I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe and healthy in this strange time we’re in! I’ve been busier than ever these past few months and wanted to share some of what I’ve been up to!
On October 15th, I’ll give a virtual keynote presentation to Sentara Healthcare staff, as Sentara Healthcare is trying to expand its diversity and inclusion efforts. October is Disability History and Awareness Month as well as Disability Employment month, so I’ll be discussing my experience starting my business and why employers should hire folks with disabilities. I’ll also discuss the current work environment; right now, a lot of us are on a digital platform, and that could open up the door for more people with disabilities as far as employment goes. The presentation will be an hour in total with the last quarter will including a Q&A. I look forward to working with Sentara Healthcare and continuing a strong relationship with everyone there as we continue to work in other avenues.
I’m also now on a speaking roster with an organization called Evolve Productions, a production company that hosts in-person and virtual events focused on inclusion and diversity content. I’m on the speaking roster as a motivational speaker and to discuss disability inclusion. Currently, we’re working on a video project that focuses on having difficult conversations in our current climate about topics such as race, disability, the LGBTQ+ community, etc. The project will also highlight ways to connect with people in this unique time—I personally have experience being isolated societally as a disabled person, so I know how to establish a social network when not everything is accessible. Our goal with this project is to share this video with businesses, colleges, etc., as a resource to help promote connection and having hard conversations.
Throughout October, I’ll also be working on my book project, which will combine humor and stories to talk about different subjects surrounding disability and life. I’m hoping to interview different subjects and share my experiences and others’ experiences to give people a true picture of what life is like for disabled folks and give strategies to navigate different spaces and conversations.
Over the past few months, I’ve continued to work with Rachel Kaplan on our online course. The course is for HR professionals who want to know how to hire people with disabilities in different areas of work. The course will detail how to establish a good disability corporate culture, how to provide appropriate workplace accommodations, and more. We’re hoping to launch this course in the first quarter of 2021.
Several new episodes of the 6 Wheels Consulting Disability Podcast have been released lately as well, so make sure to check those out!
Finally, I’d like to encourage everyone to get out and vote! This year, any registered voter can vote absentee in-person or by mail; if you’re a Virginian, you can register if you haven’t already or find out more information about where and how to vote here.
As always, thank you for your support and make sure to keep an eye out for more updates on my social media pages and on the blog!
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