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Dear Friends,
This month we recognize both Developmental Disability Awareness Month and Women’s History Month. In recognition of these marginalized communities, I am reminded that we are strongest when we uplift diverse perspectives. I am continuously inspired by how our Minnesota partners are moving beyond mere compliance to create environments where individuals with developmental disabilities can truly belong and lead.
In honor of Women’s History Month, we reflect on the legacy of Judy Heumann, the "Mother of the Disability Rights Movement." After being told her wheelchair was a "fire hazard" and denied her teaching license, Judy sparked a revolution, leading the historic 504 Sit-In and paving the way for the ADA. Her life’s work serves as a masterclass in the power of intersectional leadership, proving that when women with disabilities have a seat at the table, they don't just fill a space—they redefine the entire room.
As we look toward the future, let’s use this month to turn awareness into intentional action. I challenge you to consider how your organization supports the professional growth of women with developmental disabilities and how we can further dismantle the barriers to their success. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to making Minnesota a leader in disability inclusion—now and for the generations to come.
Regards,
Shannon Perry, 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. | | |
Last Chance!
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
| | 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. | |
Don't Miss Out!
Register Now
Unhide and Thrive
Inclusion and Belonging in the Workplace
Join Disability:IN Minnesota and partners for our March Member Meeting with guest speaker Ruth Rathblott, Unhide and Thrive: Inclusion and Belonging in the Workplace!
Thursday, March 19, 2026
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (CDT)
Virtual Event
Don’t miss the opportunity to experience Ruth Rathblott’s transformative talk, Unhide and Thrive, where she tackles the workplace crisis of hiding. Ruth reveals how the energy spent masking our true selves—whether it's a disability, a background, or a personal struggle—is a performance threat that costs organizations millions in lost creativity and connection.
Whether you are a leader looking to unlock innovation or an employee seeking a more vibrant, authentic professional life, this session provides the tools to build a culture of true belonging. Register today to learn how unhiding can turn engagement into growth and transform your organization's performance.
This event will take place on Zoom. Registration is required to attend.
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Registration Fees:
Accessibility: Live captioning will be provided at this event. If you need accommodations to participate, please request them via the registration form at least 5 days prior to the event.
| We thank Disability:IN Minnesota Members, American Academy of Neurology and Land O’Lakes for sponsoring this event. | | 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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2026 INclusive Career Fair
Are you looking for a new job? Are you an employer looking to connect with skilled candidates to join your team? Join us for Disability:IN Minnesota's virtual 2026 INclusive Career Fair!
Friday, April 24, 2026
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM CT
Virtual Event
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Join us for:
- Employer presentations
- Career networking
- 1:1 informational interviews
- Resume reviews
Who should attend?
Employers committed to creating a more diverse and disability-inclusive workforce.
Job Seekers with disabilities
- College students
- Recent graduates
- Veterans
- People actively seeking employment
Why attend?
Employers: Connect with qualified and talented job candidates. (Member and nonmember rates available)
Job Seekers: It's free! Explore a wide variety of positions and connect with employers who are committed to growing a disability-inclusive workforce.
Accessibility: Live captioning will be provided for this event. If you need accommodations to participate, please request them via the registration form. Contact info@DI-MN.org with questions.
Register today and share with your networks!
| | Thank you, 2026 INclusive Career Fair Sponsors | | |
Want to sponsor an event?
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: Graphic depicts an overview of 2026 Inclusive Career Fair Sponsorship Benefits by membership level. Benefits include Sponsorship logo on event home slide; sponsor name on Disability:IN MN website; Sponsor logo on Disability:IN MN homepage; Sponsorship logo on event agenda; Social Media sponsor recognition tag; Sponsor logo on virtual background in main room; Five minute welcome at event. | | ID: Logos for Disability:IN Minnesota new member ALLETE Inc. | Thank you renewing members! | | ID: Logos for Disability:IN Minnesota renewing members: Best Buy, Element, Inclusive Networking, Land O'Lakes, Lifeworks, Mind Shift, and North Hennepin Community College | | 2026 Career Connections Mentee Spotlight | | |
Djeeraja Taneja
Job or opportunity of interest: I am pursuing opportunities in the manufacturing & automotive industry, especially in the field of Quality as a Quality Manager, Process Improvement, Supply Chain Management, Quality Management Systems (QMS).
Education: Indian Institute of Industrial Engineering
Field of Study: Industrial Engineering
Top Strength: Internal IATF -16949, HSE & OHSAS auditor, Quality Management Systems (QMS), Process Improvement skills, SOP creation, Power Bi, MS Office
Connect with Djeeraja on LinkedIn
ID: Headshot of Djeeraja Taneja, a man with light brown skin, with short dark hair and a bindi. Djeeraja is wearing a navy button up shirt and black glasses.
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Anshinta Sharma
Job or opportunity of interest: HR Generalist or HR Business Partner opportunities in global, process-driven organizations, with a focus on employee experience, compliance, and HR operations.
Education: Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Gwalior
Field of Study: Information Technology
Top Strength: My strengths include being process-oriented, detail-focused, and highly organized in case management environments. I have experience managing employee cases end-to-end across the U.S., EU, and APAC regions. I am also comfortable working in high-volume environments where documentation accuracy is required.
Connect with Onnalee on LinkedIn
ID: Headshot of Anshinta Sharma, a woman with dark hair pulled back. Anshinta is wearing a blue blazer with a button-up shirt underneath.
| | Updates from Disability:IN National | | Register for the 2026 Disability Index by April 17th | | |
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.”
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| 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. | | Free Courses - Microsoft AI Learning | |
Microsoft AI learning resources hosted by Disability:IN provide a vital roadmap for bridging the gap between technological innovation and accessibility.
Boost Productivity: Free, specialized training enables the disability community to leverage AI tools for streamlined tasks and greater professional impact.
Ensure Digital Inclusion: Practical guidance for designing and testing products ensures digital experiences are seamless and accessible beyond basic compliance.
Strengthen Strategy: These resources help organizations bridge the gap between innovation and inclusion, making accessibility a fundamental core of their work.
| ID: Graphic has a dark blue background with icons indicating sight, hearing, and closed captioning. | Register Now - Early Bird Pricing! | | |
2026 Disability:IN Global Conference
Dallas, TX, July 27-30.
Attending the 2026 Disability:IN Global Conference & Expo offers a unique opportunity to join a network of over 990 companies from 40+ countries to drive business innovation through disability inclusion. Participants gain access to cutting-edge insights on topics like Human-Centered AI, Neuroinclusion, and Supply Chain Strategy, while the Expo Hall provides a premier showroom for the latest in accessibility technology. Beyond the educational sessions, the event facilitates high-level networking and curated matchmaking designed to help leaders across product, marketing, and operations build authentic, data-driven solutions that work better for more people.
| | 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." | | Planning a disability inclusion event? | | Expanding your event to include Disability:IN Minnesota members can increase visibility of your company's disability inclusion efforts and offer learning opportunities to members at varying points in their journey. Contact us today to add your disability inclusion event to our calendar! | | |
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. | | | | |
