Aerial View of Washington DC
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DC Metro BLN News - November/December 2018
Getting to Equal: The Disability Inclusion Advantage
Accenture. High performance. Delivered.
DEI. Disability Equality Index. Benchmarking Incusion Practices.
Companies that embrace best practices for employing and supporting more persons with disabilities in their workforces have outperformed their peers, according to a new research report from Accenture (NYSE:ACN) in partnership with  Disability:IN  and the  American Association of People with Disabilities  (AAPD) .

The report, entitled “ Getting to Equal: The Disability Inclusion Advantage ,” analyzed the disability practices and financial performance of the 140 companies participating in the  Disability Equality Index  (DEI) — a benchmarking tool that gives U.S. businesses an objective score on their disability inclusion policies and practices — over the past four years.

The 45 companies that Accenture identified as standing out for their leadership in areas specific to disability employment and inclusion had, on average over the four-year period, 28 percent higher revenue, double the net income and 30 percent higher economic profit margins than the other companies in the DEI. Accenture analysis also revealed that U.S. GDP could get a boost of up to US$25 billion if more persons with disabilities joined the labor force.

Persons with disabilities continue to be underrepresented in corporate America. Despite the strength of the U.S. labor market, only 29 percent of Americans of working age (16-64) with disabilities were employed as of July 2018, compared with 75 percent of those without a disability, according to the  Bureau of Labor Statistics . This results in an untapped talent pool of 10.7 million people. Additionally, the unemployment rate in 2017 for persons with a disability was more than twice that for those without a disability — 9.2 versus 4.2 percent.

Thanks to our 2018 Gala Sponsors
Booz Allen Hamilton. Strategy and technology consultants.
eSSENTIAL Accessibility
Herson Family Vineyards.
KPMG
Lockheed Martin.
Northrop Grumman.
The Sierra Group. Disability & Employment Leaders.
TCS Associates
TCS Interpreting
IN THE NEWS - Articles of Interest
JAN. Job Accommodation Network.
"Low Cost High Impact"

The Job Accommodation Network published its annual report on the benefits and costs of workplace accommodations, titled “Accommodation and Compliance: Low Cost High Impact.” The information is gathered from employers who have used JAN's services in the past year. The findings show that 59 percent of accommodations cost nothing to make, while the rest of the accommodations had a typical cost of $500. This is consistent with the results of last year's study, demonstrating that job accommodations generally are not costly.

SHRM. Society for Human Resource Mangement.
Accessible eRecruiting Resources

The Society for Human Resource Management recently published an extensive four-part series on “Developing Accessible Jobs Websites” featuring the Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT). The series includes detailed guidance from PEAT's Deputy Project Director Corinne Weible and others to help an organization determine if people with disabilities can use its website, and how to develop a jobs site anyone can use. Highlighted resources include PEAT's “10 Tips for an Accessible Website” and excerpts from the “TalentWorks” tool, which provides step-by-step support to help employers make their eRecruiting processes accessible.

nTIDE October 2018 Jobs Report:
Rise in Indicators Extends Positive Trend for Americans with Disabilities



Kessler Foundation and University of New Hampshire Release nTIDE Report – Monthly Update Durham, NH – The key economic indicators for Americans with disabilities continued to rise, according to today’s National Trends in Disability Employment – Monthly Update (nTIDE), issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). More than 50 million people in the U.S. have disabilities, comprising the nation’s largest minority. Through vocational rehabilitation research, new approaches are being developed to help individuals with disabilities contribute their talent and experience to our communities and the greater economy by re-establishing themselves in the workplace.


America's Workforce: Empowering All. National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2018.
NDEAM 2018 Wraps Up
It's a wrap on NDEAM 2018!
This year, organizations and communities across the nation brought the theme of “America's Workforce: Empowering All,” to life in a variety of creative ways, from employer workshops to award ceremonies to job fairs. NDEAM also had a heavy presence in print and on social media, with employers, policymakers, disability advocates, and news agencies posting hundreds of photos, video messages, blog posts, op-eds and more. The White House issued a Presidential Proclamation recognizing the month, as did more than 30 states. The U.S. Department of Labor capped off the month with an observance featuring Secretary Alexander Acosta, with more than 1,100 people participating online and in person.
What can you do? The Campaign for Disability Employment.
"Working Works"

 The Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) launched its latest public service announcement (PSA) campaign, “Working Works,” at the U.S. Department of Labor's NDEAM observance on October 30. The PSA features four individuals sharing various reasons why they work and the important roles different people played—including employers and healthcare professionals—in helping them continue to do so after injury or illness. Among these individuals is Cal Ripken, Jr., who holds Major League Baseball's record for most consecutive games ever played, 2,632. “Working Works” is the fourth in a series of PSAs created by the CDE, a collaborative of several disability and business organizations committed to changing attitudes about disability and employment.

Events
U.S. International Council on Disabilities. Celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
USICD 2018 GALA

December 6, 2018
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
 
AT&T Forum



Celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities with Board, Donors, Friends, and Congressional, Corporate, and other Partners of the United States International Council on Disabilities!
 
At our event, USICD will honor leaders of the disability rights movement whose impact has been felt on the international stage-American policymakers are recipients of the Dole-Harkin Award,for distinction in public service to the global disability community, and an overseas disability rights advocate is honored for his/her outstanding work in advancing the rights, opportunities, and dignity of persons with disabilities.

2019 ILG National Conference. Shifting Gears in a Fast-Changing World. Milwaukee, WI. July 30 through August 2, 2019

2019 ILG NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Shifting Gears in a Fast-Changing World
July 30 through August 2, 2019


The theme of this year’s conference is “Shifting Gears in a Fast-Changing World.” The conference will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from July 30 through August 2, 2019. We will be looking for new and innovative presentations that recognize the many changes that practitioners in the EEO/AA field and that workers in general are facing. The RFP will provide you with some possible topics for the conference, but we welcome different, creative ideas that will be of value to conference attendees.

2019 ANNUAL MID-ATLANTIC ADA UPDATE CONFERENCE
ADA Mid-Atlantic Update 2019

November 13 - 15, 2019
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania



The 2019 Mid-Atlantic ADA Update will provide a wide range of up-to-date information on ADA regulations and guidelines, as well as strategies and best practices for successful implementation of the law. Conference speakers will include subject-matter experts from federal, state, and local government agencies, businesses, non-profit organizations, and universities. The ADA Update will offer opportunities to network with other professionals with similar interests and concerns. Professional development hours from several accreditation organizations will also be available.
For more information visit their website: http://www.adainfo.org/Content/ADA-Update
About Us
The DC Metro Business Leadership Network is an employer led non-profit that uses a business-to business model offering education, training programs and resources to change attitudes and address concerns of businesses so that they learn how to proactively include people with disabilities in the workforce, marketplace and supplier diversity.