Building Inclusive Workplaces

Educating Employers, Cultivating Partnerships, and Empowering Businesses

Annual ADA Legal Update Luncheon

Virginia Ability invites you to attend our annual in-person ADA Legal Update Luncheon: Accommodating Invisible Disabilities in the Workplace, on June 13 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Don’t miss out on this business educational program hosted by Performance Food Group (PFG) with guest speaker Steve Brown, Isler Dare, who will discuss why organizations should be prepared to accommodate the invisible (or hidden) disabilities of their employees.

This FREE in-person program will take place at the PFG Corporate Office located at 12500 West Creek Parkway. HR professionals can earn 1.0 hour of SHRM continuing education credits for their attendance. Lunch will be provided.

After attending this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Better understand HR and legal challenges around invisible disabilities, including what qualifies;
• Devise strategies to promote self-disclosure benefitting both the organization and the employee; and
• Implement best practices to accommodate invisible disabilities in the workplace. 

Event Schedule:

• Register and Networking: 11:00 am
• Luncheon: 11:30 am - 12:00 pm
• Session: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

VCU RRTC Webcast

Employment and The Gig Economy

6/6/2024, 2:00 - 2:45pm Eastern

Presented By:

Neena Massey

This session discusses the ins and outs of the Gig Economy from the perspective of Neena Massey. Neena is a gig worker who has made a successful living as a Lyft Driver, Performance Artist, and Community Event Collaborator. Neena has provided over 12,000 rides on Lyft and drives as a source of income for her and her family. Being a Lyft driver allows Neena the flexibility and comfort to accommodate her health and support needs. Neena has had an extensive career in Education and has shared that becoming a Lyft driver has given her a sense of peace like she has never known.

Perspectives of Customized Employment Self-Employment

6/27/2024, 2:00 - 2:45pm Eastern

Presented By:

Jason Krause, Gina Kraus, Billy Kraus, Kara Leavell, Ciara Ladroma

This session will feature an employment seeker and team located in Virginia actively working through the Customized Employment process. Jason aka "J" Krause has found his talent and niche in public speaking and is in the planning process of starting his business as a Disability Advocate and Accessibility Consultant. In this session, you will learn from J and his team members as they share their experiences, perspectives, and advice in navigating self-employment and Customized Employment.

Introduction to ABLEnow

More independence, greater financial security and a better quality of life – that’s the future ABLEnow is building. Join us for a free information session to discover the advantages of ABLE accounts and the national ABLEnow program.

In just one hour, we’ll cover the answers to these questions, and more:

  • What are ABLE accounts?

  • Who is eligible?

  • How can I use the money in an ABLE account?

  • What are the features and benefits of ABLEnow?

  • How can I learn more and open an account?

Michelle and Matt Bellinger Honored with Northstar Academy's 2024 Navigator Award! 🏆

We are thrilled to announce that Virginia Ability's own Michelle Bellinger and her husband, Matt Bellinger, have been awarded Northstar Academy & Career Center's 2024 Navigator Award for Outstanding Community Partnership.

This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have significantly extended the impact of Northstar's mission—promoting educational excellence and career opportunities for students with disabilities facing academic, physical, or social challenges—throughout the broader Richmond community.

Michelle has been instrumental in creating job shadowing, internship, and employment opportunities through her collaboration with Northstar and the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services. Her dedication to sharing her employer’s successful inclusion model has helped train numerous large organizations on how to develop innovative and effective inclusive employment programs.

Matt Bellinger, founder and CEO of BeneCounsel Inc., has provided legal services and support to families in Central Virginia for the past decade. His commitment to Northstar families includes offering quality legal training for those transitioning to adulthood and hosting Northstar's Career Center Business Technology students for community work experiences. Matt has positively impacted hundreds of families by providing crucial information during critical times.

Congratulations to Matt and Michelle for their outstanding contributions and well-deserved recognition!

Become An Information Access Champion

The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) launched a new initiative asking individuals and businesses to TAKE THE PLEDGE and become an information access champion.

Disability Inclusion Is A Choice

With over 40 years experience, the National Organization on Disability helps the world's leading companies become more disability-inclusive. Are you leaving impact on the table? Discover crucial data and uncover the hidden strengths and untapped opportunities awaiting your organization. Register Here for the NOD Employment Tracker™ and learn more about the The new free Employee Engagement Survey by Registering Here.

National Organization on Disability Welcomes Longtime Nonprofit Leader and Advocate Beth Sirull as Chief Executive Officer

New York, New York, May 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Luke Visconti, Chairman of the National Organization on Disability (NOD) announced today that Beth Sirull has been appointed as NOD’s new Chief Executive Officer. For the past seven years, Sirull served as President and CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation San Diego (JCFSD), the region’s largest philanthropic funder... Continue Reading

Community Connections Hold Key to Expanding Telehealth Access, Report Says

Over the last several years, patients and providers alike have recognized the efficiency of telehealth, and today it holds particular promise for the one in nine Virginians with a disability... Continue Reading

National Organization on Disability for Employer Insights hosted by:

In this interview, Howard Green with the National Organization on Disability, speaks with Jose Velasco with SAP. Jose Velasco is Vice-President of Product Management and Head of the Autism at Work initiative in the United States at SAP. SAP is the world's leading provider of enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) delivers products and services that help accelerate business innovation, with over 67,000 employees supporting for its more than 250,000 customers in more than 180 countries. SAP is embarking on a global program to hire people with autism as software testers, programmers and data quality assurance specialists. Autistic employees can offer competitive advantages, according to SAP, while helping the individuals secure meaningful employment.

Check out and register for the upcoming session:

June 27, 2024

ABLEnow is an important financial tool for Virginians with disabilities and their families. Many employers don’t know about these tax-advantaged accounts. It’s easy to share information about Virginia529 and ABLEnow with your organization. Invite ABLEnow to present to your group or participate in a benefit fair.

Know someone still looking for that perfect job? Jobs Ability can match their employment profile to any of their 50,000+ jobs from all around the US and across the world. If the individual has a profile, they can log in to check on their current recommended matches. If they don't have a profile, have them check out these new captioned videos for instructions on how to get started. 

Creating generative AI to build an accessible world for individuals with disabilities. Our Ability was recognized in 2023 by the International Organization Zero Project for work on Jobs Ability, one of 12 Awardees in the US! If you are interested in a demonstration or additional information contact MaryBeth Schneider, Community Outreach Director.

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