Introducing the DisabilityNext™ Summit

Relay Resources is pleased to announce the upcoming  DisabilityNext™ Summit, an event dedicated to advancing conversation and actions around disability inclusion in the workplace and beyond.

The event will take place on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at Portland State University’s Viking Pavilion at the Peter W. Stott Center. Attendees will have the chance to connect with over 300 outstanding professionals, including Disability Inclusion Champions, decision-makers from Corporate Businesses, Government Entities, Nonprofit Agencies (NPAs), C-Suite Executives, and HR Leaders.

Follow the link to register HERE. Early Bird registration, which offers a $75 discount, is now open through February 28. And read on for more about DisabilityNext™!

What to Expect

The format for the day will consist of keynote speakers, DisabilityNext™ talks, panel discussions, and fireside chats. Attendees will be able to network, share, listen, and participate in topics around technology enablers for workplace inclusion, neuro-inclusion, disabled entrepreneurs, and mental health in the workplace. 

Orlando Williams, CEO of Motus Recruiting and former Trail Blazers TV analyst, will emcee the event. Our goal is to share and discuss a vision for the future where everyone belongs. Because at Relay Resources, we believe disabled people belong, everywhere. 

Who: Disability Inclusion Thought Leaders

What: DisabilityNext™

Where: Portland State University Campus: Viking Pavilion at Peter W. Stott Center, 930 SW Hall St., Portland, OR 97201

When: One day only! Thursday, April 10, 2025

How Do I Register? Registration HERE. 

Why: Accelerate the future of disability of inclusion in the workplace

Why Is Inclusion in the Workplace Important? 

As Relay Resources CEO Dr. Jennifer Camota Luebke puts it: “Research has shown that including people with and without disabilities in inclusive workplaces leads to a more engaged and productive workforce. This event is geared towards C-suite executives, human resource leaders, and leaders in government, higher education, and nonprofits who are both pragmatic and passionate about finding solutions for transforming workplaces to become more disability inclusive and accessible to everyone.” 

Come to learn, share, network, accelerate, and discuss. 

Speakers 

The DisabilityNext™ Summit has a top-tier lineup of speakers, including:

• Andrew Holbrook, chief accessibility officer of Wells Fargo, who leads accessibility initiatives for their employees, customers and communities.

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• Imani Barbarin, disability rights and inclusion activist, speaker, and founder of Crutches and Spice.

  
  

• Dr. Lawrence Fung, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor at Stanford University and director of the Stanford Neurodiversity Project and the Neurodiversity Clinic, whose research lab focuses on the neurobiology of autism and innovative interventions for neurodivergent individuals.

  

• Mark X. Cronin and John Cronin, co-founders of John’s Crazy Socks, a father-son social enterprise inspired by John, a young man with Down syndrome, and his love of colorful and fun socks.

  

• Dante Q. Allen

  Former Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration & Former Executive Director for CalABLE

  

• Catarina Rivera, MSEd, MPH, founder of Blindish Latina, and a DEIA consultant who works with companies to improve disability awareness, inclusion and accessibility.

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• Dr. Ludmila N. Praslova, Ph.D., professor of Psychology at Vanguard University and author of “The Canary Code,” a guide to change-making for CEOs, managers, and HR leaders.

  

• Dr. Hung Jen Kuo, Ph.D., assistant professor at Michigan State University, founder of the GREAT lab, which leverages technology to help include disabled people in the workplace.

  

• Orlando Williams

  Chief Executive & Equity Officer, Motus Recruiting & Staffing

  

• Diego Mariscal, founder and CEO of 2Gether-International, dedicated to unleashing the entrepreneurship mindset of disabled people.

  

• Hannah Rose Olson, CEO and co-founder of Disclo, a global HR software designed to streamline the ADA interactive process for requesting workplace accommodations.

   

  

• Larysa Kautz, president and CEO of Melwood, which launched the AbilIT program to train people with disabilities for jobs in IT and cybersecurity.

  

• Dr. Lakshmi Balasubramanian, Ph.D., lecturer in Special Education at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education, researching the use of AI in disability inclusion training curricula, and a Relay Resources board member.

  

• Keely Cat-Wells, founder and CEO of Making Space, a talent acquisition and learning platform that creates new pathways to employment and career advancement for disabled people.

  

   

• Uktarsh Contractor

  Vice President of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Aisera. 

  

• Julie. J. Christensen

  MSW. PhD. Executive Director and Director of Policy & Advocacy at APSE

  

• Aarti Sahgal

  CEO & Founder, Synergies Work & Synergies Seed Fund

  

• Dr. Christopher J. Lemons

  Associate Professor of Special Education, Stanford University

  

   

Join Us for DisabilityNext™!

The DisabilityNext™ Summit will also include accessibility features such as ASL interpretation, screen captioning, assistive listening devices, wheelchair reserved seating, sensory break rooms, and more. The event is made possible by the support of our sponsors, including Wells Fargo and The Standard. More sponsorship opportunities are available; head here for more information. 

With fantastic content, networking opportunities, accessibility features, and much more planned for DisabilityNext™, we hope you’ll join us for the debut of this one-of-a-kind event! For more information, head to the event website, and register before February 28 for the Early Bird registration price here.