Driving Innovation through Disability Inclusion

Commitment in uncertain times.

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

July is

Disability Pride Month

35th ADA Anniversary

JULY EVENTS

Celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the ADA

with Disability:IN DC Metro

Reimagining Accessibility

Come Celebrate in person with us!

July 31, 2025 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Buy Your ADA Celebration Tickets

Become a Sponsor!

Keynote: Frances West

Invited Special Speaking Guests include

• Craig Leen, Partner, K&L Gates, DC Metro Board Member, OUR HOST!
• Deputy Assistant Secretary, Jennifer Sheehy, ODEP
• Dr. Christopher Lee, President G3ict
• Lisa Lewis, Executive Director, Omnium Circus
• Marcie Roth, CEO WID
• Beth Surill, CEO NOD
• Maria Town, CEO, AAPD

Agenda

5:30 Name Tag Pick up

6:00 Welcome and Announcements

6:10 Recognizing Special Guests

• Forbes Accessibility 100

6:30 Keynote Frances West, Frances West &Co

7- 8 Networking--Food and Fun!

Unlearning Ableism:

Disability in the Age of Social Media

In celebration of Disability Pride Month

Thursday, July 17 | 1-2 PM EST

 Register for NOD Unlearning Ableism Webinar

In celebration of Disability Pride Month, the National Organization on Disability is sitting down with a panel of disability influencers, activists, and personalities to discuss what it means to be truly inclusive, combat ableism, and the role mental health plays in online advocacy.

MODERATOR:

Paulina Romero | Senior Manager, Partnerships, NOD

PANELISTS:

Cole & Charisma Sydnor | Roll with Cole & Charisma

• As an interabled, interracial couple, Cole and Charisma aim to challenge stereotypes, promote understanding, and highlight the realities of navigating life and dating while using a wheelchair. Despite the differences they face, their relationship is rooted in joy, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to positivity. Their platform reflects their shared belief in embracing life fully, fostering connection, and maintaining an uplifting outlook—regardless of circumstance.

Catarina Rivera | Blindish Latina

• Catarina Rivera, MSEd, MPH, CPACC is a public speaker and DEIA consultant with over 14 years of experience in the public sector. Catarina works with companies to improve disability awareness, inclusion, and accessibility. She is the founder of Blindish Latina, a platform smashing disability stigmas through storytelling and advocacy. Catarina has worn hearing aids from a young age and was diagnosed with a progressive vision disability at 17 years old. She has a BA from Duke University, an MSEd from Bank Street College of Education, and an MPH from Hunter College. Catarina is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (IAAP).

Accessibility:

Captions and ASL Sign Language Interpreter will be provided.

Accommodations + Questions:

Please contact events@nod.org with your request or inquiry.

Change Not Charity: Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the ADA

Join Disability:IN Minnesota and partners for

"Change Not Charity: Celebrating the virtual 35th Anniversary Celebration of the ADA."

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

1:00 – 2:00 PM (ET)

Register for the Change not Charity Webinar

Disability:IN DC Members may attend this event for FREE. Select the "Affiliate Partner" ticket rate and use promo code: AffiliatePartner to redeem your free ticket.

July 2025 marks the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Join us virtually to celebrate with a screening of PBS documentary Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act, followed by a discussion with leaders from the disability movement.

Hosted in partnership with Disability:IN Chicagoland, Disability:IN DC Metro, and Storybolt, this event will bring together thought leaders, advocates, and businesses committed to advancing accessibility and inclusion.

Here’s why this event is a must-attend:

• Exclusive access to leading voices in the disability community and inclusion space.
• Insightful discussions on the future of accessibility and workplace inclusion.
• Networking opportunities with key industry players and organizations making a difference.

Whether you're looking to gain actionable strategies to improve inclusion at your organization or simply want to learn more about this milestone, this event will provide invaluable resources to continue pushing the envelope on inclusion.

Accessibility: Live captioning will be provided at this event. If you need accommodations to participate, please request them via the registration form or contact Laura Wilhelm at laura@di-chi.org.

 This event will take place on Zoom. Registration is required to attend. 

COMING EVENTS--NOT TO BE MISSED

Technology and the Disability Experience

ON SALE NOW: 

An evening exploring how artificial intelligence and new technologies impact accessibility, disability inclusion, and the future of workforce innovation.

September 30, 2025 | NYC, NY

Tuesday, September 30 | Times Center

242 West 41st Street, New York, NY 10036

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

• Partner-Exclusive Pre-Event: 3:30 PM
• Cocktail Hour + Technology Showcase: 5:30 PM
• Main Event (Panel Discussion + Awards): 7-8:30 PM

Purchase Tickets

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

Early Bird Ends July 15th

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!

One Year In: The Impact of the Current Administration on Disability Policy

November 6, 2025

1-2 pm ET

Register for NOD One-Year In Webinar

One year after the election, NOD CEO and President Beth Sirull reunites with Charles Catherine and Congressman Jim Langevin to assess the current administration and policy changes, examining their impact on the lives of people with disabilities.

PANELISTS:

Congressman Jim Langevin

Former U.S. Representative for Rhode Island & NOD Policy Ambassador

Charles E. Catherine-Caldaro

Director, Corporate & Government Relations, NOD

Moderator: Beth Sirull

President & Chief Executive Officer, NOD

Accessibility:

Captions and ASL Sign Language Interpreter will be provided.

Accommodations + Questions:

Please contact events@nod.org with your request or inquiry.

JULY Business News

Celebrating Value and Talent

80th Annual National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

The Office of Disability Employment Policy is announcing “Celebrating Value and Talent” as the NDEAM theme for 2025.

As part of the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, our upcoming NDEAM observance will honor the value and talent that American workers with disabilities contribute to our nation’s workplaces and economy. Throughout NDEAM, we will highlight the achievements of people with disabilities, both past and present. That’s the spirit behind this year’s official theme: “Celebrating Value and Talent.”

Check out ODEP’s NDEAM page for the latest resources, including the 2025 NDEAM poster that will be available to download or order in print this summer.

EDITED BY ALAN SCHWARZ

JUNE 17, 2025, 08:00 AM

View the full list

Accessibility is about far more than wheelchair ramps or live captioning. The field has emerged as a bustling innovation hub, an educational imperative and—unapologetically—an untapped business opportunity.

“This isn’t a legal obligation or ‘We just want to do nice things for those poor people,’” says Marcie Roth, executive director of the World Institute on Disability. “You’re leaving money on the table because you’re only marketing to three out of four people.”

Here is a spotlight on DC Metro's Members, Connections, and Collaborators

• 2gether-international
• Cephable
• Everway
• Fable
• Gallaudet University
• Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
• United Spinal Accessibility Services
• Vispero
• World Institute on Disability

Forbes’ first-ever Accessibility 100 highlights the biggest innovators and impact-makers in the field of accessibility for people with disabilities. Some, like Apple and Google, make ubiquitous devices that introduce new and vital accessibility features year after year. Others are less visible companies and individuals whose work and innovations are revolutionizing how people with wide ranges of disabilities can communicate, learn, travel and enjoy lives as full as anyone else’s. Often, these inventions affect people beyond those with disabilities: if you’ve ever rolled a stroller over a sloped curb, watched closed captions or used an electric toothbrush, you can thank disability R&D.

below. Profiles of all 100 listmakers are presented by their impact areas: Communication, Education, Employment/Workplace, Entertainment/Arts, Influencer/Advocacy, Law/Government, Mobility, Products, Software, Sports & Recreation, and others outside those categories. A feature on the state of accessibility worldwide can be found here; a detailed look at the list methodology is here.

As with all Forbes lists, there was no fee for any company or individual to be considered or selected for the Accessibility 100. For questions about the list, please email Alan Schwarz at aschwarz [at] forbes.com.

Disability Pride Month

Disability Pride Month is celebrated during the month of July, aligning with the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)'s signing into law on July 26, 1990. The theme for the month, selected by The Arc's National Council of Self-Advocates, is "We Belong Here, and We're Here to Stay". 

Purpose:

• Disability Pride Month is a time to celebrate the history, achievements, and experiences of people with disabilities, as well as to raise awareness about disability rights and inclusion. 

Significance of July:

• The month is chosen to commemorate the passage of the ADA, a landmark piece of legislation that prohibits discrimination based on disability. 

How to Celebrate:

• There are many ways to participate in Disability Pride Month, including: Educating yourself about disability rights and inclusion. 
• Supporting disabled artists, writers, and content creators. 
• Engaging in disability rights advocacy and activism. 
• Learning about ableism and how to be an ally. 
• Volunteering or donating to organizations that support people with disabilities. 

2025 Theme:

• The chosen theme, "We Belong Here, and We're Here to Stay," emphasizes the importance of belonging and permanence within the community for people with disabilities

About the Disability Pride Flag



July is Disability Pride Month. And its symbol, the Disability Pride Flag was designed to raise awareness and promote solidarity, pride and acceptance. The original Disability Pride flag was created in 2019 by writer Ann Magill, who has cerebral palsy. Ann attended an event for the 20th anniversary of the ADA and was disheartened to find that it was held in the basement and grounds of an independent living center, rather than being held publicly. This experience inspired her to design the Disability Pride Flag.

After receiving some feedback from the community, she redesigned the flag to what it is today. Ann considers the flag to be a product of a collaborative design effort by her and the community.

The flag’s colors represent:

* Red – physical disabilities

* Gold – neurodiversity

* White – invisible disabilities and disabilities that haven’t yet been diagnosed

* Blue – emotional and psychiatric disabilities, including mental illness, anxiety, and depression

* Green – for sensory disabilities, including deafness, blindness, lack of smell, lack of taste, audio processing disorder, and all other sensory disabilities

* Faded black – for the mourning and rage for victims of ableist violence and abuse.

Learn more about the flag’s history

OFCCP UPDATE

OFCCP Issues Proposals to Rescind EO 11246 Regulations and Modify Section 503 and VEVRAA Regulations

On July 1, 2025, OFCCP published in the Federal Register a set of proposals to rescind the regulations implementing Executive Order 11246 and to modify the regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and VEVRAA. According to the agency, these changes are intended to align its regulations with recent court decisions and executive orders. Most significantly, the proposed changes to the Section 503 regulations would remove the requirement for federal contractors to solicit disability status from applicants and employees

They are proposing to retain the AAP and outreach requirements.

Here is the link to the proposed amended Section 503 rule, which was published in the Federal Register on July 1, 2025. 

National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) – Issued monthly by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire

Durham, NH – July 3, 2025 – The latest National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) report shows that the employment of people with disabilities has held steady for several months. At the same time, more individuals may be entering the job market in response to economic uncertainty, according to nTIDE experts. nTIDE is issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability.

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

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

November 22, 2025

5:30 pm- 8 pm

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.

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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