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Dear Friends,
As September gets underway, school routines settle back in, and autumn takes hold across Minnesota, I am thrilled to welcome you into a season of renewed focus and community momentum. September is a crucial month of preparation for our network as we look ahead to October— as we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), honor the contributions of disabled workers, and drive corporate inclusion forward.
As a valued Disability:IN Minnesota member, you gain access to exclusive opportunities to connect, learn, and lead in disability employment. To kick off NDEAM next month, I am excited to invite you to save the date (October 27th) for our upcoming virtual member event featuring a dynamic panel of Minnesota-based organizations whose innovative work strengthens disability inclusion.
As we approach October, I encourage every member to proactively plan how your organization will observe NDEAM. Whether hosting internal lunch-and-learns, spotlighting employee resource group (ERG) initiatives, reviewing your digital accessibility standards, or expanding your supplier diversity goals to include DOBEs, now is the time to finalize your plans. Let’s use this NDEAM to convert awareness into measurable, lasting impact.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to building barrier-free workplaces and communities. I look forward to seeing you on October 27th!
Warmly,
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. | | | | ID: (Above) A white card on a blue-to-green gradient background with the "Land O'Lakes Inc." logo centered. (left) A headshot of Jodi West, smiling with short brown hair and wearing a red jacket over a grey plaid shirt. | | |
Inspired by her son’s journey, Disability:IN Minnesota Board Member, Jodi West co-founded the Land O’Lakes Disability Awareness ERG in 2018, turning personal passion into company-wide impact by spearheading hands-on internship programs across corporate headquarters and rural production plants. Her efforts create pathways toward permanent employment in communities where opportunities are often limited, providing invaluable support to individuals with disabilities and their families.
Congratulations, Jodi! Thank you for your leadership, vision, and dedication to building a more inclusive workplace for everyone.
| | ID: A dark blue promotional graphic features green text at the top reading, "We'd love to hear from you!" followed by large white bold text stating, "DOBE Member Spotlight & Supplier Diversity Stories Wanted!" To the right, various abstract geometric shapes, are rendered in vibrant blue and green gradient shades. | | |
DOBE Member Spotlight & Supplier Diversity Stories Wanted!
As we prepare to highlight our DOBE® members, we'd love to hear from you! A Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE®) is a business that is at least 51% owned, operated, managed, and controlled by a person with a disability.
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Interested in a Member Spotlight? Share your story and business with our community.
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Have a strong supplier diversity program? We'd love to feature your approach and successes.
Contact us to learn more about being featured in an upcoming newsletter.
info@di-mn.org
| | ID: An promotional graphic for a Disability:IN Minnesota event titled "Inclusive Practices in Action: Insights from Community Leaders," honoring National Disability Awareness Month. The event is a panel discussion taking place on Tuesday, October 27th, from 12–1 PM, featuring partner organizations including Lifeworks, MDI, Rise, and Touchstone Mental Health. | |
Save the Date!
October Member Event
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
12 p.m. to 1 p.m. CDT
Virtual Event
Registration coming soon!
Join Disability:IN Minnesota for an insightful panel discussion honoring National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This dynamic panel brings together leading voices from MDI, Rise, Lifeworks Services Inc., and Touchstone Mental Health to share best practices, navigate complex challenges, and outline sustainable solutions for accessible workplaces and support systems.
Featured Panelists:
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Jeanne Eglinton – Vice President of Community Engagement, MDI
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Kassia Janezich – Vice President of Vocational and Housing Services, Rise
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Brian Begin – Director of Day and Employment Services, Lifeworks Services Inc.
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Kari Scanlon – Vice President of Human Resources, Touchstone Mental Health
| | ID: Event banner reads, "Workforce Ready," taking place on September 29, 2026, at New Main, Metro State University in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Presented by the Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium (logo on top) in partnership with the University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration and Metro State University (logos across the bottom). | |
Workforce Ready
Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium Conference
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. CT
The Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium (MIHEC) will host its annual conference to bridge the gap between inclusive higher education and competitive, integrated employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Centered on the theme "Workforce Ready," the event convenes educators, employers, and advocates to share best practices, drive systemic policy changes, and foster cross-sector collaborations that prepare students with IDD to achieve higher wages, career advancement, and independent community living.
| | ID: Event banner for the Disability Inclusion Opportunity Summit 2026, hosted by Old National Bank on October 22nd. Top right features the Disability:IN Chicagoland logo over a blue and green gradient background. | | |
Register Now
Chicagoland Disability Inclusion Opportunity Summit
Thursday, October 22, 2026
8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. CT
Old National Bank
333 W. Wacker Drive, 36th Floor Chicago, IL 6060606
Join corporate leaders, disability inclusion champions, HR and talent professionals, ERG leaders, supplier diversity and accessibility experts, and employees with disabilities for Chicagoland’s premier corporate disability inclusion conference.
The Summit will bring together thought leaders and practitioners to share actionable strategies, meaningful conversations, and opportunities to connect with others who are advancing disability inclusion in the workplace, marketplace, and supply chain.
Speakers and the full agenda will be announced soon.
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Thank you for renewing your membership!
| | ID: Logo for Talent Software Services featuring the word "TALENT" in white capital serif letters inside a red oval, followed by "Software Services" in red italicized text. | | Updates from Disability:IN National | |
Grow with DOBE® Certification
| | ID: Graphic set against a dark blue gradient displaying a circular seal for a Disability-Owned Business with the Disability:IN logo at its center, alongside a green-and-blue cursor button clicking toward it. | | |
What is DOBE Certification?
Disability:IN provides third-party certification that validates eligible businesses as disability-owned. Once certified, DOBEs can connect with Disability:IN’s network of companies, fellow entrepreneurs, business development programs and supplier opportunities.
| | 2026 Disability Index Report - Available Now! | | ID: A title graphic reads "2026 DISABILITY INDEX REPORT" in white and green text on a dark blue geometric background. | | |
Uncover the opportunities and insights in the 2026 Disability Index Report.
Of the organizations that participated in the 2026 Disability Index Report, only 6% have a Board of Directors that includes someone who openly identifies as having a disability.
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Digital Learning Modules
For Enterprise Disability Inclusion
| | ID: A blue grid background shows a light blue browser window featuring a graduation cap icon being clicked by a white cursor, surrounded by floating icons for a lightbulb, play button, gear, and accessibility symbol. | | |
Digital Learning Modules are built for Learning & Development teams that need more than one‑time training moments.
On‑demand modules help organizations move toward sustained, practical capability building. Each module focuses on real‑world application in areas where teams are actively navigating complexity and change.
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Events
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September 29th (9 am CT) - Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Conference - Metro State University
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Oct 14th (1 pm CT) - State of Minnesota Resources for Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing - Webinar Registration
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Oct 22nd - Disability:IN Chicagoland Disability Inclusion Opportunity Conference - Register
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Oct 27th (12 pm CT) - Disability:IN Minnesota panel discussion honoring National Disability Employment Awareness Month - Registration coming soon
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Nov 17th (12pm CT) - DOBE® Discussion Panel with Disability:IN & Affiliates - Registration coming soon
Holiday Observations
- Indigenous Peoples Day: October 12th
- Election Day: November 3rd
- Veterans Day: November 11th
- Thanksgiving Holiday: November 26th & November 27th
- Christmas Eve: December 24th
- Christmas Day: December 25th
| | Add Your Event to Our Calendar! | | Planning your own event? Contact us today to add your disability inclusion event to our calendar! Invite Disability:IN Minnesota members to your event and increase the visibility of your company's disability inclusion efforts. | | |
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. | | | | |
