Disability:IN, the global organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business, held its 2023 global conference this year July 10-13, 2023, at the JW Marriott Orlando in Orlando, Florida.
“As we reflect on the 2023 global conference, our hearts are filled with gratitude for our community. This year’s conference was filled with impactful conversations, lifetime (re)connections made and so much #DisabilityPride! And it is all because of you,” the organization stated in a conference recap email to attendees. “Thank you to each and every one of you who helped make this year’s conference one to remember.”
The Disability:IN 2023 conference at a glance:
- 4,500 attendees (virtual & in-person)
- 40 countries represented
- 70 certified Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (DOBEs)
- 400+ DOBE matchmaking meetings with companies
- 67 NextGen Leaders
- 250+ interviews, resulting in 26 job/internship offers to-date
Other highlights included:
The winner of this year’s Disability:IN Pitch Perfect Challenge was Fiona Dawson, director of Free Lion Productions, pictured left.
Disability:IN also announced the winners of its 2023 Inclusion Awards, 12 recognizing visionary brands and individuals for outstanding disability inclusion efforts from the organization’s more than 500 corporate partners.
“The recipients of the 2023 Inclusion Awards are proving that businesses truly do have the power to drive the global advancement of disability inclusion, accessibility and equality,” said Jill Houghton, president & CEO of Disability:IN. “These companies and individuals go the extra mile every day to create an environment where people with disabilities can be their authentic selves and flourish in all areas of life. We applaud their hard work and innovation as we work together towards this shared goal.”
Employer of the Year winner Walgreens Boots Alliance has long placed the full inclusion of people with disabilities at the forefront of the company’s mission. To build on its long-standing commitment to hiring people with disabilities, Walgreens has now dedicated itself to representing people with disabilities at all levels of the company’s U.S. segments. Perhaps most notably, Walgreens has redesigned its employee bonus plan to include a disability representation metric to drive this commitment, making it the first company in the S&P 500 to include disability representation as a separate, standalone metric within a disclosed incentive plan.
An important new category, Autism Inclusion Company of the Year, was awarded to Dell Technologies. Presented in partnership with software company SAP, this new category is designed to recognize a company for innovative policies, strategies and initiatives that have driven measurable results in the areas of hiring, retaining and advancing autistic colleagues both in the U.S. and internationally.
Other 2023 Inclusion Award winners included:
- Accessible Product of the Year: General Motors
- Affiliate of the Year: Disability:IN Utah
- ERG/BRG of the Year: Chevron
- ERG/BRG Executive Sponsor of the Year: Rady Johnson of Pfizer
- Inclusive Marketing Campaign of the Year: Google
- John D. Kemp Leadership Award: Jenny Lay-Flurrie of Microsoft
- Mary Brougher Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year Award: Darlene Fuller of Sodexo
- NextGen Leader Alum of the Year: Danny Tanchez of Northrop Grumman
- Supplier of the Year: Rangam
- Top Corporation for Disability-Owned Businesses: Ally Financial
Disability:IN hopes to keep the momentum from this conference going as we continue our shared journey toward building inclusive and accessible businesses for all. #AreYouIN?
Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2024 Disability:IN conference dates and location by visiting disabilityin.org.
Watch the YouTube video wrap-up of the event!
