February Newsletter
Greetings!
February is a great month to recognize World Cancer Day, International Cancer Day, Black History Month, White Cane Week, Chinese New Year, Jewish Disability Awareness & Inclusion Month and many more. Take some time to reflect on what this month and all of its activities and events mean to you.
2022 Career Connections Mentoring Program Update
2022 Career Connections Mentoring Program image with picture of mentor and mentees at a meeting and a connector graphic to show connection
Disability:IN Minnesota mentor and mentees have been meeting regularly and networking since the Kick Off in January. This month, mentors and mentees will engage in a disclosure webinar to talk about decisions surrounding disclosure in the workplace. This webinar is a great opportunity for mentors and mentees to share their own experiences. It also provides mentors with some great perspective and ideas on how to create an inclusive and supportive culture for these disclosure moments.

In addition, mentoring pairs will be creating and/or sharing their LinkedIn profiles to get feedback on what stands out and/or what could be further enhanced. In our March newsletter, we hope to feature some of our 2022 mentees and connect you to their LinkedIn profiles. So look for more to come in our next edition.
Membership Updates
Thank you new members!
Finley's Barkery logo
Thank you renewing members!
Inclusive Networking logo
Upcoming Events
March Member Meeting
DisabilityIN Minnesota March Member Meeting Neurodiverse Logo
Hosted by: Spectrum Connections and Mind Shift

Presentations: Neurodiversity As a Strategy for Business Success

Presenters:
  • Melva Radtke, Co-Founder, Spectrum Connections
  • Joy Kieffer, Executive Director, Mind Shift
  • Andrew Larson, Paraprofessional, South Washington County Schools and Board Member, Spectrum Connections

Description:
Come to our next virtual meeting to learn about different approaches to hiring and retaining neurodiverse individuals as a strategy for business success. 
 
By attending this session, you will: 
  • Have a better understanding of autism and how neurodiversity is defined
  • Learn how to support individuals with neurodiverse needs
  • Become aware of resources to be able to tap into this talented group of individuals
  • Have a chance to hear about supports that are available to employers and neurodiverse employees to further their success

Agenda:
8:00 – 8:10 am Welcome and Announcements
8:15 – 9:15 am Neurodiversity As a Strategy for Business Success
9:15 – 9:25 am Q & A
9:25 – 9:30 am Wrap Up
RSVP is required to attend.
RSVP deadline: March 7, 2022 (5 p.m.)
2022 INclusive Career Fair
Save the Date
2022 DisabilityIN Minnesota INclusive Career Fair Logo
Please join us on Thursday, April 28th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm for Disability:IN Minnesota's 2022 INclusive VIRTUAL Career Fair!

Who should attend?

  • Employers committed to seeking a more diverse and disability-inclusive workforce

  • Job Seekers who are:
  • College students
  • Recent graduates
  • Veterans
  • Actively seeking employment

For more details, click here.
2022 Programming
Become a Member Event Co-Host in 2022
One of the great benefits of business membership with Disability:IN Minnesota is the ability to co-host one of our member events.

Benefits of co-hosting a member event:

  • Accessibility is key. Disability:IN Minnesota will provide an accessible platform for the event, ASL interpreting and captioning
  • Brand recognition as a disability inclusive company
  • Leading a discussion while sharing best practices with a wide network of disability inclusive businesses

Program co-hosts often include Executive Sponsors and their Business/Employee Resource Group Members. 

The following months are currently available for event hosting in 2022:

  • June
  • October
  • November
Disability:IN National Updates
Other Events
The 2022 Solving for X Workplace Inclusion Conference Logo with tagline Tackling Inequities In A World of Unknowns
The Forum on Workplace Inclusion is hosting their 34th Annual Conference on April 5-7, 2022. The event will be virtual/online. This year's title/theme is Solving for X: Tackling Inequities in a World of Unknowns. A description and details about the event are below.

Addressing complex challenges can be daunting, especially when the foundations of our structures are shifting. As we look to a future of continuous and unforeseeable change, what must we do to tackle systemic inequities deeply embedded in our everyday environments and unharness inclusive, equitable, and sustainable ways of working?

For more information or to register click here. A number of scholarships are available through the support of Ameriprise and Nike for individuals who are students, unemployed or an employee of a small business/nonprofit organization. Scholarships are due February 28, 2022 at 11:59 PM CST.
2022 Calendar
February
  • February 23rd, 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm, MaxAbility Lunch & Learn. Click here to register.
March
  • March 9th, 8 am - 9:30 am, Disability:IN Minnesota Member Meeting. Click here to register.
  • March 23rd, 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm, MaxAbility Lunch & Learn. Click here to register.
April
Make sure to put those important disability inclusion dates into your calendar. You can find the 2022 Disability:IN Calendar of Disability-Related Dates below.
Find Great Candidates with Jobs Ability
Jobs Ability logo
Reach more candidates with disabilities on Jobs Ability

One great benefit at the Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels is access to the job board on our website that's uniquely for candidates with disabilities. 

This national system connects your local job openings with talented people with disabilities who are seeking employment by scraping your career site on a daily basis and posting your openings.
About Us
Are You IN? logo for Disability:IN
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.