National Organization on Disability

As we wrap up 2024, we’re reflecting on an incredible year of progress, partnerships, and purpose at the National Organization on Disability. Together with our community, we’ve continued to advance disability inclusion and create opportunities for people with disabilities to thrive in the workplace and beyond. 🌟 Here’s a look at some of our 2024 highlights: ✅ Welcomed 3 new team members to the NOD team: Beth Sirull, Bridget S., and Katherine D'Anjolell. ✅ Convened 14 organizations at NOD's Disability Policy Roundtable to shape the future of inclusive practices. ✅ Engaged 196 employers in the NOD Employment Tracker™, impacting a cumulative workforce of over 9.7 million employees. ✅ Celebrated 59 organizations recognized as Leading Disability Employers for their commitment to inclusion. ✅ Delivered 12 exclusive resources to our Leadership Council members. ✅ Saw a 32% increase in new hires with disabilities among Leadership Council companies (compared to a nearly 33% decline among non-LC companies). ✅ Reached over 2,700 attendees through our events. ✅ Hosted 4 successful and insightful webinars on disability inclusion and policy. ✅ Launched NOD’s new Employee Engagement Survey, with over 5,900 participants from incredible employers committed to supporting their teams. ✅ Formed new strategic partnerships with Valuable 500 and Integrate Autism Employment Advisors to drive global and impactful change. To everyone who has joined us on this journey — thank you! Whether you’re a partner, employer, advocate, or supporter, you’ve helped make 2024 a year of transformation for disability inclusion. Here’s to an even more impactful 2025! 💙 #DisabilityInclusion #ThatsaWrap #Wrapped #SpotifyWrapped

Happy Birthday Judy! Today, we honor the life and legacy of #JudyHeumann on what would have been her 77th birthday. Often referred to as the "Mother of the Disability Rights Movement", Judy was a trailblazer, a fierce advocate for disability rights, and a great friend to the National Organization on Disability. We were deeply honored to have her speak on a panel at our 2022 Annual Forum. Let us reflect on her transformative impact as we celebrate her enduring influence. Rest in Power, Judy. Your legacy continues to guide and inspire us in the fight for a more inclusive world. #JudithHuemann #DisabilityRights

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation released a final rule requiring airlines to meet more rigorous standards for accommodating passengers with disabilities, particularly individuals who use wheelchairs. This is an immense win not only for travelers with disabilities, who can take comfort in knowing their needs will be better met, but also for disability advocates who have worked tirelessly to ensure safer and more accessible air travel for all.

On November 21, we held a webinar titled What's Next? The Impact of the November Election on Disability Policy, featuring a great discussion with advocates, policy experts, and all of you. While it's too early to identify specific policy changes, we’ve put together a free resource to offer initial forecasting and answers to questions we couldn’t get to during the live stream, available to download here: https://bit.ly/3DghCUF

We’re delighted to announce our new partnerships with ActionAble, the National Organization on Disability (NOD) and Afrika Tikkun, as we continue our mission to drive meaningful disability inclusion worldwide. The partnership with ActionAble will see a virtual event, led by world-renowned practitioners, giving you access to everything you need to build a practical, actionable plan to make 2025 a landmark year for disability inclusion in your business.   With NOD we will embark on a formal research and development partnership. Together, we will deliver innovative insights and promote effective disability inclusion strategies, empowering businesses worldwide.    Alongside Afrika Tikkun, we're helping advance disability inclusion in the region, building connections with African businesses, and creating a brighter and more equitable future for all. These partnerships strengthen our commitment to putting disability inclusion on the corporate leadership agenda and creating transformative change for individuals, businesses, and society. We are looking forward to what we can achieve together.

Self-ID campaigns can play a major role in fostering inclusivity and equity in the workplace. During Fair360’s December 4 webinar, NOD CEO Beth Sirull highlighted the importance of self-ID for people with disabilities and its connection to psychological safety and a true sense of belonging. Missed the discussion? Watch the full recording to learn how self-ID efforts empower employees to thrive. 📽️ Catch the webinar at https://lnkd.in/eE5dVZmf

We'd like to share a special thanks to Audra Jenkins SPHR, SHRM SCP, CDE, Randstad, Beth Sirull, National Organization on Disability and Melisande Kingchatchaval Schifter who joined our panel yesterday to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 💙 In a world increasingly defined by talent scarcity, creating equitable and accessible career opportunities for all is crucial. But what is workplace accessibility? Our Chief Equity Officer Audra Jenkins SPHR, SHRM SCP, CDE defines this as "creating an environment where people with disabilities can fully participate, thrive and contribute by removing barriers, providing tools and supporting inclusivity needed for equal opportunity and success." The conversation shone a light on topics such as: 💪 Recognizing accessibility as a strength 🤝The benefits of inclusion 💡 The power of initiatives to attract, retain and empower talent 🤖 The role of AI in advancing equity Watch the full discussion here ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/ey83yPbA

Exciting news! The National Organization on Disability and Valuable 500 are teaming up to drive workplace disability inclusion and equity. Today we also proudly unveil the Disability Inclusion Blueprint—a cutting-edge tool to help companies enhance disability inclusion across recruitment, retention, and beyond. "Our partnership with Valuable 500 underscores our shared commitment to creating meaningful change for all people with physical, mental health, and cognitive disabilities. We know inclusive organizations are better positioned to attract and retain top talent, expand market reach, and improve employee satisfaction." –Beth Sirull, CEO, NOD 🗺️ The Blueprint gives organizations a clear roadmap for building an inclusive workplace. Participants' customized Disability Inclusion Blueprint will benchmark their progress against others and provide actionable strategies for improvement. 💡 What’s new? This reimagined version of NOD’s Employment Tracker™ offers a streamlined survey and user-friendly interface designed to create real impact. 🌍 Global impact: Through our partnership with Valuable 500, we’re taking these efforts worldwide to support the 1.3 billion people with disabilities in accessing inclusive and engaging workplaces. "The Disability Inclusion Blueprint is an essential tool for companies looking to recognize, measure, and enhance their commitment to creating an inclusive workplace. We are proud to partner with NOD and encourage our Valuable 500 partners and companies to utilize the Blueprint to further their disability inclusion efforts." –Katy Talikowska, CEO of Valuable 500 🗓️ Mark your calendars! The survey opens January 15 and closes March 31. Visit www.nod.org/blueprint to sign up. To learn more about the new Disability Inclusion Blueprint or our exciting partnership with Valuable 500 visit https://lnkd.in/gWXpXVQD #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityInclusionBlueprint #EquityAndBelonging

In recognition of Giving Tuesday and International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we're thrilled to announce the theme of our 2025 signature event: Technology and the Disability Experience. Next fall in New York City, NOD invites advocates and professionals in human resources, DEI, technology, and business, to an evening exploring the future of disability inclusion and workforce innovation through: 🧠 Artificial intelligence 🥽 Extended reality 💡 Smart devices and more! Event Highlights: 🌟 A showcase of cutting-edge, accessible technology 🌟 Expert panel discussions on advancing inclusion 🌟 Networking with like-minded leaders 🌟 An award ceremony honoring top disability-inclusive employers 🌟 Captivating entertainment Sponsorships Now Available! This is your chance to: ✅ Commit to disability inclusion ✅ Build authentic connections with top employers ✅ Invest in a more inclusive workforce Learn more at nod.org/technology. #IDPD #GivingTuesday #AI #InclusionMatters

Today, on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we're proud to release our latest whitepaper, "Unlocking Disability-Inclusive Leadership", written in collaboration with Jonathan J Kaufman.    With just one year to go until SYNC25, the world’s first accountability summit on disability inclusion, the research comes at a crucial time. Based on in-depth interviews with 33 global C-suite executives, our study reveals the key barriers to disability inclusion – from fear of stigma to the lack of visible role models.   More importantly, it showcases how visionary leaders are transforming these challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth.   This whitepaper is packed with real-world examples and practical strategies to help businesses champion disability-inclusive leadership and drive meaningful impact.   Download now and join the movement to create a more inclusive, innovative, and successful future.   https://lnkd.in/eftnu7kz   #IDPD #Leadership #SYNC25 #DisabilityInclusion #BusinessGrowth