Disability Belongs

Join us on Thursday October 17 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT and learn about how H-E-B and the Texas Workforce Commission created access to good jobs for people with disabilities! Benigno Aceves, the State Office Program Specialist, Business Relations for Texas Workforce Commission, Vocational Rehabilitation Division will discuss the We Hire Ability program, which recognizes Texas employers who are committed to hiring people with disabilities and their efforts to create an inclusive workforce. Samantha Moreno, Disability Bridges Program Manager at H-E-B, will discuss the Disability Bridges project and their mission to improve the lives of Texans by providing opportunities and removing barriers for Texans with disabilities. This panel discussion will be moderated by Kevin McCloskey, Senior Director of Leadership and Workforce Development at Disability Belongs™. Register: https://lnkd.in/engWiQ2k

The Ticket to Work program is a U.S. Social Security Administration initiative that helps people with disabilities find and keep employment while maintaining their Social Security benefits. Learn more about this free and potentially life-changing program in this blog post by our Leadership and Workforce Development Fellow Michael Hawkins: https://lnkd.in/eNrd2eJb

Effective communication is an essential component of the interactive accommodation process under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Join us on Tuesday October 15 at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT for a Job Accommodation Network (JAN) training highlighting the importance of constructive dialogue and collaborative exploration of effective and reasonable job accommodation solutions tailored to the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities in the workplace. Participants will learn that there is no universal accommodation solution, that each accommodation situation is unique, and that successful outcomes in the accommodation process can be achieved through effective communication. The training will include practical strategies for engaging in accommodation discussions and JAN resources to support the process. Register: https://lnkd.in/grBJGNA9

We must address barriers that prevent disabled people from voting. These barriers include problems with requesting and receiving mail-in ballots, polling places with broken or no accessible machines, and poll workers with no training to assist disabled voters. Barriers like these can make it impossible for everyone to vote on election day.   Disabled people have the right to get help while voting. Talk to your protection & advocacy organization if you cannot get the help you need. Find your P&A at NDRN.org and visit DisabilityBelongs.org/Vote for additional resources. #RightToHelp

You won’t want to miss out on the next National Health Equity Grand Rounds event, "Rewrite the Script: Narrative Transformation for Equity in Health,” on Thursday, November 21 starting at 2:00 PM CT. Coming to you live from the main stage at Facing Race, national thought leaders from diverse backgrounds, including physicians, writers, artists, narrative strategists, filmmakers and digital media experts, will share insights on how to challenge harmful dominate narratives and provide insights on how we can reshape how we approach health. This is sure to be a can’t-miss conversation - register now: https://bit.ly/3ZATtkT Led by a collaboration among ACGME, AMA, National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, and Disability Belongs, the National Health Equity Grand Rounds highlights historical and contemporary root causes of health inequities and amplifies strategies to advance health equity in the United States.

DreamWorks Animation, Universal Pictures, and Amblin Entertainment’s “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory” is helping to ensure more disability representation in children's television. At the end of Season 1, viewers learned that Brooklynn has lost her arm and is now an amputee. When Season 2 launches on Netflix on October 17, viewers will learn what Brooklynn has been doing. With a new voice actor needed for Brooklynn as the new series went into production, the team saw an opportunity to ensure authenticity in recasting the role. Kiersten Kelly, who was born without her right forearm, grew up with no one looking like her in the entertainment industry and now is able to be that person for today’s children. In addition, Peter Lee, a writer who is an amputee, was first brought on as a consultant on Brooklynn’s storylines, and soon then joined the writers’ room to contribute to the entire series. On Tuesday, October 22 at 2 p.m. ET, join Kelly, Lee, Executive Producer Scott Kreamer, and Story Editor Bethany Armstrong Johnson for a conversation about the importance of disability representation in “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory.” The panel will be moderated by Lauren Appelbaum, SVP of Entertainment and News Media at Disability Belongs™. Register: https://lnkd.in/efPqSghr

Big news: you can now apply for the Spring 2025 National Leadership Program cohort at DisabilityBelongs.org/nlp! Keep reading for key details about the program, and flip through the slides to see what some of our former Fellows are up to now! Who Is It For? • Leaders pursuing careers in public policy, advocacy, communications, diversity, equity and inclusion, fundraising, nonprofit management, or faith-based inclusion • College or graduate students • Individuals entering the workforce for the first time • Individuals re-entering the workforce • Individuals seeking new career opportunities What Are The Details? • Core working hours are 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET • Fellows are asked to work at least 15 hours per week • Fellows cannot work more than 20 hours per week • Fellows will be paid $20.00/hr What Are The Dates? • Priority Deadline: November 1st • Final Deadline: November 15th • Start Date for the program: January 27th

On Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT, join us for a webinar covering strategies for employers to increase self-identification of veterans and people with disabilities. Our guest speaker is Rob Arndt, CEO of BufferSprings and a disabled Marine veteran. He will leverage 25 years of military and civilian recruiting expertise to help employers unlock fast-track strategies for inclusive recruitment and retention, which can promote greater disability and other forms of self-identification in the workplace. Discover agile methods for upskilling, leadership development, and real community engagement that drive workplace pride and inclusivity. Come away with quick wins, actionable insights, and a plan to create immediate impact for your organization’s hiring. Register: https://lnkd.in/e6vukR5x

"To celebrate NDEAM, employers should do their part to increase the employment rate among disabled individuals by making their workplaces inclusive and accessible. Allowing disabled employees to work remotely is an important piece of the puzzle that enables us to prove we can do the job." Read this blog post from Disability Belongs™ Fellow Sarah Todd Hammer, CPACC and learn why remote work is an important component of creating access to good jobs for all: https://lnkd.in/ebB2u93E

The 2024 election is less than 35 days away! Voting is critically important, but if you want to get even more involved, one great option is to volunteer to be a poll worker. Disabled people know what accessibility measures work best, and by partnering in our communities, we can help ensure cultural competency best practices are the norm at polling places and beyond. Visit DisabilityBelongs.org/vote to learn how you can volunteer and make upcoming elections accessible.