Disability:IN Wisconsin

Accommodations as we re-enter the workplace
2021-11-01 | VIRTUAL, United States
Date tentative. More information will be provided as it becomes available

ERG/BRG Networking Session
2021-10-27 12:00 - 13:00, 2021-08-25 12:00 - 13:00 UTC | VIRTUAL, United States
All sessions are from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Dates:

April 28, 2021
June 30, 2021
August 25, 2021
October 27, 202

You will be notified when registration opens for each session

Wisconsin Ability Summit 2021
2021-10-07 | VIRTUAL, United States
At American Family Insurance, diversity, equity, and inclusion are imperative to our mission of inspiring, protecting, and restoring dreams.
Our customers, employees, and communities can pursue what matters most in life when opportunities are equitable, diverse voices are heard, and individuals are valued for their unique backgrounds and perspectives.
We recognize the structural barriers in our society that keep people from achieving their dreams, and we’re driven to doing our part of break down these barriers. American Family is committed to tackling systemic problems that impede equity – because it’s good for our communities and good for business.
American Family’s Business Resource Groups, like the Abilities BRG, promote inclusion in the workplace by bringing together networks for employees who share common interests, life experiences, or backgrounds. We understand the relationship between the way people function and how they participate in society. We are committed to creating a workplace and community that allows everyone the same opportunities and accessibility to participate to the best of their abilities and desires.
As a charter member of Disability:IN Wisconsin, we are proud to host the third annual Wisconsin Ability Summit on October 7, 2021. Please save the date, and join us for this powerful, virtual learning event focusing on education for recruiting and hiring managers. Together, we can learn to hire, develop, and engage more people with diverse abilities.
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Current member spotlight info on site: https://disabilityinwisconsin.org/member-spotlights/american-family-insurance

Annual Disability:IN Wisconsin Charity Golf Outing
2021-09-16 09:30 - 16:30 | Silver Spring Golf & Banquet Center, N56W21318 Silver Spring Dr, Menomonee Falls, WI, 53051, United States
REGI
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Supplier Diversity - Building Disability into Your Larger Supplier Diversity Program
2021-08-05 09:00 - 10:00 | VIRTUAL, United States
Registration opens June 24

Disability Owned Business Enterprises (DOBEs) generate over $536M in revenue annually and employ people with disabilities at 6 to 7 times the rate of their non-DOBE peers. Integrating DOBEs into supplier diversity programs creates opportunities to recognize and elevate disability-owned businesses while enabling businesses to innovate, reach new customers and grow their revenue.

Join Disability:IN Chicagoland, in partnership with Disability:IN Greater Kansas City and Disability:IN Wisconsin, for a conversation on integrating disability into your larger supplier diversity program. This discussion will include supplier diversity professionals from different industries who will share best practices around integrating disability into your existing supplier.

Members: No charge
Non-members – $45

Going Beyond Compliance
2021-07-22 09:00 - 10:00 | VIRTUAL, United States
Registration Opens June 10, 2021

Going Beyond Compliance – A public-private collaboration to address accessibility and inclusion in downtown Madison.

Downtown Madison Inc (DMI), has been working in a partnership with the City of Madison’s Disability Rights Commission, and Access to Independence, the local Independent Living Center, to address accessibility and inclusion barriers faced by people with disabilities. DMI’s executive director Jason Ilstrup, and Access to Independence’s executive director, Jason Beloungy, will talk about why the partnership was formed, how it was solidified, what’s been achieved, and the goals moving forward.

Learning Objectives: Participants will learn about building partnerships to improve accessibility and inclusion internally, as well as in the community. Participants will also gain insight into the value of the lived experience of people with disabilities as a part of the collaboration.

Date: July 22, 2021

Time: 9:00 – 10:00 am

Cost – No charge for members, $45 for non-members

Speakers:

Jason Illstrup, Executive Director Downtown Madison, Inc. Jason Ilstrup is the President of Downtown Madison, Inc. (DMI), a member-based non-profit working to create the best quality of life downtown for everyone. Prior to joining DMI, Jason worked in hotel management and development at HotelRED, the Iron Horse Hotel, and the Madison Concourse Hotel. Before entering hospitality, Jason served as a legislative aide and legal counsel for several politicians including Rep. Martin Sabo and Rep. Barney Frank. He is also a returned Peace Corps Volunteer having served in Niger. Jason attended Boston University and the University of Minnesota Law School. He was raised near downtown Minneapolis and is unlucky enough to be a Minnesota Vikings fan.

Jason Beloungy, Executive Director, Access to Independence

Jason Beloungy has been the Executive Director of Access to Independence (www.accesstoind.org) since 2019, after having served as Assistant Director since 2010. Before his tenure with Access to Independence, Jason was a Policy Analyst for the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) in Washington, D.C., and was involved in disability policy, focusing on areas such as healthcare and long-term care. Jason got his start in the independent living movement in 2004 with Independent Living Resources, providing the array of services offered by an Independent Living Center. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.

National Disability:IN Conference 2021
2021-07-12 - 2021-07-15 | VIRTUAL, United States
More information will be provided as it becomes available

ERG/BRG Networking Session
2021-06-30 12:00 - 13:00 | VIRTUAL, United States
Please join us for a dynamic discussion about digital accessibility facilitated by Kelly Risser of US Bank.

June 30, 2021
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Discussion topics will include:

What questions to ask
How to identify resources
Employee facing
Why it matters

Join Disability:IN Wisconsin members for an ERG/BRG networking session to share best practices, strategic priorities, resources and make valuable connections. These sessions are designed for everyone, no matter where you are on the maturity model.

REGISTER NOW

Digital Accessibility
2021-06-15 11:30 - 12:30 | VIRTUAL, United States
Presenter: User Research International

Registration opens: May 4, 2021

Digital accessibility is the process of making digital products (websites, mobile apps, and other digital tools and technologies) accessible to everyone. It is about providing all users access to the same information.

Speakers:

Margaret DeGraw
After majoring in psychology at California State University, Northridge, Margaret moved to Seattle to pursue her Master’s degree in Human-Centered Design and Engineering from the University of Washington. Co-leader of the URI Accessibility Taskforce, Margaret is passionate about accessibility and community-building, and she believes that UX has the capacity to improve every aspect of our lives – from the computer software we use at work, to the website that we browse for entertainment, to the mobile apps that we use on a daily basis.

Becca Carne
Becca is a User Experience Researcher at User Research International in Redmond, WA, and a current master’s student at the University of Washington studying Human-Centered Design and Engineering. At URI, Becca co-leads the company’s Accessibility Taskforce which facilitates internal discussions around accessibility and inclusive design. Becca believes impactful research is driven by empathy and a commitment to always be an apprentice to the user.

Goal: To better understand what accessibility is and how to inspire accessible innovation for all and help build better product inclusion.
Topics covered include:

Introduction to accessibility
Rules and Regulations
How this impacts your business
Why it Matters
Commonly used methods and tools for assessing accessibility
Common accessibility issues across devices and platforms
Review example accessibility issues
Best practices and how to build Inclusive Design

Members: No charge
Non-members – $45

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Mental Health - Resilience and Building a Culture of Well-Being and Compassion
2021-05-20 09:00 - 10:00 | WI
Mental Health – Resilience and Building a Culture of Well-Being and Compassion

As of 2021, mental health and substance use conditions will surpass all physical disease as the major causes of disability worldwide. Many of your employees and their families are impacted by mental health & wellness and this may adversely affect productivity, increase absenteeism, and disrupt teamwork. An estimated 26% of Americans ages 18 and older—about 1 in 4 adults—experience a diagnosable mental health condition each year. When employers recognize this and create a culture that supports workers’ mental health, workers are more likely to speak openly, to know where to go for help or advice, and are more than twice as likely to love their jobs.
Join Disability:IN Wisconsin in partnership with Disability:IN Greater Kansas City and Disability:IN Chicagoland, for a conversation on the prevalence of employee’s mental health & wellness, breaking the silence, and having tough conversations within your workplace.
Learning Objectives:

What are some of the resources that employers need in order to create an emotionally safe environment for their employees?
How does one position themselves to start tough conversations with employees and who should do it?
What are some of the generational differences that we need to be prepared for when approaching Mental Health issues with employees?

Date: May 20, 2021
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Cost – No charge for members, $45 for non-members
Speaker: Pamela Elgin, MA,LPC
Pamela Elgin, MA, LPC joined Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin in the Winter of 2020 after working there as an EAP consultant for some time. She is the Sr. EAP Counselor, exclusively working with Employees as a Mental Health resource for therapy, education, and debriefings. This is a covered benefit for the employees. She also works closely with leaders across the organization to look at better ways to combat the stigma of Mental Health in our workplace as well as promote the use of Mental Health resources available to staff.
Previously, Pam has worked in the hospital inpatient and outpatient sector managing and facilitating groups and individuals working on Behavioral Health issues. She has also worked in the University setting making it safer for students to come forward to deal with such issues as depression, anxiety, and in particular Eating Disorders. Pam has had her own private practice since 1999 and has been doing Employee Assistance work for the last 12 years.
Pam has 6 kids,( ½ fully launched) and 5 Irish Wolfhounds.

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Substance Abuse and Breaking Down Barriers
2021-05-11 11:30 - 12:30 | VIRTUAL, United States
Learn from a panel of experts about how employers can benefit from and support their employees that struggle with substance use.

About this Event

One in 12 workers has an untreated substance use disorder. Many substance users are sensitive to the stigma of being labeled an addict or an alcoholic, and they fear retaliation. Studies show that employment has a positive impact on a worker’s recovery from substance use disorder. Employers can benefit from understanding and supporting their employees that struggle with substance use.
Speaker: Panel discussion facilitated by Beth Lohman, Integrated Services Coordinator at Milwaukee County Behavioral Health
Panelists:

Ryan Clevenger – Oxford House
Ken Ginlack – Director of Outpatient Programs, Milwaukee County Behavior Health Division
Ben Henneberry – District Manager, MOD Superfast Pizza
Keith Schroeder – IPS Supervisor, Goodwill
Katie Behl – Intoxicated Driver Program Senior Coordinator, Division of Care and Treatment Services
Daniel Bizjak, State Opioid Response Grant Coordinator, DHS

This session is best suited for:

HR and Talent Leaders
Diversity & Inclusion and DEI Leaders
Learning & Development Leaders
ERG/BRG Sponsor, Leaders, Members
Anyone with a stake in ensuring inclusion in the workplace

Cost: No charge for members, $45 for non-members
Participants will receive event access information after registering for the event.

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ERG/BRG Networking Session
2021-04-28 12:00 - 13:00 | VIRTUAL, United States
FREE Member Event: Please join us for a dynamic discussion facilitated by Seetha Narayanaswamy of Northwestern Mutual.

About this Event

Disability:IN Wisconsin members are invited to join us for a FREE ERG/BRG networking session to share best practices, strategic priorities, resources and make valuable connections.
Employee Resources Groups (ERGs) go by many different names (i.e., Affinity Groups, Business Resource Groups, Employee Network Groups), but regardless of what they are called, they share a common purpose. They are a voluntary, employee-led group that serves as a resource for members and organizations by fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with the organizational mission, values, goals, practices, and objectives.Our first ERG networking session will be facilitated by Seetha Narayanaswamy of Northwestern Mutual, focusing on introductions and reviewing strategic priorities. These sessions are designed for everyone, no matter where you are on the maturity model. The feedback from this first session will determine future conversations.
NOTE: Important details to access the meeting will be included in your confirmation email after you register.

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Introduction to Great Lakes ADA
2021-04-20 11:30 - 12:30 | VIRTUAL, United States
The Great Lakes ADA Center is one of 10 federally funded regional technical assistance centers on the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Its mission is to promote voluntary compliance with the law. The Center serves the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. They address all titles of the ADA with approximately 30% of the calls are about employment, 20% are about accommodating customers with disabilities, 20% are about architectural accessibility, 20% are about issues faced by local and state governmental entities, and the remaining 10% cover the intersect of the ADA with other legislation covering housing and education. The Center offers a large array of resources for training and technical assistance.

Audience:

Anyone with responsibility for ADA compliance
Anyone who is interested in gaining more information or has a question about the ADA
Anyone who is interested in learning more about options for assistance/information on the following topics: facility access, employment issues, customer service issues and information technology accessibility

Goal – Learn more about the Center and how it can be a resource for your business.

Great Lakes ADA Center located at the University of Illinois at Chicago since its inception in 1991. The Center is part of a network of federally funded ADA Centers. The Great Lakes Center serves the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Robin has extensive experience as a consultant and trainer regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act and its application to business and government. She serves as a consultant assisting covered entities to meet their obligations by employing strategies that can be used to support the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace and community.

Collaborative Partners – Great Lakes ADA and Disability:IN Wisconsin

Time – 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Cost – No Charge
Speaker: Robin Ann Jones

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Intersectionality of ERGs/BRGs
2021-03-25 09:00 - 10:00 | VIRTUAL, United States
Advancing disability inclusion through learning and development webinars

Presenters – to be announced soon
Cost: Partners – $35; complimentary with ID code | Guests – $45
**** REGISTER HERE by March 24 ****
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Session Objective:
Want to deepen your company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives?
Join Disability:IN Greater Kansas City, in partnership with Disability:IN Chicagoland and Disability:IN Wisconsin. Become familiar with intersectionality, the complex ways multiple identities intersect, helping companies better understand their diverse and multifaceted employees, and how companies are recognizing the role E/BRG’s play in the workplace including recruitment, retention, talent identification and advancement, and in the marketplace.

Learning Objectives:

Expanding ERG/BRG membership beyond a particular affinity community to include a wider range of employee perspectives, knowledge and experience increases opportunities for diverse perspectives and innovative solutions to workplace and marketplace challenges.
Creating safe spaces for employees to talk, learn and initiate change.
How adopting an intersectional lens, employers are able to foster more inclusive workplaces that advocate for continuous growth and learning.​

Who Should Attend:

HR and Talent Leaders
Diversity & Inclusion and DEI Leaders
Learning & Development Leaders
Anyone with a stake in ensuring inclusion in the workplace

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​ Questions – contact brenda@disabilityin-gkc.org

You Registered for the DEI, Now What? Coffee Chat with Becky Kekula
2021-02-17 11:30 - 12:30 | VIRTUAL, United States
Attendees will gain valuable information on best practices for completing the DEI, the benefits to the company even if the organization does not score well and a roadmap towards creating a disability-friendly workplace.
Becky Kekula serves as the Disability Equality Index (DEI) Director at Disability:IN. In her current role, she’s responsible for managing the overall DEI program.
Becky received her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Providence College, where she started to gain a passion for influencing change behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. Upon graduation and after 1,000 applications, 100 job interviews, and three temporary job assignments, Becky started working full-time in the Entertainment Marketing department, followed by the Comedy Touring department, at Creative Artists Agency, the world’s leading entertainment and sports agency. Five years later, she worked at CBS Television Studios, where she assisted with the casting of pilots and television series. During this transition, she also served as the Marketing Director and Co-Founding Board Member of the Catalina Film Festival. She also founded DisABILITY In Media, which focuses on positive disability inclusion storytelling through social media.
After her six and a half years of working in the entertainment industry, Becky launched a public speaking business. A prolific public speaker and advocate for disability inclusion on a global scale, she has spoken at over 200 venues, including schools, corporations, nonprofit organizations and government agencies, throughout the United States and beyond. She’s really passionate about disability inclusion in schools, the workplace, and everywhere else.
More recently, she spent three and a half years working in the Equity & Inclusion department at Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the world’s largest entertainment union. At SAG-AFTRA, she supported the implementation of a national diversity plan of action to achieve accurate representation of those groups historically excluded from the entertainment and news media.
Becky currently serves as the Little People of America (LPA) Employment Chair and she’s on the Board of Advisors for the National Center For Disability Journalism (NCDJ) at Arizona State University.

2020 Wisconsin Ability Summit
2020-10-20 | Virtual Host – ManpowerGroup, WI, United States
Achieving Positive Business Outcomes through Disability Inclusion and Equity
Details available soon

Self Identification - Self Disclosure Webinar
2020-07-30 13:00 - 14:00 | VIRTUAL, United States
Best practices on creating a work culture where employees are comfortable disclosing a disability
Now more than ever, how people identify, as well as when and why they disclose a disability, determines workplace culture. Research shows it is not an overstatement to say that having more people who openly disclose their disability creates an inclusive culture that has the power to dramatically shape future business culture and success.
Please join the panel discussion that addresses the following key action steps: Educate, Connect, Lead, Evolve, Trust. We are pleased to welcome our panelists:

Tracey Andrus – EVP, Strategy and Development – Rangam
Greg Pollock – Vice President, Human Resources – Accessibility Officer – PNC Financial Services
Lea Collins-Worachek, Area Director – Department of Workforce Development

REGISTER NOW

2020 Disability:IN Annual Conference | Virtual
2020-07-13 - 2020-07-16 | VIRTUAL, United States
The Disability: IN Conference & Expo promotes an inclusive global economy that empowers people with disabilities to participate fully and meaningfully. It will empower businesses to achieve disability equality and inclusion. The shared commitment is to collaborate with a purpose to promote the full inclusion of people with disabilities, to inspire accessible innovation for all.
“After much consideration, Disability:IN and its Board of Directors have decided the 2020 Disability:IN Annual Conference & Expo will now be a Virtual Event during the same dates, July 13-16th.

This is an unprecedented situation and we appreciate your patience and support as we work through next steps.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be communicating next steps and any actions you need to take, including:

Canceling your hotel room (for reservations in the Disability:IN hotel block at the JW Marriott or Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes).
If you have already registered – your options for virtual event registration.
If you have not registered – how to register for the virtual event.
If you are an exhibitor or would like to exhibit, how you can leverage this opportunity.”

WEBINAR: Best Practices on Hiring Individuals with Disabilities - Driving Outcomes by Maximizing Abilities
2020-06-18 07:45 - 09:00 | Webinar
In this session, you’ll hear from business leaders who have expanded their talent base to include individuals with disabilities. in partnership with service providers who partnered with them to assure

Join this peer-to-peer dialogue around employing individuals with disabilities in an effort to change the perception of attendees to become receptive in looking at different pools of talent that may include individuals with disabilities.

Register Now

Agenda – for Webinar

7:45 – 7:55 – Welcome – introduction to Disability:IN Wisconsin – Derek Smith
7:55- 8:45 – Hiring Testimonials
7:55 – 8:15 – Tom Daughtery, Stratus Industries- partnered with MCFI
8:15 – 8:25 – Colton Grebe, Grebe’s Bakery – partnered with MCFI
8:25- 8:45 – Jeff Kerlin – Tailored Label Products –
8:45 – 9;00 – Q&A

Collaborative Partners – Goodwill Industries Southeast Wisconsin, MCFI, Disability:IN Wisconsin

WEBINAR: Disability Self-ID Best Practices
2020-05-12 | Webinar
Is 2020 the year your company needs to re-survey its workforce for employee disability status? If so, this webinar can help with your execution! The webinar will feature the self-identification best practices of Disability:IN Corporate Partners.

Learn how-to:

Develop a self-id communications plan;
Raise awareness of the definition of disability and examples;
Write an effective FAQ document;
Organize a memorable campaign;
Effectively communicate confidentiality;
Track your metrics.

Please register by May 5th, 2020!

Welcoming Customers with Disabilities Webinar Series
2020-05-06 11:00 - 2020-05-27 12:00 | VIRTUAL, United States
This four-part series of free webinars is being offered to businesses (or “public accommodations”) interested in providing an accessible experience for their customers with disabilities. Sessions will focus on a broad range of topics including civic engagement, responsibilities under the ADA, service animals, and resources for an accessible event. The intended audience includes, but not limited to, stores, bars, restaurants, hotels, theaters, service establishments, and shopping malls.

Session 1: May 6, 2020 11:00 am – 12:00 p.m. CT
Meeting Your Customer with Disability
Session 2: May 13, 2020 11:00 am – 12:00 p.m. CT
Your Responsibilities Under the ADA
Session 3: May 20, 2020 11:00 am – 12:00 p.m. CT
Service Animals: Increasing Engagement in the Commercial Space for Disabled Persons
Session 4: May 27, 2020 11:00 am – 12:00 p.m. CT

Use the Registration Link below to select all of the webinars you would like to participate in:
Register Now
This series of webinars is being offered by IndependenceFirst, Disability Rights Wisconsin, the Great Lakes ADA Center and the City of Milwaukee. CART and ASL interpreters will be provided. If you need the assistance of some type to enable you to fully participate or have questions about accessibility, please use the comment box at the
registration link.

Getting Started with the DEI - Madison
2020-02-13 | Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Maximizing Best Practices Continue
Disability:IN Wisconsin invites you to join Becky Kekula, Disability Equality Index National Director for a roundtable discussion. These best practices are gathered from participating companies in the Disability Equality Index (DEI), a comprehensive benchmarking tool for disability inclusion from Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)

Getting Started with the DEI - Milwaukee
2020-02-11 | Milwaukee, WI, United States
