2006-2026

Disability Impact

JUNE 2026

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

JUNE MEMBERS MEETING

Digital Accessibility Ethics:

Disability Inclusion in All Things Tech

June 10, 2026

12:30-1:30 PM ET

OPEN TO ALL

Register for DC Metro June Members Meeting

Event Overview

Join the Board for the upcoming Members Meeting on June 10, 2026, where the focus will be on “Digital Accessibility Ethics: Disability Inclusion in All Things Tech.” This event will feature Lainey Feingold and Derek Shields, who will guide attendees through the newly introduced Digital Accessibility Framework.

What to Expect

Participants will have the opportunity to discover the core values, recommended actions, and critical questions that are designed to promote disability inclusion across technology platforms. The session aims to highlight ways to avoid the risks and harms of exclusion, and it will emphasize practical strategies for applying these principles to your own work.

Event Details

·     Date: June 10, 2026

·     Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM ET

·     Registration: Required (insert Eventbrite link)

·     Accessibility: ASL interpretation and Zoom captioning will be provided

·     Cost: Free for members; $50 for non-members

2026 NDEAM THEME ANNOUNCED

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

NDEAM takes place annually in October, but organizations can start planning now! This year’s theme will once again be “Celebrating Value and Talent,” carrying the spirit of last year’s celebration forward through 2026 in honor of America’s 250th birthday.

“Americans with disabilities have been a part of our nation’s success from the very start. Beginning with our founding fathers, there are examples of how Americans with disabilities shaped our nation,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Julie Hocker. “This year’s theme honors the value and talent of disabled Americans, past and present. Most importantly, though, it affirms our commitment to the future and full participation in the President’s Golden Age of America. At the U.S. Department of Labor under the leadership of Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling, we believe every worker should have the chance to work in skilled, high-demand jobs that lead to independence, economic self-sufficiency, and the American dream.”

The 2026 NDEAM poster will be available for order or download soon, including in a customizable format that allows organizations to insert their name or logo and, if desired, different photos. For more information, visit the NDEAM webpage.

Help Build the Global D20: Disability Leadership at the Center of Global Decision-Making

2026 Strategic Priorities and the Disability 20 (D20) Initiative

Please join in supporting the D20

The Disability 20 (D20) is an emerging global engagement mechanism linked to the G20. Its purpose is to strategically integrate disability perspectives into global economic policy and G20 priority areas.

D20 Priorities

·     Secure Formal Recognition: Achieving official acknowledgment of the D20 as a key G20 engagement group.

·     Ensure a Smooth Handoff: Facilitating seamless transitions and continuity within the D20's operations and leadership.

·     Accelerate Global Economic Policy: Speeding up the integration of disability-focused economic policies on a worldwide scale.

·     Provide Structured Input into G20 Priority Areas: Contributing to core G20 topics, including:

·     Global economy and workforce

·     Energy systems

·     Digital transformation and AI

·     Supply chains and resilience

·     Health and food systems

Market Dynamics and Accessibility Imperatives

The disability market now exceeds $18 trillion in global spending power. As accessibility and usability become central to product performance and customer experience, regulatory expectations regarding accessibility are expanding rapidly across global markets. Furthermore, workforce shortages are intensifying the need to diversify and expand talent pipelines.

Despite these developments, a critical gap persists: global economic systems that shape these markets are not consistently informed by real-world user needs.

D20: Driving Performance and Market Leadership

The D20 initiative is not simply about inclusion as a value. It is about achieving performance, scale, and market leadership. The principle guiding this effort is clear: Nothing without us, ever again!



Contact Marcie Roth to get engaged!

Events in the June Newsletter

Practical Resources to Advance Disability Inclusion , Disability:IN and NILG- June 2

Disability:IN Chicagoland presents Disability ERG/BRG Leadership within the Current Landscape - June 3 (Free for DC Metro members)

Speak the Language of Executives - June 3 (Richmond SHRM members only Become a Member

What's Changing in the Federal Contractor Regulations?- NILG - June 9

DC Metro Members Meeting: DIgital Accessibility Ethics - June 10

Strengthen Your Accommodation Strategy

Richmond SHRM - June 10, June 17

Ability.Jobs Career Fair Dates - June 25 (8/20, 10/22, 12/10)

VA Voice Guide and Stride, June 13, Richmond, VA

DC DOCX Film Festival - June 13-14

Possibilities: Celebrating Helen Keller's Legacy at Carnegie Hall - June 27

Omnium Circus at Wolftrap Theatre in the Woods - July 15-16

Disability:IN Global Conference - July 27-30

Gallaudet University Fall Career Fair - September 24

2026 M-Enabling Summit - October 5–7

Practical Resources to Advance Disability Inclusion

June 2, 2026

1 pm ET

Register for the Practical Resources to Advance Disability Inclusion

Many organizations are looking for practical ways to strengthen disability inclusion efforts while maintaining alignment with business and compliance priorities.

Join Disability:IN to learn about the tools, benchmarking resources, and corporate engagement strategies organizations are using to advance disability inclusion across the workforce.

Topics will include:

• Corporate disability inclusion resources and initiatives
• Strategies for embedding disability inclusion into workplace practices
• Workforce engagement and accessibility considerations
• How organizations are sustaining momentum in 2026

Moderator and Speakers

Moderator:

Mary Ellen Kleiman

Speakers:

Adriana Featherstone | Alison Boyd | Louis Olander, Ph.D.

 Disability E/BRG Leadership Within the Current Landscape

June 3rd

 Facilitated discussion

12:00 Eastern

Disability:IN DC Metro Members REGISTER HERE using the promo code: DIChicagoland for this 'members only' online program.  

You are invited to join Disability:IN Chicagoland, and its partner inQUEST Consulting, for Disability E/BRG Leadership Within the Current Landscape. In the last 18 months many disability inclusion leaders have faced additional challenges when driving workplace inclusion through Employee/Business Resource Group (E/BRG) engagement. Changing perceptions of E/BRG value have increased scrutiny of activities and diminished funding, leaving disability E/BRG leaders to shift their focus from managing a complicated external environment to justifying their work internally. Come with your questions and challenges to a cohort of peers during this hour-long virtual conversation. inQUEST Consulting, Sr. Partner, Pari Karim will guide the conversation in this highly interactive workshop addressing topics like:

• Focusing E/BRG priorities in the context of the current landscape;
• Navigating new E/BRG engagement frameworks; and
• Relationship building among E/BRG leaders for ongoing support and collaboration.

Speak the Language of Executives

Wednesday, June 3

11:30 am - 1:00 pm

ZOOM

Note: This program is open to Richmond SHRM members only and will provide 1.25 SHRM and HRCI recertification credits.

Become a Member of Richmond SHRM

Register for RADR

If you’re passionate about advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workplace, you know that meaningful progress requires more than commitment—it requires influence.

Join us for Speak the Language of Executives, a powerful session designed to help HR and DEI professionals position their work in ways that resonate with organizational leadership. Too often, important initiatives lose momentum because they are framed through values alone rather than through business impact. This program will help you bridge that gap.

During this session, you’ll learn how to:

• Translate DEIA efforts into measurable business outcomes tied to revenue, risk, efficiency, and employer brand

• Build executive-ready business cases using data, storytelling, and strategic messaging

• Strengthen your consultative and influencing skills to better engage senior leaders and navigate objections

Whether you lead DEI strategy directly or champion inclusion within your organization, this session will equip you with practical tools to elevate your voice, strengthen executive buy-in, and position DEIA as a driver of organizational success.

We hope you’ll join us for this timely and impactful conversation.

Presenter Erika McMullen, MA, Ed. & H.D., SHRMP-SCP

CEO, Moxie Consulting Group

What's Changing in the Federal Contractor Regulations?

June 9, 2026

11 am ET

Register for What's Changing in the Federal Contractor Regulations??

The federal contractor regulatory landscape is evolving—but not yet settled.

Proposed rules from fall 2025, combined with new executive actions, are creating uncertainty around affirmative action requirements, reporting obligations, and compliance thresholds.

This webinar will break down where things stand today—and what organizations should be preparing for.

Discussion topics include:

• Status and implications of proposed affirmative action rule changes
• Updates impacting reporting requirements and compliance expectations
• Changes to coverage thresholds under Section 503 and VEVRAA
• How organizations should assess current compliance posture

Join NILG panelists for a practical interpretation of these developments and what they mean for your program.

Strengthen Your Accommodation Strategy:

Two Essential HR Webinars!

HR professionals are facing increasingly complex accommodation decisions—where legal requirements are evolving, employee needs are shifting, and consistency is critical.

To support your work, we’re offering a two-part webinar series that builds practical skills for both everyday accommodation requests and high-risk, legally complex scenarios.

Why This Series Matters

Together, these sessions provide a practical, real-world framework for navigating both routine and complex accommodation situations—helping HR professionals respond with clarity, consistency, and confidence.

We hope you’ll join us.

Participation in this series is complimentary to both RSHRM members and non-members. Each webinar provides 1 SHRM PDC and HRCI General recertification credit

Presenters

Andrew P. “Andy” Sherrod

Partner, Hirschler

Matthew K. Sarfan

Associate, Hirschler

Tiffany Fortune, SHRM-SCP

Director at Fahrenheit Advisors

2026 Past President, Richmond SHRM

Webinar 1: Medical & Mental Health Accommodations

Wednesday, June 10

12:00 – 1:00 pm

Register for the Medical and Mental Health Accommodations webinar

Explore how post-pandemic workplace realities are reshaping accommodation requests and HR response strategies. This session focuses on common scenarios such as return-to-office anxiety, Long COVID, and extended leave considerations, with practical tools for documentation, manager guidance, and defensible decision-making.

Webinar 2: Sensitive & Legally Complex Accommodations

Wednesday, June 17

12:00 – 1:00 pm

Register for Sensitive & Legally Complex Accommodations Webinar

Go deeper into high-risk accommodation decisions involving pregnancy under the PWFA, religious accommodations post–Groff v. DeJoy, accommodation-adjacent requests, and Virginia medical cannabis protections. Participants will leave with a repeatable framework for making consistent, legally defensible decisions.

Show Your Support for Virginia Voice

June 13, 2026

Collegiate School

103 N Mooreland Rd, Richmond, VA 23229

Buy a Ticket for Guide & Stride

or Call Virginia Voice at 804.266.2477 to sign up. Questions? Email kdriggs@virginiavoice.org

A Nonprofit Organization Providing Audio Access

We provide audio access to current newspapers and magazines and live audio description for the performing arts to individuals who are blind, low vision, or have other disabilities that prevent them from accessing print material and the visual aspects of the arts and cultural events.

Our services are free of charge.

Call (804) 266-2477 today to “See the World Through Sound.”

Wake up, lace up, and join Virginia Voice for a morning of fun, fresh air, and fitness! This Choose-Your-Distance Walk/Run/Roll/Stroll is an inclusive, accessible, family-friendly event celebrating our diverse community and empowering individuals of all abilities to get outside and exercise. All fitness levels welcome.

Sign up to walk/run/roll/stroll. Be a volunteer, sponsor, or vendor.

• Check-in opens at 8:00 am on June 13th; Walk/Run/Roll starts at 9:00 am; end by 12:00 noon
• Sliding scale, $10 suggested donation per participant
• Vendor and Sponsor opportunities available, more information below
• Rain or shine (indoor venue available on the campus)

START A FUNDRAISING TEAM

Do you love Virginia Voice and want to make your impact go even further? This year, create your own Guide & Stride Fundraising Team! Invite friends, coworkers, neighbors, and family members to help raise funds to keep Virginia Voice’s essential services free for the 13,000 Virginians with blindness and other disabilities who depend on them.

DC/DOX Film Festival

Disability:IN DC Metro is excited to announce a collaboration around the DC premieres of two powerful films—JOYBUBBLES and KIDS LIKE ME—which we believe will strongly resonate with our DC Metro community. Both screenings will feature Open Captions. DC/DOX, a new documentary film festival in Washington, DC is dedicated to advancing nonfiction storytelling as a vital art form.

JOYBUBBLES will screen on Saturday, June 13 at 11:30 AM

KIDS LIKE ME on Sunday, June 14 at 11:15 AM

both at Regal Gallery Place in downtown Washington, DC.

More DC/DOX Details

DC Metro Members receive a 10% discount to the films.

Contact Katherine McCary for details.

JOYBUBBLES: Born blind and searching for connection, Joe Engressia discovers he can manipulate telephone systems by whistling precise tones, leading him into the world of early “phone phreaks” and revealing how one boy’s curiosity helped shape the beginnings of hacker culture.

KIDS LIKE ME: Oliver, a 12-year-old with a rare genetic condition and a passion for murder mysteries, sets out to make his own film with the help of friends and community members in this uplifting story about creativity, resilience, and belonging.

Possibilities: Celebrating Helen Keller's Legacy at Carnegie Hall

 Saturday, June 27, 2026, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

 Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York City

Get Tickets

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online, in person at the Carnegie Hall box office at 57th Street and Seventh Ave, or by phone at 212-247-7800. 

Presented by the American Foundation for the Blind, the evening includes a screening of the first full-length documentary released with open audio description for all audiences, followed by a live panel discussion with director Bill Sarine and participants from the film.

For more than a century, Carnegie Hall has served as a stage for some of the world’s most influential voices, artists, and cultural moments. Helen Keller was among them.

In 1916, Helen Keller spoke at Carnegie Hall on issues of war, labor, and social justice, using her voice to advocate for change during a transformative period in American history. Years later, she reflected on experiencing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony through vibration after listening to a Carnegie Hall broadcast over the radio, describing it as “an ocean of heavenly vibration.”

As we celebrate Helen Keller’s legacy at Carnegie Hall, explore correspondence in the Helen Keller Archive that highlights her longstanding relationship with Andrew and Louise Carnegie.

On June 27, 2026, the American Foundation for the Blind returns to this historic venue with the New York premiere of Possibilities, an award-winning documentary celebrating Helen Keller’s life and work through the shared stories of 21st-century voices.

Access the trailer and learn more about the film at www.afb.org/possibilities.

Omnium Circus is brightening the DMV this summer at Wolftrap Theatre in the Woods

Join us on July 15th @ 10:30 am and July 16th at 10:30 am

Gates open at 10 am

Set against the natural beauty of the forest, Omnium Circus brings our signature blend of award-winning artistry, memorable music, and joyful humor to a one-of-a-kind 60 minute outdoor experience! In their limit-defying and life-affirmming spectacle, I'm Possible, the circus cast of multi-abled artists inspire and entertain audiences with genuinely "extraordinary" (The new York Times) feats that highlight the astounding potential mof the human spirit.

Omnium Circus' unique mix

Reserve your seat here!

Tickets only $12 (incl. fees) Free Under 2

Suggested ages 2-12

Discounts available for groups of 10+

Disability IN 2026 Global Conference

July 27-30

The Future of Business Is Being Built.

The builders, investors, and leaders shaping the future of business are building solutions that work better for more people. Are You IN?

Conference Registration

Conference Agenda

2026 M-Enabling Summit

October 5–7, 2026

Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, Virginia

"Accessibility at the Core of Digital Transformation."

DC Metro Member Discount

This premier global conference brings together industry leaders to advance digital accessibility, AI, and inclusive technology.Disability:IN DC Metro is proud to be a Supporting Sponsor partner with G3ict again in 2026 in support of the upcoming M-Enabling Summit, a leading global event focused on digital inclusion, accessibility, and assistive technology.

Through this collaboration, Disability:IN DC Metro members are eligible to receive a 10% discount on registration fees. We encourage our members to take part in this important gathering of leaders, innovators, advocates, and organizations working to advance accessible technology and disability inclusion across sectors.

If you are a member or are interested in becoming one contact Katherine McCary for the registration discount.

Key 2026 M-Enabling Summit Details

• Theme: Accessibility at the Core of Digital Transformation.
• Location: Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, Virginia.
• Date: October 5–7, 2026.
• Registration: Early bird rates are available for attendees via the official M-Enabling Summit website.

Career Fairs

Connecting Talent with Disabilities and Employers

Unlock the Power of disABILITY Talent

Job Fair Dates:

June 25, 2026

August 20, October 22, December 12

Register for direct engagement

Contact Lori Daly  for more information

Since 1995, abilityJOBS.com.com has been the leading resource for employers seeking to hire skilled professionals with disabilities.

abilityJOBS.com has an easy-to-use job board with AI-enhanced job postings and an extensive resume bank, providing year-round career listings and ads, as well as access to a nationwide pool of professionals across all industries.

The ABILITYJobFair.org is an accessible online job fair, bringing recruiters and job seekers with disABILITIES together in a human-centered experience. AJF uses face-to-face video, text chat, real-time captions and American Sign Language interpreters to allow for the most human in-person experience possible without the need to travel.

The Office for Career Success is excited to invite you to Gallaudet University’s Fall 2026 Internship and Job Fair!

Gallaudet University’s Fall 2026 Internship and Job Fair

Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026

Time: 10:00AM - 2:30PM

Location: Multi-Purpose Room in the Student Academic Building (SAC)

Registration: Now open on Handshake. If your organization doesn’t have a Handshake account, please create one first before registering for the event.

The early bird registration fee is available for registrations completed from now until May 22, 2026.

For Schools and Non-Profit organizations the early bird rate is $200. For For-Profit & Government Entities, the early bird rate is $250. Finally for Deaf-Owned Small Businesses and Start-Ups, the early bird fee is $100. From May 23, 2026 - September 10, 2026 the registration fee increases per group by $50. This registration fee includes two representatives and a light lunch. Employers may bring up to four representatives in total; additional representatives may be added for $25 each. Virtual interpreters are available at request for an additional cost.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with Gallaudet’s exceptional students and alumni.

Register today to secure your spot, and contact us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you at the fair!

Disability:IN DC Metro



Promoting Inclusion

Expanding Disability Education and Awareness

Our focus is on Culture Change!

Learn More about DisabilityIN DC Metro

Disability:IN DC Metro has a new website address.

Please visit https://disabilityindcmetro.org/ to learn more about our work, upcoming events, membership opportunities, and resources supporting disability inclusion across the DC Metro business community.

Please update your bookmarks and share the new link with your networks.

Twice honored as Disability:IN Affiliate of the Year

 Led by The Hon. Katherine McCary

Founding Chair of Disability:IN National and

CEO, Executive Director of Disability:IN DC Metro

The Voice of the Disability Community

• Join our First Annual Disability Inclusion Roundtable .
• Quarterly Member Meetings with Guest Speakers

Accessibility

Digital and AI implications for our community.

• Upcoming Seminar Presentations by Chief Accessibility Officer Eduardo Meza Etienne, with featured subject matter expert speakers.
• Meet with us at the 2026 M-Enabling Summit!

Physical Access for employees, visitors and customers.

• Featuring C5 Consulting, LLC and United Spinal Association Accessibility Services work with DC Metro

Disability Owned Businesses

• D2D Quarterly Informal Virtual Networking Event
• Partnering with OurAbility making connections for business outcomes

Expanding our Disability Organization Relationships

• BroadFutures, Melwood, NOD, AAPD, G3ict, Disability Belongs

Disability:IN DC Metro (DC Metro) is an employer-led membership-based business association that creates business to business connections, dialogue, and learning within our geographic region of Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland, an area known as the National Capital Region. Our offerings, however, are not limited to geographic location.

Our Vision

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

Follow Us on LinkedIN and YouTube