Disability Employment Summit

Schedule

Wednesday, September 27, 2023  |  8:00am to 4:00pm  |  World Wide Technology Global Headquarters, 1 World Wide Way, St. Louis, MO 63146

8:00 – 8:40am

Lower Level Atrium

Registration and Breakfast

*Note: You will check in at the WWT security desk immediately upon entering the building, then head downstairs to the Summit registration table and breakfast.

8:45 – 11:10am

Pathways Auditorium

Morning Keynote

Unpacking Neurodiversity

Haley Moss, Esq.
Attorney | Advocate | Author
Sponsored by Thompson Coburn LLP

Advancing Access and Equity:
How the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Can Support DEIA Efforts

Robert Trombley
U.S. Department of Labor

 
 

11:15 – 12:15pm

Morning Breakout Sessions

Roundtable Discussion:
Making the Most Out of Your Disability Employee Resources Group

November Champion Accessibility Program Team Lead | Edward Jones

Becky Darron EEOC Compliance Specialist | Bayer

Eric Reyes North America Diversity Equity and Inclusion Relationship and Program Manager | MilliporeSigma

Jessica Schoenfelder Cyber Security Associate Consultant | World Wide Technology

Lori Wilson Work Management Specialist | Ameren

Pathways Auditorium

Accommodations Past / Present / Future:
Transforming Your Workplace Culture From Compliance to Inclusion

Maurya Cockrell
Workplace Accommodations Partner | Centene Corporation

April Seiffert
Sr. Business Systems Analyst, IT Assistive Technologies | Centene Corporation

Denver
(ground floor)

Welcoming Workplace Environments:
Assistive Technology, Innovation, and Advocacy

Scout Merry
Program Coordinator | Missouri Assistive Technology

Playhouse
(lower level)

12:15 – 1:30 pm

Lower Level Atrium

Inclusive Lunch with Starkloff Disability Trainers

1:45 – 2:45pm

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Recognizing Mental Health in the Workplace

Cara Zitko
Illume Manager | Places for People

Pathways Auditorium

Supporting Neurodiversity in the Workplace

Pagina Brown
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) | Best Life Counseling

Michelle Fienup
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) | Best Life Counseling

Denver
(ground floor)

Best Practices for Hiring and Supporting
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Employees

Dr. Gerard Buckley
President | National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID)
Vice President and Dean | Rochester Institute of Technology

Playhouse
(lower level)

3:00 – 3:45 pm

Pathways Auditorium

Afternoon Keynote

Advocating for Diverse Deaf and Hard of Hearing Communities
to Improve Mental Health and Break Barriers

Dr. Amie Fornah Sankoh
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

3:45 – 4:00pm

Pathways Auditorium

Closing Remarks and Raffle

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.

Up to 10 SHRM CEUs are available for participation in the Summit.

Get the resources you need to kick off National Disability Employment Awareness Month #NDEAM on October 1st!

Keynote Speakers

Haley Moss

Haley Moss is a lawyer, neurodiversity expert, and the author of four books that guide neurodivergent individuals through professional and personal challenges. She is a speaker and consultant to top corporations and organizations that seek her guidance in creating an inclusive workplace, and a sought-after commentator on disability rights issues. The first openly autistic lawyer in Florida, Haley’s books include “Great Minds Think Differently: Neurodiversity for Lawyers and Other Professionals” (ABA Book Publishing; June 2021) and “The Young Autistic Adult’s Independence Handbook” (Jessica Kingsley Publishers; November 2021). Her articles have appeared in outlets including the Washington Post, Teen Vogue, and Fast Company.

Presented by

Robert Trombley

Rob has more than a decade of federal executive and legislative branch experience including the House of Representatives, Department of Education, and ODEP. He is currently a Senior Advisor to Assistant Secretary Labor for Disability Employment Policy Taryn Williams. At Ed, Rob worked in the Budget Service, Office of Planning and Policy in OSERS, and the Office of Special Education Programs on disability policy. His work spanned IDEA, WIOA, the Rehab Act, and the Higher Education Act on budget issues, including formulating presidential budgets, regulatory development, and numerous competitive grant programs supporting families and individuals with disabilities from birth through career. At ODEP, in addition to supporting the Assistant Secretary, he has worked on supporting individuals experiencing Long COVID, transition aged youth with disabilities and ODEP’s Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth (CAPE-Youth).

 

Dr. Amie Fornah-Sankoh

Dr. Amie Fornah-Sankoh’s life has been a story of perseverance. Growing up Deaf during the civil war in Sierra Leone, she had to overcome barriers to survival, education, and language acquisition. She carries these experiences with her, and instead of breaking her, they have helped her to thrive. Amie’s journey into scientific research began at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where she earned degrees in laboratory sciences and biochemistry. She completed several internships and committed to continuing her scientific research by coming to UT in 2017 for her PhD. Amie has accomplished much during her time at UT. She won a National Institute of Health (NIH)-supported Fellowship for her first two years in graduate school, a three-year Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation, and another NIH predoctoral fellowship for the remainder of her time in graduate school. Amie is proud to graduate with a PhD from the University of Tennessee’s department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology.

 

Thank you to our 2023 Planning Committee

Sonya Adams
Senior Diversity Recruiter
Edward Jones

Dana Brodeur
Manager, Disability Inclusion Services
Mercy Healthcare

November Champion
Accessibility Program Team Lead
Edward Jones

Marisa Hiatt
Disability Inclusion and Operations Manager
Mercy Healthcare

Christina Lawrence
Vice President Purina Masterbrand, Breeder & Sporting Enthusiast
Nestlé Purina North America

Ryan Paige
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist
Nestlé Purina North America

Bryan Parrish
Recruiter
AMS

Michael Wright
Manager, Assistant Management and Performance Improvement
Ameren