Join us for our 10th Summit
to build workplaces where disabled people can thrive!
Thank you to our partner World Wide Technology for once again hosting us at their Global HQ in Saint Louis!
Thursday, September 26, 2024
8:00 am – 4:00 pm
World Wide Technology Global Headquarters
1 World Wide Wy, St. Louis, MO 63146
2024 Summit Schedule
8:00 am – Check in opens
Enjoy a light breakfast, networking, and time to check out inclusion resources available from our community partners.
9:00 am – Welcome
Pathways Auditorium
Remarks from our hosts at World Wide Technology and Starkloff Disability Institute CEO Lori Becker
9:15 am – Keynote: Rebecca Cokley
Pathways Auditorium
Where We Have Been and Where Are We Going
Rebecca Cokley, Program Manager for U.S. Disability Rights at the Ford Foundation, will explore the past, present, and future of disability rights in the United States, including: the history and accomplishments of the Americans with Disabilities Act, what work still needs to be done, and how we can achieve it, as well as the ever-changing nature of the disability community and how organizations can evolve with it, all while navigating continued challenges to progress and shaping our future.
10:15 am – Break (15 minutes)
10:30 am – Panel: The Disability Experience of Employment
Pathways Auditorium
Organizations that want to create a more disability inclusive environment need to engage in difficult conversations with people with disabilities. In this panel discussion, Starkloff Disability Institute brings together people with disabilities from a variety of backgrounds and professions to discuss what they need from organizations, what organizations have done to isolate them, and how organizations can do better.
11:45 am – Lunch
Enjoy your lunch, network, and check out inclusion resources available from our community partners.
Boxed lunches will be available in the lower level atrium. Please listen for details announced at the end of the Disability Experience Panel.
1:00 pm – Breakouts [In-Person Only]
To maximize impact for disability inclusion in your organization, select from three of our most requested topics and spend 90 minutes with experts who have moved the needle at their organizations. (Note: These sessions are only available for in-person attendees and are not included in the virtual ticket.)
Universal Design in Physical and Digital Spaces
Pathways Auditorium
Join experts in architectural and digital design discuss the principles of Universal Design and how organizations can apply them in physical and digital spaces.
- Be introduced to the philosophy and principles of universal design.
- Learn how to apply the principles of universal design to physical and digital spaces.
- Learn how companies can create policies to implement universal design in their workplaces and websites.
Featuring:
- November Champion, Director, Accessibility Operations at USAA
- Megan Kennedy, Physical & Digital Inclusion Manager at General Motors
- Eric Reyes, North American Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Relationship and Program Manager at MilliporeSigma
- Tiffany Dill, Co-founder at Custom Joy
- Allison Zuck, AIA, Project Leader / Architect at PGAV Destinations
Accommodations Past/Present/Future: Transforming Your Workplace Culture from Compliance to Inclusion
Denver Conference Room (upstairs)
Centene will take you through their past, present, and future state of workplace accommodations while helping you to understand where you are as an organization and where you “want to be.”
This workshop will include time for you to identify next steps in transforming your organization to be best in class with workplace accommodations. Centene will provide you with steps and ideas to support your move from compliance to inclusion, focusing on a holistic approach to accommodations that allows everyone to bring their authentic self to work each day.
Featuring:
- Robbi Ahn, Workplace Accommodations Partner at Centene
- April Seiffert, Senior Business Systems Analyst, IT Assistive Technologies at Centene
- Kevin Sweeney, Senior Workplace Accommodations Partner at Centene
- Daniel Thompson, Senior Business Systems Analyst at Centene
Self-ID Campaigns: A Case Study in Effective Disability Communication
Playhouse Conference Room (lower level)
In 2022, Mercy Healthcare and Starkloff Disability Institute partnered to launch Mercy’s first ever voluntary self-identification campaign for people with disabilities. Within 2 months, Mercy’s self-ID rates doubled. In this presentation, Mercy’s Dana Brodeur and Starkloff’s Jason Hartsfield will share the best practices they used, the lessons they learned, and what organizations can do to achieve their own increased self-ID rates.
Featuring:
- Dana Brodeur, Resource Consultant at Mercy Healthcare
- Jason Hartsfield, Disability Inclusion Lead Consultant at Starkloff Disability Institute
2:30 pm – Break (15 minutes)
2:45 pm – Keynote: Vincenzo Piscopo
Pathways Auditorium
Disability Inclusion: A Virtuous Circle
Former Coca-Cola Community and Stakeholder Relations Director and current United Spinal Association CEO, Vincenzo Piscopo, discusses the strategic value of disability inclusion in business, showcasing its ethical and practical benefits. Learn how embracing diversity through the hiring, development, and promotion of individuals with disabilities creates a win-win scenario for both organizations and communities.
3:45 pm – Closing Remarks and Giveaways!
Pathways Auditorium
4:00 pm – Summit Concludes
THE SUMMIT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY
We are proud to partner with organizations investing in disability inclusion:
“One of the most informative and engaging conferences I’ve ever been to.”
Featuring Keynotes from Global Leaders
Program Officer, U.S. Disability Rights | Ford Foundation
Rebecca Cokley is the program officer for the Ford Foundation’s first-ever U.S. Disability Rights program, which is focused on strengthening the field, building a pipeline of diverse leadership, promoting disability pride, and mobilizing resources toward disability rights work.
President & CEO | United Spinal Association
Vincenzo Piscopo began his tenure as United Spinal’s president and CEO in 2020. Vincenzo, a wheelchair-user who was paralyzed from a herniated disk in 2010, previously worked at The Coca-Cola Company for 25 years in a variety of strategic roles both in the US and internationally.
“I can take what I learned back to my workplace and share and implement.“
Our vision is simple yet powerful:
a world where disabled people can thrive in every aspect of life.
The Starkloff Disability Employment Summit brings together thought leaders, industry experts, and change-makers to share actionable strategies for promoting disability inclusion in the workplace. We aim to empower employers with the knowledge and tools they need to remove barriers and create inclusive environments where disabled people can flourish.
Join us as we pave the way towards a future where disabled people not only participate but thrive, contributing their unique talents to create a more diverse and vibrant workforce.
Get the resources you need to kick off National Disability Employment Awareness Month #NDEAM on October 1st!
“Really helped me open up my mindset.“
