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Driving Innovation through Disability Inclusion in 2026

Are you looking for proven

ways to increase your organization's

disability inclusion

The Disability:IN DC Metro is the local best-practice business resource for you!

Disability Pride Month. The World Works Better With Us.

Celebrating Disability Pride Month

Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July to honor disability identity, culture, and leadership. The official theme for 2026 is “The World Works Better With Us,” which highlights the importance of full inclusion in everyday life.

#DisabilityPrideMonth

Nearly 26% of the U.S. population are considered disabled. The entire month of July gives opportunity for everyone to show our pride and support disabled members of our communities. Teaching acceptance raises awareness and allows equal opportunity for anyone with a disability. When we change the way we look at someone, we change how we see uniqueness in every situation.

Celebrating the 36th Anniversary of the ADAADA: Americans with Disabilities Act. 36: Celebrate July 26, 2026.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law 36 years ago on July 26, 1990. Visit the ADA Anniversary Toolkit for more information.

Events

Are You In? 2026 Global Conference and Expo. July 27 to 30 in Dallas, Texas.

Where Strategy, Innovation and Market Impact Connect

The Disability:IN Global Conference convenes business leaders across product, technology, strategy, marketing, investment, and operations who are focused on one thing: building solutions that work better for more people.

Secure Your Spot and Register Now

Celebrate Disability with these 3 key events!

Accommodations in 2026: Celebrating the 36th Anniversary of the ADA- July 14, 2026- Noon- 1:00 pm ET

Disability:IN Chicagoland, in collaboration with its affiliate partners Disability:IN Minnesota, Disability:IN DC Metro, Disability:IN North Carolina, and Disability:IN Wisconsin, are hosting a webinar on Accommodations in 2026: Celebrating the 36th Anniversary of the ADA Day on Tuesday, July 14th from 12noon -1:00 pm Eastern. Join this virtual discussion featuring: Lisa Mathess, Principal Consultant, Job Accommodation Network (JAN); Kelley Frake, Program Coordinator for Technical Assistance and Employer Outreach, and Rob Gould, Director of Research and Principal Investigator, at the Great Lakes ADA Center, who will lead a virtual conversation sharing practical guidance on accommodations and the interactive process while highlighting available resources. They will also discuss accessibility considerations along with opportunities and potential pitfalls to be aware of when creating workplace accommodations systems. Don’t miss your chance to participate in the discussion! Register online now. Disability:IN DC Metro – no charge with promo code: ChicagolandPartner

Webinar: Turning Points: The Disability Rights Movement July 16, 2026 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET

Revisit some of the pivotal events of the disability rights movement, recognize some of the pioneers who led the way, and acknowledge the power of community that keeps us moving forward on the journey from isolation to inclusion of people with disabilities.

AAPD Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Celebration on July 22

ADA Celebration. Wednesday, July 22nd at 6:30 pm EST in Washington, DC.

Join AAPD for our annual ADA celebration! We will celebrate the legacy of the ADA and the decades of advocacy that led to its passing. The event is on July 22 at 6:30 PM ET at the Rock Creek Ballroom in the Westin DC Downtown at 999 9th St NW, Washington, DC. Tickets start at $25.

 

 

Check out the newsletter for more events and news!

NOD Partnership Announcement

Disability:IN DC Metro is proud to strengthen our long-standing partnership with the National Organization on Disability. As we celebrate 20 years of impact in disability inclusion, we are honored to serve as a distribution partner for NOD’s new learning platform, EnAble Learning. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to expanding practical education, advancing workplace disability inclusion, and supporting employers across the DC Metro region with resources to build more inclusive organizations. Learn more about EnAble Learning.

Strategic Partnerships

The Voice of the Disability Community

Join our First Annual Disability Inclusion Roundtable in September.

Accessibility

Digital and AI implications for our community.

  • Seminar Presentation by Chief Accessibility Officer Eduardo Meza Etienne, with featured subject matter expert speakers.

Physical Access for employees, visitors and customers.

  • Featuring C5 and United Spinal Association Accessibility Services work with MedStar.

Disability Owned Businesses

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

Federal Outreach

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

Vision

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

Mission

Building the business network for disability inclusion.

Our focus is on Culture Change!

Disability:IN®

We are the local affiliate of Disability:IN®, formerly the USBLN®.

Affiliates Matter

If your company operates in any of the 25 states that our 30 sister affiliates* are located, you should consider engagement in these local chapters. It’s at the local level that meaningful engagement occurs and enables your local leaders, your ERG Members and your employees to understand and model disability inclusion.

*There are also former affiliates, including VirginiaAbility, that serves the Metro Richmond, VA area and is an organization to join if your company has representation in that geography.

National Representation:

If your company operates nationally, then you should consider joining Disability:IN and attending the Annual National Conference for a national peer to peer dialog.

Branding your company:

As members local and national (if appropriate) is critical and will serve to draw talent with disabilities to your company, engage and retain your current workforce with disabilities and include disability-owned businesses in your supply chain.

Members