Webinars Archives - Disability Belongs

still of Jeff Mouse from Donkey Hodie, a blue mouse puppet who uses a wheelchair. there are orange and yellow leaves in the background behind Jeff.

Disability Representation in Children’s Media: The Making of Jeff Mouse on Donkey Hodie

Join members of the behind-the-scenes team of Donkey Hodie, the PBS KIDS puppet series from Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures, as they discuss the introduction of Jeff Mouse. The panel featured co-executive producer Kristin DiQuollo, voice actor Jay Manuel, and disability consultant and Lab Alumni Sam Krauss. The conversation included a look at the nuances of disability representation in the development of Jeff Mouse and the intentionality of the series.

Jeff Mouse

Jeff Mouse, an intrepid explorer and avid nature lover born with muscular dystrophy, made his debut in the new episode titled “Hee-Hee Hider Seekers,” which is available to stream now on PBS KIDS. [continue reading…]

Big Brain Energy: Neurodivergence in Media

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Neurodiversity and neurodivergence may feel like buzz words that are thrown around, but what do they mean, and why does it matter?

In this session, neurodivergent experts from Disability Belongs™ shared their own perspectives on what it means to be neurodivergent, why authentic representation of neurodivergence is necessary, and how employers, educators, and allies can foster and cultivate an inclusive environment where big brain energy can thrive. [continue reading…]

still from webinar with Lawon Exum Lesley Hennen and ASL interpreter

2025 Disability Belongs™ Entertainment Lab Virtual Information Session

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Career Strategy Conversations: Entertainment Industry

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Following the pandemic and strikes, getting a job in the entertainment industry is increasingly difficult. Disability Belongs™ hosted a series of conversations with two studio partners to learn about ways in which they are trying to help disabled creatives find employment. The first conversation, shared above, featured Warner Bros. Discovery’s Grace Moss (VP, DEI Pipeline Programs), moderated by Disability Belongs™’ Lauren Appelbaum. The second conversation, which is only available to people who registered for the live event, featured DreamWorks Animation’s Sarah Park (Recruiter, Early Career Programs & Diversity Outreach), moderated by Disability Belongs™’ Lawon Exum.
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Animating Disability with “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory”

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With one-in-five people having a disability in the U.S. today, the lack of representation – less than two percent in children’s television – means that millions of children are unable to see themselves in media today. DreamWorks Animation, Universal Pictures, and Amblin Entertainment’s “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory” is helping to ensure more representation. At the end of Season 1, viewers learned that Brooklynn has lost her arm and is now an amputee. In Season 2, now streaming on Netflix, viewers will learn what Brooklynn has been doing. [continue reading…]

Employer Panel: How H-E-B and the Texas Workforce Commission Created Access to Good Jobs for People with Disabilities

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Benigno Aceves, the State Office Program Specialist, Business Relations for Texas Workforce Commission, Vocational Rehabilitation Division discussed the We Hire Ability program, which recognizes Texas employers who are committed to hiring people with disabilities and their efforts to create an inclusive workforce. Samantha Moreno, Disability Bridges Program Manager at H-E-B, discussed the Disability Bridges project and their mission to improve the lives of Texans by providing opportunities and removing barriers for Texans with disabilities. This panel discussion was moderated by Kevin McCloskey, Senior Director of Leadership and Workforce Development at Disability Belongs™.

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Key Communication Strategies for Engaging in the Accommodation Process with AskJAN

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Effective communication is an essential component of the interactive accommodation process under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This Job Accommodation Network (JAN) training highlighted the importance of constructive dialogue and collaborative exploration of effective and reasonable job accommodation solutions tailored to the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities in the workplace. Participants learned that there is no universal accommodation solution, that each accommodation situation is unique, and that successful outcomes in the accommodation process can be achieved through effective communication. The training included practical strategies for engaging in accommodation discussions and JAN resources to support the process. [continue reading…]

Strategies for Employers to Increase Self-Identification of Veterans and People with Disabilities

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Join Rob Arndt, CEO of BufferSprings and a disabled Marine veteran, as he leverages 25 years of military and civilian recruiting expertise to help employers unlock fast-track strategies for inclusive recruitment and retention, which can promote greater disability and other forms of self-identification in the workplace. Discover agile methods for upskilling, leadership development, and real community engagement that drive workplace pride and inclusivity. Come away with quick wins, actionable insights, and a plan to create immediate impact for your organization’s hiring.

still of Kevin McCloskey, Taryn Williams, and ASL interpreter from NDEAM interview video

NDEAM Interview with Taryn Williams, Assistant Secretary of Disability Employment Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor

Disability Belongs™’ Senior Director of Leadership and Workforce Development Kevin McCloskey spoke with Taryn Williams, the Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor. Their conversation focused on National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

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Thumbnail for Disability Belongs webinar on Universal Design with the two speakers and ASL interpreter and the first slide of the presentation

Universal Design: Enabling Good Jobs for All

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To enable access to good jobs for all, employers must consider how to make work environments, processes, and practices inclusive and accessible. Though the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides guidance on what needs to be done, it isn’t always clear how to build more accessible practices. Implementing universal design concepts can help employers to create experiences during hiring and beyond that work better for all employees and allow people with and without disabilities to thrive. Join Meaghan Walls, CEO of Centers for Disability Inclusion, and Rebecca Langbein, Manager of the National Leadership Program at Disability Belongs™, for this session to learn how universal design can eliminate barriers to good jobs.