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National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

Each October, the Career Center offers programming centered on the professional development of disabled community members and their rights in the workforce.  If you need any accommodations for any of the events, please email Caroline Rogers at croger91@charlotte.edu

If you are a community member who does not have a Hire-A-Niner account but would like to attend the virtual panels on October 9th or 29th, please fill out the following form and a zoom link will be emailed closer to the event: https://surveys.qualtrics.charlotte.edu/jfe/form/SV_cC55Vrcvsck1BDo

National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2025
DI-NC 2024 Fall Conference: Paving the Way with Disability INnovations
  • Thursday, October 9th, 9 AM - 4:30 PM EST
  • Trane Technologies | 800 Beaty Road, Building A | Davidson, NC 28036
  • Registration is $140: Register Here

Join us for the 2025 Disability:IN North Carolina Fall Conference hosted by Trane Technologies, to discover innovative approaches to product development, service delivery, talent acquisition, and technology. If you are a student interested in attending and need help with the registration fee, email Caroline Rogers (croger91@charlotte.edu).  

Professional in Residence: Best Buddies

Come have your resume reviewed by a professional from Best Buddies! 

Drop in between 11a.m. - 2 p.m on Tuesday, October 7th. 

Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Best Buddies serves individuals with IDD and their families. The IDD community includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, and other undiagnosed disabilities. Best Buddies is the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people worldwide with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Their programs empower people with IDD to form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure jobs, improve communication and advocacy skills, and live independently, while also offering support for their families.

NDEAM Panel: Breaking Barriers: Disability Inclusion in Corporate Spaces

Breaking Barriers: Disability Inclusion in Corporate Spaces

A Panel Discussion on Disability Inclusion and Accessibility in Corporate Spaces
Join us for a virtual panel discussion exploring the critical topics of disability inclusion and accessibility in the corporate world. We'll bring together industry leaders, advocates, and professionals to share their experiences and insights on creating truly inclusive and accessible workplaces.

What We'll Discuss

  • Moving Beyond Compliance: We'll explore strategies for shifting from a compliance-only mindset to one that proactively champions accessibility and inclusion as a core business value.
  • Building an Accessible Workplace: Learn about practical steps companies can take to make their physical and digital environments more accessible for employees with diverse disabilities. This includes everything from inclusive hiring practices to accessible software and tools.
  • Creating a Culture of Allyship: Discover how to foster a company culture where all employees feel empowered to be allies for their colleagues with disabilities.
  • The Business Case for Inclusion: Understand the tangible benefits of a diverse and inclusive workforce, including enhanced innovation, improved employee retention, and a stronger company reputation.

Panelists:

  • Moderator: Suzanne Voight
  • Jennifer Adelhardt, UNC Charlotte
  • Daniel Wendler, Dr. Dan LLC.
  • Kristina Proctor, Neurodivergent Ventures
  • Meg O'Connell, Global Disability Inclusion, LLC
  • Lindsey Braciale, Advocations
NDEAM Panel: Accessible Healthcare Careers: Navigating Disability in a Demanding Field

Accessible Healthcare Careers: Navigating Disability in a Demanding Field

Ever thought about a healthcare career but worried about the long hours, physical demands, or other challenges? This panel is for you! "Accessible Healthcare Careers: Navigating Disability in a Demanding Field" is all about what it’s really like to be a healthcare professional with a disability.

Join us for a straight-up conversation with professionals who are living it. They'll share their stories—the good, the bad, and the inspiring—about how they've built successful careers in a field that isn't always set up for everyone. We'll talk about everything from:

  • Real-world Hacks: Creative ways to overcome daily obstacles at work and in school.
  • Tech That Helps: How assistive tech and smart tools are changing the game.
  • Finding Your Squad: Why finding mentors and a supportive community is so key.
  • Making a Difference: How having a diverse team of providers, including those with disabilities, leads to better care for everyone.

This isn't your average panel. It's a chance to challenge old ideas and get a fresh perspective on what it means to be a healthcare hero. Whether you're a student, a future professional, or just curious, come hear how people with disabilities are not just participating in healthcare—they're rocking it.

Panelists:

  • Moderator: Jessica Kim
  • Kai Clarke, CIBC Caribbean
  • Monica Albert Still, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
  • Sara Shunkwiler, John Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering
  • RothLauren “Ro” Bowman, John Hopkins Healthcare
  • Taylor Hill, ECU Health
NDEAM Panel: Accessible Tech: Creating and Working in an Inclusive Digital World

Accessible Tech: Creating and Working in an Inclusive Digital World

Join us for an insightful virtual panel discussion focused on disability inclusion and accessibility within the rapidly evolving tech industry. We'll bring together a diverse group of experts—from accessibility professionals and software developers to advocates and tech leaders—to explore how we can create technology and workplaces that truly serve everyone.

What We'll Explore:

  • Beyond the Checklist: We'll dive into the difference between simply meeting accessibility standards (like WCAG) and embedding inclusive design principles into the core of product development.
  • The Power of Lived Experience: Hear from panelists with disabilities about how their experiences have directly informed their work and how companies can better incorporate the perspectives of disabled employees and users throughout the development lifecycle.
  • Creating a Culture of Accessibility: Learn actionable strategies for fostering a company culture where accessibility is a shared responsibility, not just the job of one team. This includes topics like accessible hiring, creating supportive employee resource groups (ERGs), and building allyship.
  • The Future of Inclusive Tech: We'll discuss emerging technologies, such as AI and extended reality (XR), and how to ensure they are designed to be accessible from the ground up, avoiding the creation of new digital barriers.

Panelists:

  • Moderator: Amy Browns
  • Laura Trybus, University of Pittsburgh, Center for Teaching and Learning
  • Pariss Coleman, UNC Charlotte, Center for Teaching and Learning
  • Shireen Hafeez, Deaf Kids Code