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October Newsletter

Hello Ann,

Disability Employment Awareness Month 2023

We hope you are easing into the autumn season and getting excited for upcoming fall events! October marks Disability Employment Awareness Month and there are plenty of ways to plug in to the meaningful work of disability inclusion across the country. This month, we celebrate the critical contributions disabled professionals bring to the workforce and prepare for an inclusive future that is full of possibility.


While disability inclusion is a year-round endeavor, this month presents an opportunity to deepen our commitments to advancing equity and making the workplace more accessible for all employees. Check out the Department of Labor’s guide, “Year-Round Employer Strategies for Advancing Disability Inclusion,” for ideas on how to expand your work. We look forward to celebrating with you throughout October, and beyond. 

Looking ahead, we are excited to host a Veteran-focused event on November 16, 2023, in partnership with Center for Disability Inclusion, Disability:IN Chicagoland, Disability:IN DC Metro, and Disability:IN Wisconsin. Registration for this event is now open. Continue reading for event details. We hope you will join us! 


Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay up-to-date with learning resources, upcoming events, and ways to build awareness of disability inclusion.

Image description: "DEAM Disability Employment Awareness Month" in green and white text in front of a dark blue background with a darker blue dashed circle and white disability icons

September Events Recap

Last month, we had the pleasure of hosting two rich and well-attended virtual events, Integrating Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (DOBE®s) Into Your Supply Chain and the INclusion Networking Event: Employee Resource Group/Business Resource Group (ERG/BRG) Event Planning & Engagement.

Both events included engaging panel discussions and opportunities to connect with other professionals who are invested in disability inclusion.


Are you interested in connecting with a Disability-Owned Business Enterprise? Check out our updated 2023 DOBE® Resource List and sign up for a 1:1 Meet & Greet with a DOBE business owner today!


Thank you to all of our panelists and participants for joining us, and thank you to 3M for being an INclusive Champion Sponsor for the ERG/BRG event! 

3M Logo

We value participant feedback! If you attended either of our September events, please fill out the feedback forms below to help inform and improve Disability:IN Minnesota's future programs:

Upcoming Events

Leveraging Intersectionality of Veterans with Disabilities In the Workplace. November 16, 2023.

Image Description:  “Leveraging Intersectionality of Veterans with Disabilities in the Workplace, November 16, 2023, 11:00 AM CST / 12:00 PM EST” in white text in front of a dark blue background with a red decorative border. On the left is a photo of a person wearing a U.S. Army uniform, sitting on a doorstep with their arms resting on their knees. Photo by Jessica Radanavong on Unsplash. Below the banner reads: “Explore best practices for uplifting intersectionality in outreach, recruitment, and the workplace. Panel discussion hosted by Center for Disability Inclusion, Disability:IN Chicagoland, DC Metro, Minnesota, and Wisconsin” in dark blue text against a white background. A list of Special Guest and Panelists is also included: The Honorable James D. Rodriguez, Anna Thomas, Kristopher Rick, Marcia Edwards, Paul Maetzold and Moderator Andrea Hall. Link to register: bit.ly/48rKlB9

Leveraging Intersectionality of Veterans with Disabilities In the Workplace

Please join us for our virtual November Member Meeting: "Leveraging Intersectionality of Veterans with Disabilities in the Workplace" on Wednesday, November 16th, from 11:00 AM - 12:15 pm CST. In recognition of Veterans Day, this session will delve into the diverse and extensive contributions of Veterans in the workplace. Panelists will discuss this often misunderstood area of translating work experience and share best practices for applying intersectionality in the workplace to benefit employees and their employers.


Learning Objectives:

  • Understand Veteran culture and how to apply it to your outreach and recruitment
  • Apply intersectionality to outreach and recruitment of Veterans
  • Develop a recruitment strategy leveraging the SkillBridge Program
  • Hear from Veteran panelists who will discuss their transition into civilian employment 


This event will be held virtually via Zoom. Live captioning and ASL interpreting will be provided. Registration is required to attend. Please register by November 14, 2023 at 5:00 PM. Accommodations should be requested at least 5 business days before the event and can be done during registration. 

REGISTER

Save the Date!

2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities Logo and Event Details

Image Description: Invitation flyer for the MaxAbility 2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities celebration with keynote speaker Gaelynn Lea musician and public speaker. "Date/Time: December 4, 2020 3 to 6 PM CT, Location: Rochester Art Center." Registration: bit.ly/2023IDPWD. A headshot of Gaelynn Lea, musician and public speaker, appears on the top right corner of the flyer. "Gaelynn addresses her audiences with honesty, enthusiasm, humor, and power — she is a strong advocate in the disability community who boldly uses her voice to promote positive social change." "Thank you to our event Partners." Logos for sponsors Mayo Clinic, Disability:IN MN, Workforce Development Inc., United Way Olmsted of County, SEMCIL, and the Rochester Art Center are in row along the bottom. "MaxAbility's mission is to maximize career success for people with disabilities as the trusted resource network for regional business. workforcedevelopmentinc.org/programs/maxability. 2023 SHRM Seal. SHRM Credits are available for this event.



For questions about any of our events, contact [email protected].

Updates from National

Building Inclusive and Equitable Businesses for All: Disability Employment as the Future of Work


Inclusive and Equitable Business for All

Image description: "DEAM Inclusive and Equitable Businesses for All" in green and white text in front of a dark blue background with a darker blue dashed circle and white disability icons.

"In August 2023, the employment rate for people with disabilities over 16 years of age in the U.S. was about 22.9% (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), reaching an all-time high. However, this rate is not reflected globally and this year’s Disability Equality Index Report (DEI) revealed that there is still much work to be done.


As we look to the future, Disability:IN has identified the following critical impact areas that we believe have the potential to create meaningful change for people with disabilities in business:



We must look beyond simply employing people with disabilities and work towards full inclusion and equity in Business worldwide. Each of us has a role to play in driving this work forward. #AreYouIN?"



Participate in Disability:IN's #DEAM Social Contest



"Throughout October, Disability:IN will host an interactive social media contest on LinkedIn and Instagram to explore the importance of building inclusive & equitable businesses for all. As we look to the future of disability employment and the future of work, we are asking the public to share a social post responding to the following prompt: What does Disability Employment mean to you?  


Get creative with your response! Create a video, an image, a graphic, a drawing, or a text-based post. Be sure to tag @Disability:IN and use the hashtag #IN4DEAM so we can see your post!


The top three responses will be selected by Disability:IN and spotlighted during the final week of October. 


Please make sure your post is accessible by reviewing these resources: Creating Accessible Social Media Content and The Accessible Social Checklist."

Coming Soon: Registration for the 2024 Disability Equality Index (DEI)

Disability Equality Index Image

Image description: "DEI Disability Equality Index" in green and blue text appears on an illustrated computer screen. Green and white office icons surround the screen in front of a blue background.

"The 2024 edition of the DEI will mark the 10th anniversary of the U.S. benchmark and will serve as the official launch of scored benchmarks for seven International countries: Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom in addition to the United States. An all-new registration application will allow for seamless registration for any or all of the eight DEI countries. Additional details coming this month!"


Email [email protected] with questions.

2023 Calendar

October


November


December

Partner Events


Events can be viewed/accessed using the links below. All events will indicate whether they are free or have registration fees attached:





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!

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About Us

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.

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