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Happy New Year from Disability:IN Chicagoland! With the start of 2026, we are eager to reconnect, plan and collaborate around disability inclusion in the year ahead. To kick off the year, this month's newsletter includes: a recap of Disability:IN Chicagoland's progress in 2025; registration details for participation in the 2026 Disability Index; a save the date for Disability:IN's 2026 Global Conference; and reminders for several disability inclusion events coming up. We look forward to ongoing partnership and collaboration this year as we continue together on this journey toward inclusion.

Sincerely, Laura Wilhelm, Executive Director, Disability:IN Chicagoland

Disability:IN Chicagoland 2025 Year in Review

As we continue to make plans for 2026, we are proud of what Disability:IN Chicagoland has accomplished in the last year. This graphic illustrates the progress our network has made in championing disability inclusion throughout Chicago, even in a year of change and uncertainty. We were honored to be named Disability:IN's 2025 Affiliate of the Year and are proud of the success of the 2025 Disability Inclusion Opportunity Summit hosted at McDonald's. We launched a new website - www.disabilityinchicagoland.org - where partners can access all of last year's online programing on the Partners-Only Resource page. If you aren't yet partnering with Disability:IN Chicagoland, consider opportunities for collaboration this year by connecting with Ann Kisting, Director of Partnerships at Ann@disabilityinchicagoland.org.

2026 Disability Index Registration Now Open

Registration for the 2026 Disability Index, Disability:IN's corporate benchmarking tool, opened earlier this month. The tool helps participating companies assess their current disability inclusion progress and identifies opportunities for future growth and development. This year, the Disability Index is free to eligible companies with more than 500 employees. Find more information about the tool and its timeline here and, download a copy of the Participation Guide online here. Questions? Contact index@disabilityin.org.

Are you in? 2026 Disability:IN Conference, July 27 to 30 in Dallas.

SAVE THE DATE: Disability:IN 2026 Global Conference & Expo

Disability:IN's Annual Conference is scheduled for July 27-30, in Dallas, TX. This year's Global Conference & Expo will bring together more than 3,000 in-person attendees for 30+ sessions on topics like: accessibility; E/BRGs; inclusive marketing and communications; supplier diversity; and ESG investing. Participants will connect with corporate inclusion leaders, Disability Owned Business Enterprises (DOBEs), affiliates, and NextGen Leaders. Watch for registration information coming soon!

Interested In Partnership?

Disability:IN Chicagoland is a business-to-business network supporting disability inclusion. Chicagoland corporate partners connect with resources, engage in monthly programs, and network to increase inclusion across their organizations. For information contact Ann Kisting, Director of Partnerships, at ann@disabilityinchicagoland.org.

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Upcoming Events:

Great Lakes ADA Center hosts Assistance Animals in Employment on January 29th at 1:00 Central. Register online here.
Disability:IN Wisconsin hosts Designing for Everyone: Universal Principles to Elevate the Employee Experience on February 12th at 11:00 Central, details and registration available online here.
Great Lakes ADA Center hosts ADA Litigation Update on March 18th at 1:00 Central. Register online here.

Disability:IN Chicagoland Partners

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Disability:IN Chicagoland | www.disabilityinchicagoland.org