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Greetings!
February is a month rich with disability observances — and a time when many of us reflect on the things we love. At Disability:IN Minnesota, we love the power of disability inclusion to transform workplaces and strengthen communities. This month offers a meaningful opportunity to celebrate progress, honor our continued commitment, and reaffirm our dedication to creating environments where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to thrive.
As we look ahead to spring, we are energized by opportunities to gather and take action together. We hope you will join us for our March Member Meeting, Unhide and Thrive, and mark your calendar for our Inclusive Career Fair in April.
This month, we are looking to capture your voice with a survey to gather feedback from our Disability:IN Minnesota members, partners, and community. Your insights will help shape our programming and priorities in the year ahead.
In addition, we invite you to explore the different sections of this newsletter that highlight the strength of our partnerships — including recognition of our renewing members and important Disability:IN updates.
Thank you for being part of this community, for the work you do each day, and for the heart and love you bring to advancing disability inclusion across Minnesota.
Warm Regards,
Shannon Perry
Disability:IN Minnesota Board Chair
ID: Headshot of Shannon Perry, a woman with shoulder-length brunette hair. Shannon is wearing a navy blue blouse and smiling at the camera.
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Key Disability and Diversity Observances
| | ID: Photo of man in a wheelchair holding the hand of a woman as they walk down the street. They are in an urban area on a stone pathway. They are wearing winter coats and hats. | | |
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Black History Month - Join us in honoring the critical contributions of Black Americans and reflecting on the intersections of racial justice and disability inclusion. Learn about some of the Black leaders with disabilities who have shaped history and paved the way for a more inclusive future for all.
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World Cancer Day (February 4) - Raising cancer awareness and supporting individuals affected.
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National Caregivers Day (February 16) - Recognizing those who provide care and support to individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
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Zero Discrimination Day – (March 1) highlights how people can become informed about and promote inclusion, compassion, peace and, above all, a movement for change.
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International Wheelchair Day – (March 1) - Celebrate the achievements of wheelchair users, recognise those who provide and advocate for access, and raise awareness of the global need for appropriate wheelchairs.
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Survey
Shape the future of Disability:IN Minnesota
Whether you are a current member, past member, prospective member or someone who has engaged with us recently, we want to hear from you.
Your voice is the most important tool we have to improve and evolve alongside the changing landscape of disability inclusion. Please complete our three-question survey by using the link below. If you have additional ideas and comments, we want to hear them! Contact us at info@di-mn.org
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Register Now
Unhide and Thrive
Inclusion and Belonging in the Workplace
Thursday, March 19, 2026
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (CDT)
Ruth Rathblott is a disability diversity expert, bestselling author, and former CEO who spent twenty-five years hiding her disability before transforming her experience into a global movement for authentic inclusion.
By sharing her personal journey from concealment to empowerment, she provides a practical roadmap to build psychologically safe environments where everyone can bring their full selves to work. This talk is a call to action for organizations to move beyond surface-level diversity and embrace a culture of belonging where transparency becomes the ultimate catalyst for peak performance and innovation.
We thank Disability:IN Minnesota Members, American Academy of Neurology and Land O’Lakes for sponsoring this event.
| | ID: Graphic reads ”Unhide and Thrive. When I stopped hiding, I found freedom.” Thursday, March 19, 2026 from 12 - 1pm Central Standard Time. with Ruth Rathblott, Ted Talk Speaker and Author of Unhide and Seek: Live Your Best Life. Do Your Best Work. Ruth is pictured sitting on a park bench, in a black dress. Below her photo is a green box with her name. To the right of her photo, there is a purple background with the event title and date and time information. |
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2026 INclusive Career Fair
Save the date and join us for our annual INclusive Career Fair on Friday, April 24 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM CDT. This virtual event will be held on Zoom. We hope to see you there. Stay tuned for information and registration details coming soon!
ID: Graphic with a bright blue background and an illustrated man wearing business casual holding an oversized magnifying glass. The graphic reads: INclusive Career Fair, April 24th 2026, virtual event, from 1:00 - 4:00 pm CT. The Disability:IN Minnesota logo appears in the lower right corner.
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Want to sponsor the 2026 INclusive Career Fair?
Invest in disability inclusion today! There are a variety of benefits to sponsoring the 2026 INclusive Career Fair, including recognition during the event, on Disability:IN Minnesota's webpage, on social media, and more. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for the event, please contact us at info@di-mn.org.
| ID: 2026 INclusive Career Fair Sponsorship Benefits At the top left is the Disability:IN Minnesota logo, with the tagline “Your business partner for disability inclusion.” The main content is a table comparing four sponsorship levels across columns and rows list sponsorship benefits, with checkmarks indicating which levels receive each benefit. Structure of Benefits by Level: INclusive Contributor ($250): Logo on event home slide and name on website. INclusive Supporter ($500): All INclusive Contributor benefits, logo on homepage and logo on event agenda. INclusive Partner ($750): All INclusive Supporter benefits, social media sponsor recognition and ad in pre and post-event communications. INclusive Champion ($1,000): All INclusive Partner benefits, logo on virtual background in main room and five-minute welcome at event | | Thank you for renewing your membership! | | ID: Logos for Disability:IN Minnesota members: Minnesota Department of Transportation, Jemni Inc, Creating a future for Disabled Veterans, MDI and Best Buddies. | | Updates from Disability:IN National | | There's still time to register for the 2026 DI Index! | | |
The Disability Index offers a clear, data-driven way to measure your company’s disability inclusion efforts, benchmark progress, and chart your path forward. The self-service platform makes completion seamless from start to submission. The best part? Participation is free for qualifying companies.
The Disability Index covers Culture & Leadership, Enterprise-Wide Access, Employment Practices, Community Engagement, Supplier Diversity and Responsible Procurement (unweighted). Each company participating in the index receives a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion.”
| ID: Graphic reads Disability Index. The background is a dark blue. Rounded rectangles with a blue to green gradient are placed on the left side of the image. |
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Save the Date! 2026 Disability:IN Global Conference & Expo will be in Dallas, TX, July 27-30.
ID: Graphic has a dark blue background with gradient bars (green to lighter blue) coming up from the bottom of the image. Above the bars, it reads, "Are You IN? 2026 Global Conference."
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Disability:IN Minnesota is an employer-led endeavor that promotes best practices that enhance employment and career opportunities for skilled individuals who have a disability.
Our members are committed to disability-inclusive hiring practices and love to share best practices and ideas for recruiting, hiring, on-boarding and supporting candidates and employees with disabilities.
Learn more about our organization and benefits or contact us today.
| | ID: Graphic reads "Are you IN?" in dark blue and green text against a white background. | | | | |
