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!
August 2026 Upcoming Events
Aging and Vision Loss: What You Need to Know and How You Can Help
Monday, August 10, 2026 | 2:00 – 3:30 PM ET | In Person: WVU School of Medicine Charleston Campus, 3110 MacCorkle Avenue SE, Charleston, WV | Also Available Virtually via Zoom
Join the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) for a free presentation on aging and vision loss. AFB's Public Policy and Research Institute will present this session featuring Dr. Priscilla Rogers, Dr. Arielle Silverman, and Angie Whistler. Whether you're an older adult, family member, caregiver, healthcare provider, rehabilitation professional, or simply interested in learning more, all are welcome to attend.
Empowering Your Workforce:
Strategic Veteran Recruitment Strategies
Register for the Veteran Recruitment strategies webinar
Aug 11, 2026 11:00 AM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join us for an insightful presentation by the US Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), led by Regional Veterans’ Employment Coordinator, Matthew Passmore. This session will provide employers with comprehensive strategies to effectively recruit, hire, train, and retain Veterans. Discover how to leverage federal, state, and local resources to streamline your recruitment processes, reduce costs, and strategically address skill gaps. Enhance your Veteran recruitment practices and unlock the potential of Veteran talent in your workforce.
Recruiting College Talent with Disabilities:
What Works, What Doesn’t & Why
Thursday, Aug. 13 | 1-1:30 PM EST
Register for the Recruiting College students webinar
As organizations compete for early career talent, college students and recent graduates with disabilities remain one of the most overlooked talent pools. Many employers are eager to hire them, but struggle to create inclusive and accessible recruiting experiences, and onboard new hires once they join the organization.
Drawing on insights from NOD research, this session explores practical strategies for strengthening disability-inclusive recruiting and creating workplace cultures where early career talent can thrive.
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
