Creating True Disability Inclusion In The Workplace

In Episode 100 (recorded live), Melinda is joined by an incredible panel of disability advocates and experts to discuss how individuals and employee resource groups (ERGs) can drive important conversations and actions that create true disability inclusion in the workplace. Catarina Rivera and John Marble share how managers can build inclusive team environments by embracing accessible design for all and being proactive in providing accommodations at work. They also discuss the importance of supporting self-advocacy, normalizing disability, addressing intersectionality, and centering people with disabilities when working towards belonging.

About Catarina Rivera (she/her/ella)

Catarina Rivera, MSEd, MPH, CPACC is a disability public speaker, DEI consultant, and content creator with over 14 years of experience in the public sector. Catarina works with companies to improve disability awareness, inclusion, and accessibility. She is the founder of Blindish Latina, a platform smashing disability stigmas through storytelling and advocacy. Catarina has worn hearing aids from a young age and was diagnosed with a progressive vision disability at 17 years old.

About John Marble (he/him)

John Marble is the founder of Pivot Neurodiversity and is a writer and speaker on innovation, autism, and neurodiversity. In 2009, he was appointed by President Obama to the United States Office of Personnel Management. There, his work focused on workforce development, innovation, and incorporating Silicon Valley's best practices into government. He has also served as an advisor and aide to Secretary Hillary Clinton, Senator John Kerry, and Vice President Al Gore. John lives in San Francisco. He is autistic.


For more, visit https://ally.cc.


Connect W/ Catarina

LI: linkedin.com/in/catarinarivera/
FB: facebook.com/blindishlatina
TW: twitter.com/catarinarivera
IG: instagram.com/blindishlatina/

Connect W/ John

LI: linkedin.com/in/johnmarblejr/
TW: twitter.com/JHMarble
IG: instagram.com/pivotdiversity/

Connect W/ Us

YT: youtube.com/@empovia
TW: twitter.com/empoviaco
FB: facebook.com/empovia
IG: instagram.com/empovia/
LI: linkedin.com/company/empovia/

Production

Creator/Host: Melinda Briana Epler
Co-Producers: Renzo Santos & Christina Swindlehurst Chan
Podcast Rocket: Rob Scheerbarth & Nina Rugeles


This episode is sponsored by First Tech Federal Credit Union, a member-owned financial institution that is powered by a people-before-profit philosophy. Learn more at https://www.firsttechfed.com/.


[ID: LEA promo and photos of Catarina, light-skinned Latine woman with brown hair, hoop earrings, a black and beige top, and a beige jacket; John, a White man with blond hair and a brown beard, a black t-shirt, and a navy zip-up j