Driving Innovation through Disability Inclusion

Commitment in uncertain times.

Disability Inclusion is business critical for employee engagement, innovation, positive culture and organizational success.

2025 Advancing Accessibility Optimization

Webinar Series

Led by Eduardo Meza-Etienne, DC Metro's Chief Accessibility Officer

Bridging the Accessibility Gap:

The Need for Accessibility Standards in Technology

Fireside Chat with Dr. Chris Law, Executive Director, SAR & Consultant, Accessibility Track

Thursday, June 5 Noon- 1PM ET

Register for Bridging the Gap webinar

Welcome to our fireside chat with Dr. Chris Law, the founder and Executive Director of Standard Accessibility Reporting, Inc., a nonprofit member organization developing industryconsensus standards for accessibility reporting. There’s a missing element in benchmarking scores for inclusion. How accessible are the things you make? How accessible are the things you purchase? We have no standardized way to compare similar technologies. There is no scoring system that tells us in advance whether people with disabilities are able to use mobile apps, websites, washing machines, security systems, or even multi-million-dollar enterprise software suites.

Accessibility reporting involves documenting how well a product, service, or digital content complies with accessibility standards, such as WCAG. These reports help demonstrate compliance, facilitate procurement, and identify areas for improvement. Consumers with disabilities have to do extremely time consuming research to find products that are usable. Older people, who have a great deal of disposable income, often give up and don’t use products that would enhance their lives. The Global Accessibility Reporting Initiative https://gari.info is a provides similar information on mobile cell phone, apps and other wireless devices. So, we know it can be done.One in four people have some functional limitation. We need to have a similar way to determine if the refrigerators, stoves, and washers are usable before we pay thousands of dollars for these products.

In keeping with your inclusion goals, accessibility is one factor in your purchasing decisions. It’s easier to decide between choices when there are numbers attached, and so we need changes to the way technologies are reviewed and reported on to provide these numbers.

Beyond Compliance:

Empowering Digital Transformation Through Accessibility

Fireside Chat with Dr. Christopher Lee, President, G3ict

Tuesday June 17 Noon-1 pm ET

Register for Beyond Compliance webinar

Welcome to our online event where we will have a fireside chat with Dr. Christopher Lee about digital accessibility. Dr. Lee, a seasoned expert in disability and accessible technologies, is President, G3ict and IAAP, the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, a division of G3ict.

“I am honored and deeply motivated to assume this new role as President of G3ict and to continue leading the way in promoting the right to digital accessibility holistically, involving multiple stakeholders and promoting innovations, effective policies, implementations at the organizational level, as well as training and certification for accessibility professionals.”

Digital accessibility ensures that digital content, like websites and apps, is usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. It involves designing and developing content that can be perceived, operated, understood, and robustly accessed by all users, regardless of their abilities or assistive technologies. Whether you're a developer, designer, content creator, or just interested in accessibility, this chat is for you. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a leading expert in the field. Register now and mark your calendar!

Contact Eduardo Meza-Etienne, CAO for access to the recording

Session One: Building an Accessible Workplace

with Tom Babinski, Accessibility Leader

Register for The Role of Accessibility Committees for Accessibility Excellence

Disability:IN DC Metro is proud to announce our Sponsorship of the 2025 M-Enabling Summit!

Ready for a Transformative Journey into Digital Accessibility?

Learn more about the E-Enabling Summit 2025, organized by G3ict

Visit the conference website

Join us in Washington, D.C., from October 6 to 8, 2025, at our new venue, the Crystal Gateway Marriott, for a three-day dynamic summit and exhibition. Connect with innovative thought leaders and trendsetters who are transforming inclusive environments and user experiences for over 1.3 billion people with disabilities. Gain insights and network with business executives, disability advocates, developers, and policy experts across various sectors, including private, public, nonprofit, and education.

The 13th Annual M-Enabling Summit, themed “Digital Accessibility Innovation—A Deep Dive into Next-Generation User Experiences,” will explore the latest tech trends for organizational inclusion. Engage in roundtables, workshops, and discussions to enhance your accessibility approach. Don’t miss the Accessibility Professionals Forum, presented by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), a division of G3ict, focusing on accessibility in the organization at the intersection of physical and digital environments.

Can’t make it to Washington, D.C.? No problem at all! Join us online to access a curated selection of streamed sessions, interact with leading industry experts through our conference app, or catch up with post-event recordings. Not planning to attend the conference in any form? You still have the option to purchase post-show recordings to stay informed. Be part of the essential digital accessibility movement, no matter where you are!

June is Pride Month

Pride Month, celebrated annually in June, commemorates the Stonewall Riots of 1969 and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community's history, achievements, and ongoing struggle for equality. It is a time for pride, affirmation, and celebration, as well as political advocacy for greater inclusion and rights. 

Table of Contents

Events

• June 5-Bridging the Accessibility Gap: The Need for Accessibility Standards in Technology
• June 5 - Pitfalls and Solutions in the Workplace: AI as a Tool for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) Individuals
• June 7-The Virginia Voice Guide and Stride
• June 11 - Guiding Through Change-Understanding Policy Shifts in the Trump Administration
• June 17 - Beyond Compliance: Empowering Digital Transformation Through Accessibility
• June 25 - Understanding and Supporting ADHD in the Workplace:
• From Awareness to Action
• July 17 - Unlearning Ableism: Disability in the Age of Social Media - In celebration of Disability Pride Month

News

• In Case You Missed It: BroadFutures New Look
• ADVOCACY IN ACTION: NOD's Hill Day on Disability Policy
• Teresa Thomas Becomes New Director of abiliT
• Mel Smith, Genworth Received the Inaugural IDEA Impact Award ]
• Apple Making Film About Disability Rights Activist
• Despite Revocation of Executive Order 11246, Requirements for Veterans and Disabilities Remain
• Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) launches its opinion letters program

JUNE EVENTS

The Virginia Voice Guide and Stride



Join us on Saturday, June 7 in Richmond, VA to support The Virginia Voice, a non profit organization serving blind and low-vision individuals across the Commonwealth. More information and registration.

Pitfalls and Solutions in the Workplace: AI as a Tool for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) Individuals

Join Our Next DES 2 Webinar Series

Thursday, June 5 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Register for the DES webinar

This unique debate-style session will be moderated by Alok Doshi, Product Manager at Communication Services for the Deaf, and feature perspectives from leading experts:

• Sam Sepah, Lead AI Accessibility Program Manager at Google
• Kelby Brick, Esq., Chief Operating Officer of the National Association of the Deaf

Key discussion topics will include:

• How AI technology can help overcome workplace barriers
• Common challenges and practical solutions
• Best practices for implementation

We hope you can join this important conversation about creating more inclusive workplaces. Please feel free to share this invitation with colleagues who may be interested.

K&L Gates

Guiding Through Change

Understanding Policy Shifts in the Trump Administration



DEI Enforcement: New Signals to Expect “Aggressive” Investigations and Litigation Under the False Claims Act

June 11, 2025

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET

Register FOR DEI on the EVENT PAGE

Please join us on Wednesday, 11 June for a continuation of our series on DEI Enforcement, as a cross-disciplinary group of K&L Gates lawyers discuss these developments and their implications for public and private companies, including government contractors and federal award recipients. 

The Trump Administration continues efforts to tamp down on programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The US Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced a new task force – the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative – designed to “aggressively” investigate and pursue any federal fund recipients that knowingly violate federal civil rights laws, and is encouraging the filing of qui tam actions under the False Claims Act (FCA). The federal government has also released additional guidance on what, in its view, constitutes “illegal DEI.” The new pronouncements signal continued risks and threat of enforcement in this area for private sector companies. We will discuss the recent developments in this area, updates for federal contractors and fund recipients regarding certification requirements, and related risks and practices that companies can take to prepare for potential scrutiny.

Panelists:

• Sheila Armstrong, Partner, Dallas
• Meghan Flinn, Partner, Washington, D.C.
• Ted Kornobis, Partner, Washington, D.C.
• Craig Leen, Partner, Washington, D.C.
• Leann Walsh, Partner, Raleigh

EV PAG

Understanding and Supporting ADHD in the Workplace:

From Awareness to Action

June 25, 2025

2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Eastern

Register to attend ADHD in the Workplace webinar

Join TransCen and the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center for a free, interactive webinar on ADHD and neurodivergence in the workplace, led by strategist Meghan Brown-Enyia. Learn how ADHD affects executive function, communication, and productivity, and how it differs from other disabilities. Explore common accommodations, ADA applications, and practical strategies for building inclusive, ADHD-friendly workplaces. Ideal for HR, managers, VR counselors, Employment Consultants, and neurodivergent employees.

Unlearning Ableism: Disability in the Age of Social Media

In celebration of Disability Pride Month

Thursday , July 17 | 1-2 PM EST

WEBINAR: Register for NOD Unlearning Ableism Webinar

We're sitting down with a panel of disability influencers, activists, and personalities setting the pace on combatting ableism by living with disability pride in the public eye.

JUNE Business News

In Case You Missed It: BroadFutures New Look

After over ten years of groundbreaking work, we are proud to announce an important new chapter in our journey. We are excited to share our new website and refreshed branding — a reflection of both how far we have come and the bold future we are building together. We hope you like it! View the new BroadFutures website.

ADVOCACY IN ACTION:

NOD's Hill Day on Disability Policy

Together, NOD AND THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES organized a two-day meeting on Capitol Hill to influence disability legislation and ensure that the voices of our community are heard.

Alongside members of our Disability Policy Roundtable we focused on advancing three legislative priorities:

• Expansion of Medicaid Buy-In programs,
• Strengthening Section 503 disability hiring compliance, and
• Ending sub-minimum wages.

Thank you to Reps. Debbie Dingell, Jim Langevin, and Gabe Amo for their support, and to the senators, representatives, and aides from over ten states who attended.

READ FULL RECAP

Teresa Thomas Becomes New Director of abiliT

Teresa Thomas is joining Melwood Community Services as the new Director of abiliT. A long time advocate of neurodivergent talent, Teresa has participated in events and conversations with Disability:IN DC Metro.

Meet Teresa and learn more about the abiliT, an exceptional opportunity for employers and neurodiverse talent to succeed!

Teresa, we look forward to working with you! Congratulations!

Mel Smith, Genworth Received the Inaugural IDEA Impact Award from Richmond SHRM

Congratulations to Disability:IN DC Metro Corporate Member!

Last week, Richmond SHRM presented the very first IDEA Impact Award—a new recognition launched by Richmond SHRM to celebrate bold, strategic, and meaningful efforts to advance Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility in the workplace and beyond.

This award is about more than good intentions—it honors real impact. The IDEA Impact Award is not just a celebration of what’s been accomplished—it’s a call to all of us to think bigger, lead braver, and build better. It represents Richmond SHRM’s commitment to recognizing those who are not only talking about change—but living it.

Join us in celebrating the inaugural recipient of the Richmond SHRM 2025 IDEA Impact Award – Melvyn Smith Jr., MBA, Director of Diversity and Inclusion with Genworth.

Through his tireless efforts, Mel has not only advanced IDEA at his organization but he has also set a standard across our profession and the Richmond community.

Mel posted:

What an incredible honor! Last week, I was absolutely thrilled to receive the very first IDEA Impact Award from Richmond SHRM. This recognition means the world to me, and I am so proud to be acknowledged for my contributions to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) within the HR community.

The IDEA Impact Award isn’t just a trophy; it’s a testament to the power of dedicated effort and a shared vision. I believe deeply in fostering workplaces where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their best. This award validates the hard work, passion, and commitment I have poured into making that vision a reality.

I’m particularly proud to be the inaugural recipients. To be the first organization recognized for making a tangible difference in IDEA initiatives by a respected organization like Richmond SHRM is truly special. It motivates me even further to continue pushing boundaries, innovating, and advocating for inclusive practices that benefit everyone.

Apple Making Film About Disability Rights Activist

by Shaun Heasley | June 3, 2025

A feature film is in the works about a prominent activist known as the “mother of the disability rights movement.”

Apple Original Films said it is making a movie about Judy Heumann who was instrumental in fighting for civil rights protections for people with disabilities.

The film will be based on Heumann’s memoir “Being Heumann,” which tells of her role leading more than a hundred people with disabilities in a 1977 sit-in at the San Francisco Federal Building, which lasted nearly a month and pressured the government to enforce Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a law requiring federal spaces to be accessible.

Heumann, who died in 2023, contracted polio at the age of 2, leaving her unable to walk. Her parents were told to institutionalize her, but instead they fought to enroll her in school. As an adult, Heumann was denied a teaching license from the New York Board of Education because they worried she would not be able to evacuate in an emergency, but she ultimately became the state’s first teacher in a wheelchair.

In addition to Section 504, Heumann was influential in developing and ensuring implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Apple film will be adapted, directed and produced by Academy Award-winner Siân Heder, who wrote and directed “CODA,” the first film with a predominately deaf cast to win an Oscar for Best Picture. The movie about Heumann will star Ruth Madeley, who has spina bifida and is known for “Doctor Who,” “Then Barbara Met Alan” and “Years and Years.”

“What an unbelievable honour to play the mother of disability rights, an icon and powerhouse to the disabled community,” Madeley said in a statement. “Judy has always been a source of inspiration for me personally and I am so excited to share her story with the world. This is truly the role of a lifetime.”

Apple did not comment on when the film is expected to be released.

Despite Revocation of Executive Order 11246, Requirements for Veterans and Disabilities Remain

By Mitchell Chamberlin

The rescission of Executive Order 11246, along with shifts in focus and significant changes at the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has led to a period of confusion for federal contractors.

Many requirements, such as creating affirmative action programs for minorities and women, have gone away. However, Executive Order 11246 was only one of three major pieces that make up affirmative action requirements for federal contractors. And unlike Executive Order 11246, the laws protecting individuals with disabilities, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and certain types of veterans, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, were passed by Congress and cannot be undone via an executive order.

What types of requirements remain for federal contractors?

Contractors that meet jurisdictional thresholds must still create written affirmative action programs for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans that include narratives and certain analytics. They must engage in targeted outreach when they have open positions, and reasonable accommodations must be made in certain situations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans.

However, one of the most robust requirements for covered federal contractors is the requirement to list open positions with state-operated employment offices referred to in the regulations as employment service delivery systems (ESDS), often called “state job banks." This requirement is meant to allow veterans to apply to open positions as early as possible in partnership with veteran-specific resources like local veteran employment representatives (LVERS), as well as to allow states to send priority veteran referrals to contractors.

Covered Employers

When passed in 1974, VEVRAA required any employer with a single supply and service contract or subcontract of $100,000 or more to comply with various affirmative action obligations, including Mandatory Job Listings. However, since 2004, the contract value threshold has been reviewed every 5 years by the Federal Acquisition Council (FAR) to determine if the threshold should be adjusted for inflation. The current threshold to adhere to mandatory job listing requirements for federal contractors is a single contract of $150,000 or more. It is important to note that there is no minimum employee count for this requirement.

Mandatory Job Listing Requirements

Federal contractors who meet this minimum contract threshold must list open positions with the appropriate ESDS concurrently with the use of any other type of recruitment source, including company career pages. Employers crossing the contract threshold for the first time must list all open positions that exist at the time of the execution of the contract. Covered contractors are required to post these open positions in a “…manner and format permitted by the appropriate ESDS which will allow the system to provide priority referral” of protected veterans. Typically, state ESDS websites have a portal in which employers can register and post open positions, though some states offer additional methods such as RSS feeds.

Covered contractors are required to list most open positions with the relevant ESDS. This includes openings for positions that are located where no work on the relevant contract is performed and for positions that do not do work pursuant to the completion of the contract. However, there are some exceptions to the posting requirement, including:

• Executive and senior management roles
• Positions filled internally without external consideration, which include jobs filled solely from recall lists
• Positions lasting three days or less

Openings must be listed with the ESDS that correspond with the company location where the work is set to occur. For example, a position that is open in a company’s satellite office in San Diego should be listed with CalJobs, California’s state job bank. Remote positions should be listed where the company headquarters is located, or the location where the employee who fills the role will report.

Notifications to Employment Service Delivery Systems

When an employer becomes a covered contractor or opens a new location, it must notify the ESDS office in that state. In this notification, the contractor must include the following information:

• The organization’s status as a federal contractor
• That the organization is requesting priority referrals of veterans from the state
• The name and location of each hiring location in the state and the contact information for the organization’s hiring official at each location
• Information regarding whether the contractor uses an external third party or job search organization to assist in its hiring

Covered contractors must continue to update the relevant ESDS whenever changes are made to hiring locations for as long it has an eligible contract (i.e., a contract of $150,000 or more).

Record Keeping Requirements

Covered contractors with fewer than 150 employees must retain documentation of job postings for one year. For those with 150 or more employees, documentation of postings must be retained for two years. While the regulations do not specify what types of documentation should be kept, organizations should consider retaining the following in case of compliance reviews or other requests by the Department of Labor:

• Screenshots of postings on ESDS sites
• List of unique identifiers of individual posts on ESDS sites
• Information on when open positions are posted and removed from ESDS sites
• Information regarding any failures to post open positions to ESDS sites

Looking Ahead

As mentioned previously, the requirement for covered federal contractors to list open positions with the relevant ESDS and other affirmative action requirements for protected veterans are statutory in nature and are unlikely to go away any time soon. While a great many things regarding affirmative action requirements remain uncertain, it is clear that federal contractors will continue to be required by law to comply with this requirement for the foreseeable future.

If your organization is required to post open positions with state employment service delivery systems pursuant to VEVRAA, DCI is here to help. More information can be found on our Mandatory Job Listing page.

Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS)

launches its opinion letters program

It is the duty of responsive government to provide clear and consistent guidance to the public we serve. In that spirit, the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) is launching its opinion letters program and updated compliance assistance resources and encourages submissions from the public. 

VETS will issue official guidance on how the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) applies to specific workplace situations. Opinion letters offer practical, common-sense answers to help employers, workers, and legal professionals understand their obligations and rights. We are committed to providing compliance assistance and meaningful outreach to veterans, service members, job creators, workers, industry leaders and the public at large.  

VETS engages in a multi-pronged approach, balancing prompt investigations of claims with proactive and pertinent compliance assistance. Compliance assistance and the publication of opinion letters is a vital part of that effort. In the weeks and months ahead, you can expect to see inaugural opinion letters providing new interpretative guidance on USERRA rights and responsibilities. 

For more information, including how to request an opinion on USERRA: 

Visit VETS’ opinion letter webpage.

Thank You to Our Sponsor Partners!

Save the Date for these Signature Events!

Learn more about the Disability:IN Conference and register to attend!

The 2025 Reboot: Discover What's for You!

• Live demos of the latest in accessibility tech innovations
• Insights from leading experts on legal, reskilling & workforce evolutions, AI for disability inclusion, and more
• Exclusive opportunities for networking and customer engagement.
• Early access to groundbreaking research

Join us at the Affiliate Summit

Monday July 14th 9 am - Noon

This year – 2025 – marks the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Held annually in October, NDEAM celebrates the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy. Stay tuned for updates about this year’s theme and ideas for how to participate.

BroadFutures’ Upcoming Gala: A Renewed Vision. A Bold New Future.

November 22, 2025

5:30pm- 8pm

International Spy Museum

Washington, DC

Buy Your Gala Tickets Today!

A Renewed Vision. A Bold New Future.

Join us as we celebrate our community and look ahead with courage and purpose. From alumni, employers, parents, donors, and community partners, your support is crucial and we look forward to celebrating together. This year, BroadFutures is revealing their new brand and vision for the future and hope you will join us.

Meet Our Champion Awardee!

Atlas Performing Arts Center is a dedicated and longtime employer partner, deeply committed to our mission, providing a broad variety of inspiring, meaningful work experiences for our interns.

Originally built in 1938, as one of four movie theaters on H Street NE, The Atlas was a beloved gathering place for film lovers for over 30 years. Reimagined in 2006 as a vibrant, community-based performing arts center, the 59,000-square-foot facility now houses four performance spaces, dance studios, offices, back-of-house facilities, and a welcoming lobby with a bar. The Atlas’ mission is to provide space for artists to create music, theatre, and dance that entertains and engages audiences around the ideas and issues of our time. They foster an inclusive environment that reflects the diversity of the community and invest in partnerships and programs that showcase the best of the arts and our shared humanity.

7Magnolia is a leader in inclusive design—a design agency owned and led by neurodivergent individuals, grounded in the belief that diversity of thought drives more innovative, impactful brands and products that stand out and break the mold. 7 Magnolia is deeply committed to BroadFutures’ mission and has been an invaluable partner in our logo redesign and new website development—laying the foundation for a renewed vision and a bold new future for BroadFutures.

Technology and the Disability Experience

Fall 2025 | New York, New York

Learn More

An exploration of artificial intelligence, extended reality, smart devices, and their impact on accessibility, disability inclusion, and the future of workforce innovation.

The National Organization on Disability proudly welcomes a diverse group of advocates and professionals to an exploration of the advantages and limitations of advancing technology in the workforce. Disability advocates, human resource and technology professionals, leaders, and others are invited to join us in examining how technological innovations are impacting individuals with disabilities.

Guests will enjoy...

• A showcase demonstrating cutting-edge, tech-driven products for people with disabilities from trailblazing brands
• An engaging panel discussion with industry experts exploring their emerging tech products and strategies for driving advancement for marginalized identities
• Networking opportunities with passionate, like-minded individuals
• An award ceremony recognizing leading disability employers
• Captivating entertainment

mEnabling Summit 2025

WID

AAPD

Billion Strong

The Resource Network

The Valuable 500

Blind Institute of Technology

Standard Accessibility Reporting

BroadFutures

Lingvano

RespectAbility

Soniccloud

Level Access

Omnium Circus

Disability:IN Minnesota

Disability:IN Wisconsin

Disability:IN Chicagoland

Center for Disability Inclusion

Virginia Ability

Disability:IN DC Metro

“Think Globally, Act Locally”

Patrick Geedes  

Join Today!

Promoting Inclusion

Expanding Disability Education and Awareness

Our focus is on Culture Change!

Founded in 2006

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

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. All DC Metro corporate member employees enjoy member benefits regardless of their physical geography. You don't have to live in the National Capital Region to engage and enjoy DC Metro's Professional Development Courses and topical Hybrid Programming!

Our Vision

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

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