Join RespectAbility for a series of virtual celebrations, fireside chats, and networking opportunities as we enter our second decade fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities. Through a combination of interactive fireside chats and breakout networking rooms, participants will learn more about RespectAbility’s work, our values, and our vision for the future. All RespectAbility events include live captions and ASL interpreters. Each fireside chat and networking session will last one hour. If you would like to request additional accommodations, please contact Eric Ascher at [email protected]. Learn more about this series below!
If you would like to support another ten years of success in fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities for people with disabilities, please consider making a donation in honor of RespectAbility’s 10th Anniversary.
Advancing Opportunities for Disabled Individuals
Advancing opportunities means that we take down barriers to education, employment, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement and create pipelines to enable disabled individuals to lead the lives of their choosing. In 2022, we advanced opportunities across our four pillars: Policy and Workforce Development, Entertainment and News Media, Faith Inclusion and Belonging, and Leadership Development. Our Policy team kicked off two major new initiatives to build know-how and remove barriers to employment. Our Entertainment and News Media team deepened its partnerships and secured employment opportunities for Lab alumni. Our Faith Inclusion team expanded beyond the Jewish community to reach new faith and spiritual communities in our inclusion work. And our Leadership team placed Apprentices in externships and mentored an Apprentice of their own.
Fireside Chat: Wednesday, April 19, 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT
Join us on Wednesday, April 19 to hear from members of our Board and Staff about our work in this area, and our vision for the coming years. This webinar will have live captions and ASL interpretation, and attendees will be able to ask questions in Zoom through the Q&A function.
Virtual Networking: Wednesday, April 26, 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT
One week later, join us for more intimate conversations centered on advancing opportunities. After registering, you will receive a Google form to choose which topic(s) interest you. Please note that registration for these networking groups will close Friday, April 21.
Changing Attitudes by Amplifying Authentic Disability Narratives
Changing attitudes means that we challenge stigma and amplify authentic narratives on disability. We’re proud to be a “nothing about us, without us” organization, led by those with a diversity of disabilities and other intersectional identities. Disabled people are the best experts on their lived experience, and we work to promote this reality across our pillars.
Fireside Chat: Wednesday, May 17, 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT
Join us on Wednesday, May 17 to hear from members of our Board and Staff about our work in this area, and our vision for the coming years. This webinar will have live captions and ASL interpretation, and attendees will be able to ask questions in Zoom through the Q&A function.
Virtual Networking: Wednesday, May 24, 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT
One week later, join us for more intimate conversations centered on changing attitudes. After registering, you will receive a Google form to choose which topic(s) interest you. Please note that registration for these networking groups will close Friday, May 19.
Developing Disabled Leaders
Developing leaders means that we model the practice of training and empowering the next generation of leaders in disability advocacy across our pillars. This includes investing in our staff through professional development and building new pathways for employee recognition and advancement. We also created new policies to shape a workplace environment that centers equity and inclusion. In 2022, RespectAbility trained 34 Apprentices and ran three Labs for 52 disabled entertainment professionals. More than 400 people have graduated from one of our pipeline programs since 2013.
Fireside Chat: Wednesday, June 21, 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT
Join us on Wednesday, June 21 to hear from members of our Board and Staff about our work in this area, and our vision for the coming years. This webinar will have live captions and ASL interpretation, and attendees will be able to ask questions in Zoom through the Q&A function.
Virtual Networking: Wednesday, June 28, 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT
One week later, join us for more intimate conversations centered on developing leaders. After registering, you will receive a Google form to choose which topic(s) interest you. Please note that registration for these networking groups will close Friday, June 23.
Learn More About the Virtual Networking Opportunities
As part of our series, we invite you to sign up virtual networking opportunities as we seek to build community and provide opportunities for connections. Once you register, you will be sent a survey to choose what networking rooms you want to participate in. Each week will be focused related to the week’s prior fireside chat and focus on advancing opportunities, changing attitudes, and developing leaders.
Breakout rooms will include conversations centered on education, employment, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, faith inclusion, journalism, and the entertainment industry. In addition, there will be identity-based rooms available, including for those seeking to meet others with an acquired disability, a visible disability, a nonapparent disability, who are disabled parents, who are disabled and 50+, as well as groups for folks looking to be in a room with others who are Queer, Black, AAPI, or Latinx. Additional rooms could be made available upon request.
Each event will last one hour, with participants being placed into 2 networking groups based upon their choices. ASL interpreters and other accommodations will be provided.
In Case You Missed It
Fireside Chat with RespectAbility’s Ollie Cantos and Ariel Simms
Hear directly from RespectAbility’s President and CEO Ariel Simms and Chairman of our Board of Directors Ollie Cantos. Among other topics, they discussed our vision for the next 10 years and renewed efforts in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA).
