2019 Conference Accessibility Initiative

For the fourth consecutive year, the World Institute on Disability (WID) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. is partnering with several civil rights and community development organizations to highlight conference accessibility.

Much like previous years, WID and JPMorgan Chase achieved this by providing accessibility enhancements, such as sign language interpreters, open captioning, accessible transportation, rented mobility devices, sighted guides, scholarships for Disability Ambassadors, and a disability concierge desk, as well as support and training for conference organizers, hotel staff, and A/V teams.

WID was delighted to partner again with captioner, Deanna Baker, who helped us ensure thousands of people experienced open captioning for the first time!

Organizations Served in 2019

If you haven’t already, be sure to visit our main Conference Accessibility Initiative page to learn more about our initiative.

Financial Health Network (formerly CFSI) EMERGE

Read about the experience in the words of our Financial Health Network EMERGE Conference Disability Ambassadors:

Christina Mills’ Financial Health Net Blog 2019

Danielle Anderson’s Financial Health Net Blog 2019

Harry Hebeler’s Financial Health Net Blog 2019

And enjoy some photos from the event:

Disability Ambassador Harry Hebeler listening to a speaker at Emerge.

Disability Ambassadors Danielle Anderson (left) and Christina Mills (right) at Emerge.

WID’s Disability Ambassadors at dinner with Nate Caldwell (MX) and Andrea Galvez (FinHealthNet)

4 people and a service dog pose in front of WID table

WID staff Tom and Jessica with two Disability Ambassadors, Danielle and Harry at the Disability Concierge Desk.

Open captions playing over video of man speaking. "We are so excited about the work of the financial solutions lab because"

Open captioning at Emerge 2019

Poster on easel. "Emerge Disability Concierge: World Institute on Disability & JP Morgan & Chase

WID’s official Emerge 2019 signage for our Disability Concierge desk

A man and his service dog sit across from a 3 person camera crew

WID’s Managing Director Tom Foley being interviewed by a camera crew at Emerge 2019.

WID brochures and informational materials at the Disability Concierge Desk

A woman speaks onstage. Caption on screen says, "But you see, here's the point. I am standing on the shoulders of giants"

Thasunda Duckett, CEO of Consumer Banking at JP Morgan & Chase speaking about representation at Emerge 2019.

NeighborWorks National Training Institute

Read about the experience in the words of our NeighborWorks Disability Ambassadors:

Brenda Muhammad’s NeighborWorks blog

Melissa Mitchell’s NeighborWorks blog

Richard Rueda’s NeighborWorks blog

Here are some photos from the event:

Marching band members playing instruments as participants follow behind them, waving white hankerchiefs

NeighborWorks participants wrapping up the Symposium with a lively local performance – a second line!

Captions on screen: "[People working in the housing sector and people in the health sector] can't do their work unless somebody addresses the social determinants of health, housing, and [isolation]]"

NeighborWorks Health Symposium. Captions thanks to the support of JP Morgan and Chase.

Captions: "We realize we don't have the answers, but maybe we can begin by bringing together an...." Questions: 1. From a health care system to a health and wellbeing system; 2. See work on addressing inequity as doing good to a recognition that we are interconnected and cannot afford the price of untreated poverty; 3. From me to we, from silos to interconnectedness; 4. From pathology to vision, scarcity to abundance; 5. From poverty to potential, from communities with problems to communities with solutions.

Discussion points for the NeighborWorks Health Symposium

A white woman using a power wheelchair smiles with her mobility service dog, a Golden Retriever

Disability Ambassador Melissa visits the WID Disability Concierge Desk with her service dog, Tanner.

Ballroom full of people sitting at tables of about 8 people each, engaged in discussion

Participants at the NeighborWorks Health Symposium having round-table discussions

Captions: "About how the housing sector, the community health sector have come [together]"

A panel of 4 experts speaking at the NeighborWorks Symposium

Captions: "I think there is some real urgency here that we just need to harness and..."

4 experts speaking on a panel at the NeighborWorks health Symposium

Captions on screen: "...understanding that everyone in your community matters. And when you have a real vision that is..."

Mayor of the City of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, welcoming NeighborWorks guests. Captions thanks to the support of JP Morgan and Chase.

3 people smiling, left to right: a black woman sitting in a mobility scooter, a white man standing with his white cane, and a white genderqueer person standing.

Disability Ambassadors Brenda and Richard smile in front of the WID Disability Concierge Desk with WID staff member Moya.

Check back for more photos & blogs as we go!

Main content end

Organizations Served in 2019

Financial Health Network (formerly CFSI) EMERGE

NeighborWorks National Training Institute

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