Driving Innovation through Disability Inclusion

Be at the Forefront of Disability Inclusion in 2026!

503 and VEVRAA Focus

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

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Celebrating our 20th Anniversary

Thank you to our Boards, Members, and Partners for your support and dedication to our mission for the past two decades. 

Disability inclusion takes leadership, clarity, employee engagement and intentional focus to ensure employees, applicants and customers with disabilities are fully included.

As we begin 2026, we remain strong in our commitment to engage and educate employers across the National Capital Region and beyond.

Looking Back Over the Last 20 Years

• Disability:IN DC Metro was originally established in 2006 as the DC Metro Business Leadership Network (DCBLN) through the President’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities (PCEPD). Learn more about the rich history on the PCEPD.
• The George Washington University's EEO Office served as Founding Chair.
• Virginia Ability (VA BLN) was launched in 2003 by Truist Bank's Accessing Community Talent, which served as Founding Chair.

Since 2006:

• Past Chairs: GWU, Deloitte, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics Missions Systems, General Dynamics IT, Marriott International
• The Board has grown from five to 34 representatives from corporate, non-profit organizations, universities and Subject Matter Experts.
• In 2011, The Hon. Katherine McCary was hired as CEO, Executive Director.
• 2018 saw the rebrand to Disability:IN DC Metro with geographic Virginia, DC and Maryland.
• 2020 Virtual Programming launched to adapt to the COVID Pandemic, expanding outreach across the US.
• In 2022, Eduardo Meza-Etienne was appointed Chief Accessibility Officer.
• Joined the Affiliate Collaborative (Chicagoland, North Carolina, Minnesota) in 2023, co-producing annual ADA Anniversary, Supplier Inclusion and Veterans webinars.
• In 2024, Andrea Hall was appointed Chief Strategy Officer.
• In 2025, DC Metro received a $10k donation from DC Metro Member, Leidos.
• Craig Leen , an Advisory Board member, became our pro bono legal counsel in 2025.
• In July 2025, we celebrated the 35th Anniversary of the ADA and recognized the Forbes Accessibility 100 at an in person event hosted bby K&L Gates and Craig Leen.
• New 2025 Board Members: Evannah Johnson - MedStar Health, Margot Keale - Deloitte, Helen Henriques - Level Access, Logan O'Reilly - EY, Matt Belcher - TCS Teams, Joanna Kopinetz - BAE Systems, Beth Howard-Brown - Howard Brown & Associates, Katie Samson, CHAXTC, Sena Pottackal - Disability Belongs
• In October, 2025, DC Metro was a sponsor of the M-Enabling Summit in DC
• 2026 marks our third year of partnership with the Omnium Circus. Buy Tickets and Join Us on March 1!

Future Focus

We will Celebrate our 20th Anniversary in May! More to come!

We will hold our first Annual Disability Inclusion Roundtable in September.

The Voice of the Disability Community

• Celebrate with us in person at our 20th Anniversary, May at K&L Gates.
• Join our First Annual Disability Inclusion Roundtable in September.
• Quarterly Member Meetings with Guest Speakers

Accessibility

Digital and AI implications for our community.

• Seminar Presentation 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, Disability Belongs

Federal Outreach

• 2026 Federal Updates Event
• New Administration Appointees:
• US Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith E. Sonderling
• ODEP Assistant Secretary, Julie Hocker
• VETS Assistant Secretary Jeremiah Workman
• EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas

Congratulations to these New Appointees

Keith Sonderling, United States Deputy Secretary, Department of Labor

Julie Hocker, Assistant Secretary, Office of Disability Employment Policy, USDOL

Jeremiah Workman, Assistant Secretary Veterans Employment and Training Services, US DOL

Andrea Lucas, Chair, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

TIME FOR THE CIRCUS!

Join Us at our 2026 "FUN Raiser"

The Omnium Circus

March 1, 2026

Buy Tickets

Use the code DC Metro to trigger a 10% donation to DC Metro

Plus More FUN - Friday evening Feb 27, 6-8pm 

The Omnium Circus is very excited to announce a super special FREE add on to your tickets for Omnium Circus on March 1. In collaboration with Imagination Stage, we are adding to our Annual Circus weekend with interactive fun. 

The Omnium Circus will present a 2 hour super event with activities and fun for everyone, food for purchase from disability owned businesses, along with tables and information about many opportunities for participation all year long.

If you use DC Metro code for tickets, that also works for this event, proof of purchase of your ticket is required for admission, and all do need to RSVP.

Contact Lisa Lewis, CEO, Omnium Circus, for questions and more event information

Explore the Omnium Circus! Bring your Disability ERG members!

DC Metro Disability Inclusion Roundtable

Advancing Disability Inclusion in 2026

This informal, peer-to-peer discussion will bring together recognized disability leaders, including individuals with disabilities, advocates and allies, in an exchange of ideas and best practices for enhancing disability inclusion in the workplace and among corporate suppliers. We encourage all attendees to contribute their perspectives on barriers to inclusion, address common myths and concerns, and share success stories that can inspire others.

More to come!!

NEWS & EVENTS

NOD Leadership Council Open House

Monday, January 12 | 1-1:45 PM EST

REGISTER TODAY 

Discover the Power of Disability Inclusion.

Attend the Leadership Council Open House for an engaging introduction to the people and services that power NOD’s premier membership network.

Connect directly with our Disability Inclusion Specialists, explore the strategic advantages of joining the Council, and discover how our hands-on support and exclusive resources can elevate your organization’s disability inclusion efforts.

Premium Members Now Unlock Even More:

• Unlimited seats to EnAble Learning, NOD’s new on-demand learning platform for organization-wide disability inclusion training
• Disability-informed executive coaching
• Ten pre-qualified candidates for entry level positions based on your requirements

Plus, All Members Receive:

• Direct access to NOD’s disability inclusion experts for on-demand support
• Talent acquisition process audit to strengthen your pipeline
• Strategy session to develop an inclusive hiring plan for senior talent recruitment
• Support for your disability employment resource group—or help starting one
• Live virtual trainings and story-driven speaking engagements
• To learn more about how you can access expert support, tailored resources, networking events, and more, please click here. We’re partnering with Syracuse University on a $4.6M Federal Initiative Advancing Disability Inclusion.
• Millions of people with disabilities are at risk of losing Medicaid. But states can prevent it, and The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law has developed a guide highlighting how.
• People with disabilities face higher rates of unemployment and underemployment, with many limited to part-time or self-employment roles. However, American Heart Association found that companies prioritizing disability inclusion report higher revenues, productivity and employee engagement. Read the brief here.

Travel & Tourism for All: Best Practices & Trends for Customers with Disabilities

January 21, 2026 | 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET



REGISTER FOR THE JANUARY 21st WEBINAR

People with disabilities in the US spend billions of dollars annually on travel, but many report having issues related to their accessibility needs. What types of issues are travelers with disabilities facing and how do we make them feel more welcomed?

Join Craig Kennedy, Program Coordinator and Trainer with the Open Doors Organization, for an informative webinar on best practices for making businesses more accessible, as well current trends for travelers with disabilities. 

Craig is a leading expert, with more than 20 years of experience, in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). He spends most of his time on the road for Open Doors, training disability experts for airports and airlines all over the world. Craig's love for travel drives his passion for disability work and he brings an infectious positive attitude with him wherever he goes in hopes of affecting positive change and bringing improved access to the world of disabilities.

Promoting Inclusion

Expanding Disability Education and Awareness

Our focus is on Culture Change!

Celebrating our 20th Anniversary on 2026!

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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