Digitability’s Showcase of Senator Casey’s Disability Employment Summit

Overview

Recently, Senator Bob Casey (PA) held his annual Disability Employment Summit and Digitability’s founder and CEO, Michele McKeone, was an attendee.

Senator Casey

Senator Casey's summit was powerful and action-oriented, so the Digitability team created this showcase to inspire you to also act to help all people with neurodiverse needs who want to work get the work-ready skills training and career opportunities they deserve.

About Senator Casey's Employment Disability Summit

This year, Senator Casey focused on getting government, employers, and service providers (like Digitability) working together to both ensure people with disabilities are trained for the tech-driven and employed.

Senator Casey and other leaders like Jennifer Morgan, President of SAP Americas, understand how people with neurodiverse needs improve productivity, profitability, and workplace culture.

The summit's moderator was US Representative (Ret.) Tony Coelho, author and primary sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Among the distinguished panelists and presenters were:

José Velasco, Head, Autism at Work Program, US at SAP
Adrienne Woodard, FedEx Ground
Greg Zearfoss, Marketing Leader, Little Caesars
Liz Hill, Board Member, Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf

You can see pictures and powerful quotes from the Disability Employment Summit by clicking the icons above.

Digitability is grateful to have been apart of Senator Casey's summit and commitment to protecting legislation like the ADA while encouraging employers to hire people with neurodiverse needs.

As a result of the summit, Digitability made several contacts and will continue the conservation with employers about our work-ready skills training program.

Lastly, if you'd like to see Digitability in action you can request a free demo here. Thank you!

Event Photos

: “When people come to work they want to know that their company is not just for profit but for purpose. Purpose is key. This is critical for SAP to attracting diverse candidates and business success. This leads to a great culture!” -Jennifer Morgan, SAP

: “It’s important for me to be an advocate for people with disabilities because I represent a state that takes its responsibility seriously for all people who want to work have the opportunity to work.” -Senator Casey

: “One-hundred and thirty-two people on the spectrum are contributing to our bottom line at SAP. I challenge you to help find a job for those of us with disabilities. I will love you for it!” -Jose Velasco

: “My advice for people is to be open to different communication styles. I am deaf and I am up here presenting. I was always a little scared to ask for a sign language interpreter because it’s an ongoing cost. Can we setup a fund for reasonable accommodations to remove the bias during the interview process? My communication is just as powerful as someone who is using speech.”-Liz Hill, PA Society for Advancement of Deaf

: “We have to fight really hard to make sure people don’t undermine laws like ADA.” -Senator Bob Casey

Impact Statement

Disability Employment Summit Impact Statement from Michele McKeone, M.Ed.

US Senator Bob Casey's Disability Employment Summit exemplifies how partnerships can lead to greater equality in our country.

Digitability applauds the employers who are leading the way for "overcoming the fear and uncertainty of hiring a person with disabilities," and promoting the discovered benefits of employing more people with neurodiverse needs. We thank the many self-advocates who shared their journeys to meaningful employment and value their insights, which identify where more work needs to be done to truly promote equality.

Personally, it was an honor to connect with Tony Coelho, the Author of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I was excited by his remarks on the importance of hiring people with disabilities and his challenge to employers, "to find a job for those of us with disabilities."

During the Summit, Senator Bob Casey's stressed that there will be many more challenges in the pursuit of the greater vision people with disabilities seek to achieve: "We have to fight really hard to make sure people don't undermine laws like ADA."

Digitability is proud to continue the fight through innovation and continued advocacy.