4 DisabilityNext Speakers Challenging What Comes Next

In just a few short months, Relay Resources' will be hosting the second DisabilityNext™ summit, Relay's national convening platform where business leaders, HR executives, advocates and disability inclusion champions gather to share ideas, lessons and emerging technologies to accelerate the movement toward disability-inclusive workplaces and to shape the future of work.   

DisabilityNext™ 2026 takes place October 6-7 at the Hyatt Regency in Portland, Oregon. To experience the action firsthand and to join the movement for disability inclusion, register for DisabilityNext™ 2026 today!

In the meantime, let’s take a closer look at three speakers who will be taking the stage at DisabilityNext™ 2026, sharing their innovative thinking, lived experience, and future-focused ideas to advance the movement of Disability Inclusion (DI) in the workplace.

Impact Through Dance

Marisa Hamamoto is a professional dancer who founded the nonprofit dance company Infinite Flow Dance, with the mission of “advancing disability inclusion, one dance at a time” by working with disabled and non-disabled dancers with diverse identities.

Marisa is a late-diagnosed autistic dancer who had a spinal stroke at age 24; she told the American Bar Association that when she returned to dance after the stroke, “I couldn't help but ask myself, ‘Who's left out? And if I hadn’t recovered most of my mobility from the stroke, would I be dancing today?’”

That led to her not just founding Infinite Flow Dance, but becoming a speaker at global events discussing disability inclusion, mental wellness, and building a culture of belonging. She has spoken at the United Nations and appeared on Good Morning America, in Fast Company, and elsewhere.

At DisabilityNext™, Marisa will share her story, her message of disability inclusivity, and how it can be applied to the workplace. And while she spends a lot of time these days as a speaker, Marisa is still making an impact through Infinite Flow Dance.

“I finally found my voice as a dancer and my purpose as an artist,” she told the American Heart Association. “Infinite Flow demonstrates the infinite possibilities.”

Explore Marisa's work:

Watch: Marisa’s TED Talk, “Serving Others Starts with This”

Listen: Marisa on the “Pushing Forward with Alycia” podcast

Read: Marisa on People’s Magazine’s “People Changing the World” list

Understanding Disability in the Workplace

With DisabilityNext™ 2026 devoted to the topic of disability inclusion in the workplace, Grant Harris is uniquely qualified to join us on stage. He’s a speaker, consultant, and founder of GTH Consulting, which helps companies get the most out of their talent, including their neurodiverse employees, to improve inclusivity for all workers.

An autistic person who identifies as “neurodistinct,” Grant works with organizational leaders and departments about moving their workplaces “from awareness to acceptance, and moving from acceptance to action,” he told Autism Live. This is part of Grant’s strategy of shifting workplaces “from compliance to community,” where rather than companies just complying with creating a diverse workplace, they aim to build community. “Moving toward community is understanding … who is the most impacted, and how do we reach them first? Who is the least impacted, and how do we ensure that they still feel included and not ostracized?” he said.

Grant’s work also looks at the business value of neurodiversity in the workplace, as he describes it, “from the boardroom to the mailroom.” Grant says that neurodiverse people bring many benefits to a workplace, including innovative perspectives and different approaches to problem solving. Hiring disabled people “makes the brand more attractive and creates brand loyalty among the employee ranks, but also externally with customers as well,” Grant told PBS’ “A World of Difference.”

We look forward to welcoming Grant’s perspective and ideas for harnessing the best from neurodivergent employees to create stronger workplaces!

Explore Grant's work:

Watch: Grant speaking at Disrupt Charleston

Watch: Grant in PBS’ “A World of Difference”

Listen: Grant on the “1% Better Every Day” podcast

Reaching People Through Humor

Zach Anner is all about positivity: He advocates for positive thinking and self-realization, and he aims to motivate people to make positive changes in their lives each day.

He does this through fun videos on his YouTube channel, as a speaker at events around the country, and through his 2016 book, “If at Birth You Don't Succeed: My Adventures with Disaster and Destiny.”

Born with cerebral palsy, Zach developed an interest in performing at a young age; that eventually led him to auditioning for Oprah Winfrey’s “Search for the Next TV Star" show. His success there got him his own travel show, “Rollin’ with Zach,” on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Zach told CNN that support from his family led him to develop confidence to be himself, in performance and throughout his life. “My parents instilled in me a sense of self that I was more than just a diagnosis or a condition,” he said. “For me, cerebral palsy wasn’t the biggest deal, because I always had it. You know, you always work with what you got.”

In his public speaking, including his appearance at DisabilityNext™ 2026, Zach offers a message of self-love and developing self-confidence through positive thinking. He does this through consistently seeing the humor in things, as well as seeking prompt solutions to any problems that arise.

As Zach told CerebralPalsey.org, “One thing that I have learned is that you can never let a disability stop you from doing the things you want to do. I try to look at it as something I have to cope with. It’s a challenge – there’s no doubt about that – but it’s one that shouldn’t stop people from pursuing goals.”

We look forward to having Zach bring his message to the DisabilityNext crowd this fall!

Explore Zach's work:

Watch: Ted-Ed: Zach Anner & the Quest for the Rainbow Bagel

Watch: Zach’s YouTube channel

Listen: Zach on the “No Barriers” podcast

Designing with Every Brain in Mind

Dr. Victoria Verlezza is an inclusion, equity, access, and belonging strategist and educator with more than 20 years of experience helping individuals and organizations build more inclusive, accessible, and equity-driven cultures. As a scholar-practitioner with lived experience, she brings both expertise and empathy to conversations about neurodivergence, inclusive leadership, psychological safety, anti-oppressive practices, and systemic change.

With a PhD in Human Development and master's degrees in Social Justice Education, Higher Education Administration, and Human Development, Dr. Verlezza helps organizations translate equity into everyday practice. Her work includes developing leadership frameworks, policies, and practical tools that help organizations create environments where more people can thrive. She is also the creator of the Cognitive Equity Leadership Model™, which supports leaders in building more inclusive and accessible workplace cultures.

At DisabilityNext™ 2026, Dr. Verlezza will share her perspective on building more inclusive workplaces through intentional design, practical strategies, and a deeper understanding of neurodiversity. We look forward to welcoming Dr. Verlezza's insights as she shares how designing with every brain in mind can help shape the future of disability inclusion in the workplace!

Explore Dr. Verlezza's work:

Watch: Designing with Every Brain in Mind (Center for Engaged Learning)

Watch: Dr. Victoria Verlezza on the Disability Solutions Podcast

Visit: VictoriaVerlezza.com

Join us October 6–7 to hear from Marisa, Grant, Zach, Dr. Verlezza, and many more thought leaders, advocates, and changemakers at the 2026 DisabilityNext™ Summit. Reserve your spot at DisabilityNext™ Summit now!