Celebrating Value and Talent

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Disability Impact

October 2026

News & Events for Disability Inclusion Leaders in the National Capital Region and Beyond!

A Message from our CEO, The Hon. Katherine McCary

Disability:IN DC Metro

Announces New Strategic Alliance with

ABILITY Magazine

Dear Members and Friends,

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a time to celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities and to recommit to building workplaces where everyone can thrive. There is no better moment to share some exciting news: Disability:IN DC Metro has formed a strategic alliance with ABILITY Magazine.

ABILITY Magazine is a trusted national voice on disability, health, and inclusion. By combining our regional network with ABILITY's national reach and credibility, we can advance disability inclusion, expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and bring you more resources than ever before.



Why This Alliance Matters Now

This alliance comes at an important moment. Under the Department of Labor's revised Section 503 regulations, effective September 21, 2026, federal contractors are no longer required to track the 7% disability utilization goal or to use the CC-305 disability self-identification form.

However, the obligation to hire people with disabilities has not gone away. Covered contractors must still carry out positive recruitment and outreach and how employers conduct outreach matters more than ever.

An Exclusive Member Discount

The abilityJOBS board and the ABILITY Job Fair connect employers directly with candidates with disabilities, and Disability:IN DC Metro brings the regional network and expertise to help those connections succeed.

As a DC Metro member, you'll receive an exclusive 10% discount on abilityJOBS Board Partner Value Packages and on the ABILITY Job Fair.  

Discount applies to new and past clients (not current).

Members: to access your discount, contact Katherine at Katherine.McCary@disabilityindcmetro.org.

Not a member yet? Join now by viewing our member levels and scheduling a call with Katherine.

More Content and a National Platform

You'll also see great content from us. ABILITY Magazine has granted DC Metro permission to share its articles in our newsletter and member communications, so expect to find thoughtful stories and insights from ABILITY in upcoming issues. DC Metro will also contribute an article to ABILITY's bi-monthly digital publication, bringing the work of our members and our region to a national audience.

Increased Visibility for Both Organizations

You'll notice ABILITY Magazine, abilityJOBS, and the ABILITY Job Fair featured on our website and in our newsletters and event materials. DC Metro will also be recognized as an Alliance Partner on ABILITYMagazine.com and its affiliated program sites.

Looking Ahead

This partnership reflects what we believe: meaningful change happens when committed organizations work together. I'm grateful to the ABILITY Magazine team for their partnership, and I look forward to all we will accomplish together this NDEAM and throughout the year ahead.

With appreciation,

Katherine McCary

CEO, Disability:IN DC Metro

*****Don't miss the upcoming Ability Job Fairs

October 22 & December 10, 2026*****

Contact Lori Daly for details and take advantage of DCMetro member discounts!

The ABILITY Job Fair is an accessible virtual career fair hosted by ABILITY Magazine, abilityJOBS, and ABILITY Corps to connect job seekers with disabilities to inclusive employers.

DisabilityIN DC Metro Happenings

Programming

Section 503 After OFCCP's Final Rule:

What's Changed, What's Left and What's Next

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

11:30 AM -12:30 PM ET

Speaker: Holly E. Jacobs, Associate, K&L Gates

Register Now →



Free for DC Metro members and Disability:IN Affiliate members.

OFCCP's final rule has eliminated disability self-identification requirements, Form CC-305, and the 7% utilization goal for federal contractors. Many employers are now asking the same questions: What do we still have to do? Can we keep collecting disability data? And how do we measure progress without it?

On October 27, 2026, Holly Jacobs, an Associate in K&L Gates' Labor, Employment, and Workplace Safety practice and a former law clerk at the U.S. EEOC, will walk through what changed, why OFCCP made these changes, and which obligations remain in effect, including nondiscrimination, reasonable accommodation, outreach and recruitment, and affirmative action program requirements.

She'll also share practical strategies for sustaining disability hiring and advancement, and discuss how Disability:IN DC Metro members can help shape the next phase of disability inclusion.

Whether you lead compliance, talent acquisition, or strategy, you'll leave with a clear understanding of where things stand and what to do next.

New Members

Disability:IN DC Metro Welcomes Mitre

New National Geography Member

Become a Member!

Our Collaborative Value System makes us an optimum resource: members plug into a vetted network of partners spanning the full disability inclusion lifecycle.

Gain access to Members Only LinkedIn

Disability:IN DC Metro Connect

We are so excited to welcome our newest

Advisory Board Member!

Kathleen Murphy, Managing Researcher

AIR

Unlocking the Purchasing Power of People with Disabilities

Murphy et al. (2026)

Welcome Newest DOBE: EVORA

Thoughtful IT, Meaningful Impact: How EVORA Is Building a Different Kind of Technology Company

For Steve Chesley, Founder and CEO of EVORA Solutions building a technology company has become about much more than technology.

In 2020, Steve was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). What followed was a two-year journey that included seven rounds of chemotherapy, a stay in the ICU, nearly four months in the hospital, long periods separated from his family, and ultimately a bone marrow transplant in 2021 through a clinical trial.

The experience changed his perspective on work, community, resilience, and what it means to build a company with purpose.

Today, Steve is a cancer and bone marrow transplant survivor, and EVORA Solutions is a certified Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE) through Disability:IN.

Based in Richmond, Virginia, EVORA helps enterprise organizations simplify the way they procure, deploy, support, secure, and ultimately retire technology across the United States and globally. The company works across enterprise infrastructure, networking, security, lifecycle services, IT asset disposition, sustainability, and ongoing technology support.

EVORA describes its approach simply as “Thoughtful IT.”

For EVORA, that means looking beyond an individual transaction or technology purchase. It means understanding what a customer is actually trying to accomplish and finding ways to simplify complex environments, reduce costs, extend existing investments, improve security and resiliency, and make more sustainable technology decisions.

But “Thoughtful IT” also reflects the kind of company Steve wants EVORA to become.

His experience with cancer, recovery, and returning to work gave him a firsthand understanding of how disability and serious illness can change a person’s professional and personal journey. It also reinforced the value that resilience, adaptability, empathy, and different life experiences can bring to an organization.

Those lessons now influence how EVORA approaches its employees, customers, partners, and community.

Steve continues to support people and families affected by cancer, share his experience as a survivor, participate in Disability:IN programs and events, and become more involved with organizations throughout the Richmond community. EVORA is also building social impact into its long-term business model, with the goal of using the company’s growth to create opportunities and support organizations making a meaningful difference.

The company sees its DOBE certification as more than a designation. It is an opportunity to demonstrate that disability-owned businesses can bring a unique combination of resilience, creativity, grit, and complex problem-solving to their customers—qualities often developed through overcoming significant obstacles in their own journeys.

As EVORA grows, Steve’s goal is to prove that strong business performance and meaningful social impact do not have to be separate objectives. The company can help customers solve complex technology challenges while also creating opportunities, strengthening communities, and supporting causes that matter.

That is ultimately what Thoughtful IT. Meaningful Impact. means to EVORA.



Thank you again, Katherine. I appreciate you giving us the opportunity to share a little more about EVORA and our story with the Disability:IN DC Metro community.

BroadFutures Fall Gala

Ripples to Waves: Celebrating Our Impact

October 17 5:30-8:00 PM

International Spy Museum Washington DC

Buy Tickets

Join us as we bring together our community to celebrate the momentum we are building toward a more inclusive workforce.

Become a sponsor and be part of the wave.

Learn more about BroadFutures

Meet the Employers building a better workforce!

2026 AFB Leadership Summit: Shaping the Future Together

One Day. One Voice. United.

Register for the AFB Leadership Summit

Monday, October 26, 2026 | Downtown Louisville Marriott, Louisville, KY

We stand at the precipice of one of the most transformative times in human history. The rapid rise of artificial intelligence is influencing nearly every aspect of life — education, employment, healthcare, transportation, privacy, and security are all experiencing a paradigm shift. The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) invites all those committed to expanding technology while protecting the independence and opportunity of people who are blind or have low vision to join this one-day facilitated meeting of minds focused on the future of the field.

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is moving beyond the traditional conference format with a focused, one-day Leadership Summit bringing together 100+ thought leaders, scholars, practitioners, educators, technology professionals, and advocates in the blindness and low vision field. Through facilitated discussions and shared deliberations, participants will help define priorities and leave with tangible deliverables to help steer the field forward, plus a renewed commitment to shared values of independence and access — capped by an evening awards reception. The Summit kicks off a full week of programming in Louisville, including annual meetings from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and the Council of Schools and Services for the Blind (COSB), plus the October 27 launch party for APH's new museum, The Dot Experience.

Sponsorship opportunities available — contact partners@afb.org.

Disability Innovation Forum 2026

October 22

Grand Hyatt Washington

1000 H St NW, Washington, DC 20001 | 202-582-1234

Be Part of the Innovation Movement

Use the EVENTBRITE Link to Register.

Thursday, October 22nd, 2026

8:00 am ET: Registration Check-in

8:00-9:30 am ET: Morning Networking Reception

10:00 am-11:00 am ET: The Big Ideas Showcase

11:00 am-5:30 pm ET: Forum panels

6:00 pm-7:00 pm ET: Evening Networking Reception

VIEW VENUE INFORMATION

Save the Date

The Art of Measurement — 2027 Disability Statistics State-of-the-Science Conference

March 17–18, 2027 | Rubell Museum, Washington, DC | Online and In-Person

Hosted by the Center for Research on Disability at the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability, this two-day conference brings together researchers and other disability-data users to explore the science and challenges of measuring disability in the United States.

Through expert presentations, methodological discussions, practical tools, and perspectives from research, policy, practice, and lived experience, participants will examine current measurement approaches, explore what different measures reveal, and identify opportunities for future research and collaboration.

More information about the agenda, speakers, and free registration is coming soon.

Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month

In October 2026, we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual recognition of the positive impact of people with disabilities in the American workforce.

This yearly event began in 1945 as a weeklong national observance of the contributions of people with physical disabilities. In 1988, Congress designated the commemoration as NDEAM, which then evolved to acknowledge the importance of increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities, including those with mental health conditions and other nonobvious disabilities.

In 2001, ODEP was created and entrusted to administer NDEAM, including the selection and promotion of its annual theme.

This year’s NDEAM theme will be "Celebrating Value and Talent," carrying the spirit of last year's celebration forward through 2026 in honor of America's 250th birthday. We will recognize the skills and contributions Americans with disabilities add to the nation’s workplaces, communities, and economy. This year’s observance will play an important role in the department’s year-long celebration of the American worker in support of the nationwide Freedom 250 initiative.

The latest U.S. labor force statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor (ODEP) and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show current employment metrics for people with disabilities:

July 2026 Monthly Statistics (Ages 16–64)

• Employment-Population Ratio: 38.3% (compared to 75.0% for people without a disability)
• Labor Force Participation Rate: 42.4% (compared to 78.2% for people without a disability)
• Unemployment Rate: 9.5% (compared to 4.2% for people without a disability)

Employment-Population Ratio:38.3%

The M-Enabling Summit Arlington VA Oct 2026

Message from Eduardo Meza-Etienne, DC Metro's

Chief Accessibility Officer, from the M-Enabling Summit this week.

From October 5–7, accessibility leaders, policymakers, technologists, and members of the disability community gathered in Arlington for the M-Enabling Summit 2026. This year’s theme, “Accessibility at the Core of Digital Transformation,” called attention to a question every organization should be asking: as technology changes, are we building systems that work for people with disabilities from the start?

The program explored issues with direct relevance to our members, including AI and accessible coding, inclusive user experience, digital accessibility requirements, co-design with people with disabilities, and the governance and measurement needed to sustain progress. These conversations connect accessibility to the decisions organizations make every day: what they buy, how they design and develop services, how they test them, and whose experiences shape the result.

For Disability:IN DC Metro members, the Summit offered a chance to learn across sectors and bring practical ideas back to our workplaces. It also reinforced a principle central to our community: people with disabilities must help shape the technologies and services that affect their lives. Accessibility is strongest when it is part of digital transformation from the beginning—and when organizations listen to disabled people throughout the process.

As a supporting sponsor partner, Disability:IN DC Metro is proud to help connect our members with this global accessibility community. The work continues beyond the conference: in our organizations, our partnerships, and the choices we make about the future of technology.

Eduardo Meza-Etienne, ADS, CPACC, MSc, MIM

Chief Accessibility Officer, Disability:IN DC Metro

What Our Community is Saying

Dear Advocate,

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is proposing to redesign the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Since 1957, the NHIS has been a vital tool that provides the government with important information about the health of Americans, including how many Americans have a disability. The CDC and other government entities use data from the NHIS to make decisions about funding and resource allocation for critical programs, research, and services that benefit disabled people.

The proposed redesign would remove some disability-related questions and reduce the detail collected about disabled people’s health and experiences. Although some questions about disability, mental health, and chronic conditions would remain, they would not capture all of the information currently collected.

If implemented, these changes could make it harder for government agencies to accurately estimate disability prevalence, understand disabled people’s health and well-being, and make informed decisions about resource allocation and policy solutions to improve their lives.

AAPD urges you to submit comments by October 20, 2026, asking the CDC to retain the disability-related questions proposed for removal from the NHIS.

We have provided a template for you to use in submitting your comment to the CDC, and we encourage you to use the space provided to share your experience with the healthcare system as a person with a disability, as well as any discrimination you have experienced in accessing healthcare services.

 Submit a Comment

Thank you for your advocacy.

In solidarity,

AAPD Policy Team

Reminder- NEW FOR DC METRO MEMBERS

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NOD

EnAble Learning

Through a new partnership with the National Organization on Disability (NOD), DC Metro members get direct access to a premier on-demand training platform — expert-designed, self-paced modules that scale to 2,500+ learners.



On-Demand Courses

•   Disability 101

•   Neurodiversity at Work

•   Managing Teams & Mental Health

•   AI, Emerging Tech & Accessibility

The Member Advantage

DC Metro Members purchase these premium modules through our affiliate, so inclusion practices directly enhance productivity and your organization's bottom line.

•   Build stronger leaders — Lead diverse teams with confidence

•   Reduce risk — Compliance & verified best practices

•   Culture that thrives — Beyond awareness to inclusion

Contact Katherine McCary to get started!

Disability:IN DC Metro

OUR COLLABORATIVE VALUE SYSTEM

Why We Are an Optimum Resource

Members plug into a vetted network of partners across the full inclusion lifecycle.

Strength in Collaboration

•   Disability:IN Affiliates — DC Metro, Chicagoland, Minnesota, North Carolina and Wisconsin work together for increased programming and expanded geographic outreach.

•   World Institute on Disability (WID) — leading the Disability 20 (D20) 2026 at the US G20, providing access and information on the global stage, plus healthcare-sector training.

Improving Access & Reducing Risk

•   United Spinal Accessibility Services — ADA 2010 Standards expertise to ensure a welcoming, accessible work environment.

•   C5 Digital Accessibility Services — expert analysis and actionable steps toward digital accessibility for employees, applicants and customers.

Talent

•   BroadFutures Internships — internships for neurodiverse talent, serving employer members across the US.

•   ABILITY Magazine — resources, and access to nationwide job board and fully accessible virtual job fairs for DC Metro members.

•   Melwood abilIT — preparing people with disabilities and injured veterans for careers in IT, cybersecurity and tech-adjacent fields.

And More

•   Omnium Circus — more than amazing entertainment; Omnium showcases "I'm Possible" ways to bridge the knowledge and understanding gap.

•   SME Consultant Access — C5 Consulting LLC, Diversifi Consulting Group LLC, The Resource Network, CONCEPTS Communications, TCS Teams and other vetted experts.

Benchmark Tools & Frameworks

•   Disability Inclusion Blueprint — NOD's free, confidential guide to advancing disability across the employee lifecycle, from recruitment to retention.

•   Disability Index (DI) — co-administered by Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), a premier tool for benchmarking corporate disability policies.

Become a member and tap the full network!

contact

Katherine.McCary@disabilityindcmetro.org

Founding Chair of Disability:IN National and

CEO, Executive Director of Disability:IN DC Metro

Learn More about DisabilityIN DC Metro

Twice honored as Disability:IN Affiliate of the Year

Our Vision

“Cultivate workforces and workplaces where talent with disabilities are recruited, included, promoted, retained and valued as both internal talent and innovative vendors.”



Disability:IN DC Metro Connect

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