred in inclusion and community living for disabled people. The event highlighted joint efforts from across the federal government to “bring Olmstead to life” and featured stories from people with disabilities and their families about what Olmstead has meant for them. You can watch it all at the link below. To hear ODEP Assistant Secretary Taryn Williams speak about why our agency’s work matters, jump to the final panel of the event (1:44).
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Celebrate Disability Pride Month
Exciting New Member Benefits for
Gold, Silver, Platinum and Titanium Members
Become a New Member or Elevate your Current Member Level!
- Annual Access to Disability 101 Professional Development Course plus additional courses of the organization’s choosing - based on member level.
- Disability 101 internal Live group webinar sessions, unlimited seats (customized, branded, recorded for internal distribution) Ideal for a Senior level Briefing or Business/Employee Resource Group
- May serve on the Advisory Board
- Invitation to Annual Senior Executive Series
- Invitation to attend the Disability ERG Roundtable
- May appoint an employee to the Emerging Leaders Advisory Council
- May appoint employees to participate in DC Metro Working Groups
Contact us to learn more.
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On the Verge: Disability and Sustainability Reporting in the Europe Fortune 500
The demand for corporate disability data is intensifying in the European Union, where 27% of people over the age of 16 are people with disabilities (EU). Reporting on disability in business is on the verge of greater transparency as voluntary disclosures are replaced by standardized materiality assessments, mandated by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The existing practices of the European Fortune 500 demonstrate that disability is already a material facet of business performance that warrants stakeholder disclosure. This report details how companies disclose information about disability for investors, strategists, employees, clients, and consumers’ benefit.
Today,
- 99% of European Fortune 500 companies report on non-financial data annually
- 72% of European Fortune 500 companies include disability in their non-financial reporting, and
- 30% of European Fortune 500 companies disclose disability workforce participation percentages
Starting in 2025, subject to a double materiality assessment, disability will be integrated into social and business conduct disclosures through the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). Over the remainder of the decade, some 50,000 multinational and regional enterprises will begin factoring disability into their materiality assessments and reporting against ESRS standards, some as early as next year.
This modernization of corporate reporting codified by CSRD provides investors with information they need to make short-, medium-, and long-term financial decisions. Reporting on disability tells shareholders that companies are working to secure the disability inclusion advantage that yields higher revenue, net income, economic profit, and individual productivity (Accenture, 2023).
Download the On the Verge Europe Report (PDF)
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Thank You to Our Sponsor Partners! | |
Disability:IN DC Metro is Committed to Inclusive Hiring.
Contact us to post an vacancy in our newsletter.
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2024 Mental Health America Conference
“Disrupt, Reform, Transform”
Capital Hilton Washington, DC
September 19-21, 2024
Register Today
Attend the Mental Health America Conference and join peers, providers, government officials, media, and advocates to ignite a collective spark, share invaluable knowledge, and foster the next wave of advocacy for mental health.
At this year's conference, we will explore ways to DISRUPT systemic barriers, REFORM harmful practices that prevent progress, and TRANSFORM the current landscape, ensuring everyone has equitable opportunity for optimal mental health and well-being.
Topics include:
- Community Responses to Disaster and Humanitarian Crises: Responding to climate issues, acts of violence, and other threats to the safety of local communities.
- Local Solutions to Equity Needs: Identifying, responding to, and understanding the health equity needs of local communities and the impact on mental health.
- Innovation: Exploring emerging trends in mental health treatment and well-being promotion, including digital mental health support, alternative therapies, spirituality, and more.
- Substance Use and Mental Health: Exploring the connection between substance use and mental health and innovations in the treatment of dual diagnoses.
- Advocacy and Policy: Innovative ways communities are advocating and implementing policy changes to support equitable access to mental health care and services.
- Youth and Young Adults: Sharing youth-driven solutions co-created or led by young people.
Nonprofit, standard, and young adult registration rates are available for in-person attendance. We expect to offer CEUs through NASW-VA. All registrants will be able to access session recordings for 30 days after the event.
For questions or details on sponsorship opportunities, please contact events@mhanational.org.
See you in September!
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Save the Date for the 2024 AFBLC
September 23-25
Mark your calendars! We are excited to announce that the 2024 American Foundation for the Blind Leadership Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from September 23rd - 25th, 2024. Learn more about the AFB Leadership Conference.
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National hybrid conference in Kansas City + Virtual
September 26-27
Led by the Center for Disability Inclusion (CDI) in collaboration with the
KC Chamber, D&I Consortium, and the National Association of Asian-American Professionals (NAAAP-KC), 2023 Summit attendees spanned DEIAB/ HR/ Talent practitioners and business leaders from 142 companies, 24 states and 2 countries
Are you ready for bold learning, brave conversations, authentic connections and audacious dialogues
that foster a more inclusive work culture?
Why Attend
- MEET inclusion experts and influencers in-person
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Receive new TOOLS and bounce IDEAS off your peers
- LEARN from subject matter experts
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Feel the ENERGY of like-minded people and REGAIN your focus
- GAIN info on leading topics you can apply immediately at work
- NETWORK with peers and get to know others in your field
- HAVE FUN!
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Save the Date! BroadFutures 2024 Fall Gala:
Voices for Change
October 19, 2024
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm ET
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Save the Date for Our Gala 2024
November 9
Join us for The Arc of Northern Virginia’s Gala 2024, which will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner. The Gala will bring together hundreds of our community members, elected officials, and leaders in the business and philanthropic communities, alongside our longstanding supporters and partners.
This glamorous evening will start with an open-bar cocktail reception and silent auction, proceed to a seated, gourmet dinner, followed by our program and live auction, and will end with music and dancing.
The Gala helps raise important funds that make possible all of our programs, services, and advocacy education for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities of all ages and their families. Sponsorship opportunities are available and include tickets for the event. Super Early-Bird Tickets will go on sale on August 1.
For more information on our 2024 Gala, please visit our 2024 Gala website at thearcofnova.org/gala or contact us via email at events@thearcofnova.org.
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MEET OUR COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS | |
Learn More About DC Metro
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Disability:IN DC Metro
“Think Globally, Act Locally”
Patrick Geedes
Join Today!
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Promoting Inclusion
Expanding Disability Education and Awareness
Our focus is on Culture Change!
Founded in 2006
Twice honored as Disability:IN Affiliate of the Year
Led by The Hon. Katherine McCary
Founding Chair of Disability:IN National and
CEO, Executive Director of Disability:IN DC Metro
Disability:IN DC Metro (DC Metro) is an employer-led membership-based business association that creates business to business connections, dialogue, and learning within our geographic region of Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland, an area known as the National Capital Region. Our offerings, however, are not limited to geographic location. All DC Metro corporate member employees enjoy member benefits regardless of their physical geography. You don't have to live in the National Capital Region to engage and enjoy DC Metro's Professional Development Courses and topical Hybrid Programming!
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Our Members and Guests have access to resources, programs and partners to strengthen the disability inclusion efforts and outcomes.
- Thought leadership
- Professional Development courses
- Business to business networking
- Introductions to community partners
- Access to talent
- Hot topic programming led by Subject Matter Experts
- Webinars
Join our
LinkedIn Page
Follow us on
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Our Board
Board Members:
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Jessica Lee Aiello, iYellow Group, TCS Teams
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Jennifer Bassett, Immediate Past Chair, JBG SMITH Companies
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Meghan Cadigan, Vice Chair and Secretary, KPMG
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Tashi Carper, Leidos
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Ellen de Bremond, Treasurer
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Anjali Desai-Margolin, Gallaudet University
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Tom Downs, Booz Allen Hamilton
- Jenn Gauvreau, CGI Federal
- Andrea Hall, General Dynamics Mission Systems and Chief Strategy Officer
- Susan Morgan, General Dynamics IT
- Eduardo Meza-Etienne, Level Access and DC Metro Chief Accessibility Officer
- Kelly Cutlip, Northrop Grumman
- Ryan Walters, Chair, Deloitte
- Myra Wilder, BAE Systems
Advisory Board Members:
- Josh Basile, Jack H. Olender & Associates
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Michelle Crabtree, Town of Vienna
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Crosby Cromwell, Cephable
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Lori Daly, Diversifi Consulting Group and Chair, Community Outreach Working Group
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Ron Drach, Drach Consulting, LLC and Chair, Veterans Working Group
- Diane Monnig, The Arc of Northern VA
- Melody Goodspeed, The American Foundation for the Blind
- Karen Herson, Concepts, Inc.
- Carolyn Jeppsen, BroadFutures
- Craig Leen, K&L Gates, Former OFCCP Director
- Carrie Martin
- Rick Rodgers, The Resource Network and Chair, Disability Supplier Diversity Working Group
The Hon. Katherine McCary, CEO, Disability:IN DC Metro
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Our Vision
“Cultivate workforces and workplaces where talent with disabilities are recruited, included, promoted, retained and valued as both internal talent and innovative vendors.”
Follow Us on LinkedIN and YouTube
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