Diversability®

Disability and accessibility advocates have been cautioning against use of web accessibility overlays for years, flagging that, despite what companies claim, these tools make websites LESS accessible. The US Federal Trade Commission has agreed and has fined the ai web overlay company accessiBe $1,000,000 for false advertising and for compensating reviewers without disclosing that the reviews were sponsored. This is a big deal.

Thrilled to announce that I’ll be moderating an event celebrating disability in creative media — on Jan 29th in LA! Diversability®, in partnership with the Aerie by AEO, Inc. Real Foundation™ and Growth Club, is hosting a dynamic event celebrating Creative voices in LA. Centered around Disability and Creativity, this event will feature: A panel of exceptional creatives including: JILLIAN MERCADO (Actress, Model & Activist) Marisa Hamamoto (Founder, CEO, Artistic Director, INFINITE FLOW DANCE) STEPHANIE NOGUERAS(Actor, Mentor & Founder of Pepita Productions) Moderator: ME! (Chronic Illness, Autoimmune, & Mystery Symptom Coach; Patient Advocate & Speaker) Interactive conversations designed to spark creativity and connection. Light refreshments. ASL/CART provided. Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2025 Where: Culver City, Los Angeles, CA RSVP to attend at https://lu.ma/etrclnxh Bonus for Diversability newsletter subscribers: first 5 to email at hello@mydiversability.com will receive a free ticket! See you there! Thank you to Carly Sotas and Tiffany A. Yu, MSc for organizing this event! #representation #creativity #unplugged #media #actor #actress #dance #dancer #performance #panel #talk #TalkBack #MeetAndGreet #community #celebration #FreshStart

“One of the things we need at a societal level is greater ambition around the positioning and value of disabled people. We should be thinking about disabled people as political leaders, arts leaders, business and community leaders. But it’s also about understanding deeply that any person’s value is not only defined by their productivity. Disabled people shouldn’t have to be deemed productive in order to be citizens, in order to have rights, in order to be valuable to society.” Thank you, Marie Kelly for the thoughtful feature in-print in today’s The Irish Times.

We’re hiring! We are looking for a Diversability Leadership Collective (DLC) Community Manager to help manage the community and events calendar and curate opportunities for the Diversability Leadership Collective. This is a paid remote, part-time role on a 3-month contract to start with the potential to extend. Deadline to apply is January 21, 2025. More details: https://lnkd.in/g9zduwkf #Disability #Diversability #DisabilityLeadership #Accessibility #Hiring Image Description: A light blue background with navy text, “We’re hiring! Diversability Leadership Collective (DLC) Community Manager” There is a turquoise button image that reads, “Apply Now” To the right is a photo of Diversability community members on a stage speaking with one member holding a microphone.

Here are 10 tips to be a disability ally. 1. Know that not all disabilities are apparent. Many disabled folks say that people don't believe them when they share their disabilities. Please be respectful, listen, and believe. 2. Know that there are many disabilities. Yes, there are more disabilities than deaf, blind, deafblind, mobility, speech, autism, and intellectual development. 3. Understand that disabilities are a spectrum. When you meet one deaf person, then you've met one deaf person not all of us. One person can't represent their entire disability category. 4. Ask before helping. Many want to be helpful to everyone, not just disabled people. I know people mean well when they jump in and try to help someone. Imagine a stranger coming up to you, putting their hands on your jacket, and invading your space. This is uncomfortable. Respect people's space. 5. Provide access and accommodations. Are you hosting an event? List the accommodations you will provide. Be sure to ask for access requirements and accommodations in case you don't have them covered. 6. Avoid assumptions. Disability allies think they're making it easier on the person by taking care of their accommodations. However, assumptions are often wrong. When you provide the wrong accommodation, you deprive the person of the correct one. 7. Avoid giving advice unless asked. The disabled person most likely has already heard it all. 8. Be careful with "You're so inspiring." Someone cracked me up. She said I was inspiring, but not in the inspiration pron way. Don't know what it is and why it's a problem? Watch Stella Young's TED Talk "I'm not your inspiration, thank you very much." 9. Talk to the disabled person like you would anyone else. Some waiters would ask the disabled person's companion for the disabled person's order. They don't ask the disabled person. I caught a video with an interviewer, customer, and interpreter. The interviewer turned to the interpreter, "Ask him ... " I cringed hard. There are exceptions. To listen to a signer, I need to read the interpreter's lips. To make up for eye contact, I look at the signer when I'm talking. 10. Support accessibility. If you notice accessibility is lacking, help make change. If you notice someone with a disability is being excluded, take action. If you notice videos without captions, educate the creator. If you notice a problem with an accessible restroom, report it. Support disability and accessibility nonprofits. Support related lobbying efforts, legislation, and petitions. There are more ways to be a disability ally. What would you add? 🔔 Tap the profile bell for more 👉 Follow #MerylMots to find content 📧 Want to expand a brand's reach? Contact me! P.S. What would you add to this? Comment below. P.P.S. Last post of 2024! Happy New Year! P.P.P.S. Rerunning some posts you liked best in 2024! Hopefully, I'm resting! #Accessibility Image: Lists 10 tips to be a disability ally created in Venngage.

Excited to announce the release of our team's external Playbook on integrating disability across various sectors: government, private sector, civil society, and more. It's a collective responsibility. Join us by exploring the Playbook here: https://lnkd.in/eT-xw2SR. A big shoutout to our incredible team members: Kristi Mietzner, Andrea Cilliers, Hanah Nasri, Robin Troutman, CMP, Suzy Rosen Singleton, Laura Paez, and Meaghan Elizabeth Clohessy. Special thanks to Lisa Kenna for inspiring this initiative on disability inclusion. Wondering how you can contribute? Share the Playbook with your network, especially those who may not have considered disability inclusion before. We value your feedback! Remember, this document is dynamic, and there's no one-size-fits-all approach. Let's make 2025 a year of significant change for disability inclusion. Happy New Year!

Are you ready to lead for change? Applications for WID’s next Global Heumann Fellowship cohort will officially open on January 1, 2025! For this cohort, we’re seeking applications from disability-rights advocates and leaders within your choice of one of the three following focus areas: (Accessible & Inclusive) Early Warnings for All: research on inclusive early warning systems that prioritize accessibility, ensuring timely and equitable disaster response. (Accessible & Inclusive) AI & Technology: research on AI and technology solutions designed with and for people with disabilities or fostering innovation that incorporates universal accessibility. Disability-Led Systemic Change: research on systemic change driven by the leadership and expertise of people with disabilities to create a more equitable and inclusive society. For more information about the Global Heumann Fellowship, please visit: https://lnkd.in/dJfZjEVe

Calling all students! Sarepta is now accepting Summer 2025 Internship Program applications. Sarepta offers paid internships for college and graduate students majoring in STEM as well as non-science disciplines. Interns are introduced to Sarepta’s business, research, manufacturing and culture through hands-on learning, independent projects, and a seminar series that exposes them to the roles and responsibilities of major functions within a biotech company. View internship opportunities and apply here: https://bit.ly/4fyple6

Applications for the 2025 Early Career Talent Accelerator program are now open, and we are thrilled to be expanding the program! If you are an early-in-career professional with a #Disability employed by a Disability:IN Corporate Partner seeking impactful #ProfessionalDevelopment opportunities in Corporate America that focus on the disability identity, this program is for you. This quote from Early Career Talent Accelerator pilot Program participant, Tolliver L Davis, emphasizes a few benefits he was able to gain from the program to support his career and personal growth. Applications close on January 31, 2025! For additional information about the program, including deadlines, timeline, and FAQs, please visit https://lnkd.in/gT2gS6Pw or contact Emily McDonald (Emily.m@DisabilityIN.Org). #DisabilityRepresentation [ID: Blue hue image of Tolliver Davis sitting with the other Early Career Talent Accelerator pilot program participants at round tables in a conferencing space wearing business or business casual attire. In front of the image, text reads, Disability:IN Early Career Talent Accelerator. Below is a rounded blue gradient box with txt in front, "Meeting my ECTA peers at the conference was a rewarding experience. The presence of like-minded individuals, all striving towards a common goal, provided a safe space for transparent discussions and the exchanges of innovative ideas. This experience not only broadened my perspective but also fostered multi-faceted professional relationships that will be beneficial in my future endeavors.” - Tolliver Davis, Senior Manager, People - Sam's Club. At the bottom right is Tolliver's headshot encircled by a green border. Tolliver is a young man with braids and facial hair wearing a light blue polo and a white coverall.]

We celebrated the 2024 launch of the CIE Transformation Hub, supporting the advancement of competitive integrated employment (CIE). Our hub centralizes CIE-related resources from across the federal government to provide practical guidance, policy information and evidence-based best practices for people with disabilities, their families, employers, employment service providers and state agencies. Check out the hub: https://lnkd.in/g7fTYEst #2024Highlights