2019 Conference Accessibility Initiative

For the fourth consecutive year, the World Institute on Disability (WID) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. partnered 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.

Would you like to be a Disability Ambassador with WID and JP Morgan & Chase? Applications for 2020 are now available!

Photos & Blogs

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.

Florida Housing Coalition Affordable Housing Conference

Read about the experience in the words of our Florida Housing Disability Ambassadors:

Natalie Alden’s Florida Housing Blog

Anida Pollo’s Florida Housing Blog

Sharon Hoffmeyer Dykes’ Florida Housing Blog

Here are some photos from the event:

2 men, Tom and Ken, stand smiling in front of the WID Disability Concierge desk.

WID Managing Director Tom Foley and Ken Lawson, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

4 people in front of city skyline. 2 people are in wheelchairs (one manual, one electric) and two people are standing.

Disability Ambassadors Natalie Alden (left) and Anida Pollo (right) smiling in front of a beautiful Florida sunset, their personal care attendants behind them.

A white woman stands behind a pdoium speaking. Another white woman to her left types on her computer, her words appearing on the monitor as captions. The screen behind the speaker shows a presentation titled, "Diversion Away from Homelessness"

An in-person captioner (left) provides live captions on the monitor to the left of the speaker, making the session more accessible for attendees.

5 people posed in front of large window. 2 are standing, 2 are using powerchairs, and one person is using a manual wheelchair. Large Palm trees can be seen through the window.

Disability Ambassadors (Left to right): Natalie Alden, Anida Pollo, and Sharon Hoffmeyer Dykes with WID Managing Director Tom Foley and Natalie’s personal care attendant.

A white woman in a powerchair holds a handheld microphone. Audience members turn towards her to hear her question.

Disability Ambassador Natalie Alden asking a question during a Q&A portion of the event.

A white woman in a powerchair faces the camera

Disability Ambassador Sharon Hoffmeyer Dykes outside of the conference.

Large audience seated in theater-style rows of chairs, watching a man speak at a podium. Captions are shown on large screen to the left and right of the stage.

Audience members enjoying the keynote address from Ken Lawson, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

8 people and one service dog pose together. 2 people are in powerchairs, one person is using a manual wheelchair, and 5 people are standing.

All 3 Disability Ambassadors, their personal care attendants, and WID staff smiling in front of the skyline.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Leadership Conference

Read about the experience in the words of our Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Leadership Conference Disability Ambassadors:

Dr. Michelle Hernandez’s CHCI Blog

Ligia Zúñiga’s CHCI Blog

Dayamarali Espinosa’s CHCI Blog

Here are some photos from the event:

2 women sitting in electric wheelchairs and smiling.

Two WID Disability Ambassadors, Ligia (right) and Michelle (left), attending a breakout session.

Booker speaking passionately projected onto a large screen with captions. Captions read, "...white spaces, no, it's for women, for having hiring people with disabilities, for having people that have a broader sense of experience, is that can bring to..."

2020 US Presidential candidate and US Senator Cory Booker speaks about the value of people with disabilities in the workplace.

2 women in electric wheelchairs smile in front of a large "#CHCI" sign.

WID Disability Ambassadors Michelle (left) and Ligia (right) pose in front of the CHCI sign.

2 young people speaking to each other using ASL

WID Disability Ambassador Daya and an ASL interpreter speaking during a breakout session.

Daya smiles and poses with her arms extended towards a large sign that says "#CHCI"

WID Disability Ambassador Daya smiling and posing with the CHCI sign.

Captions read, "First is climate change. We are already seeing it with the hurricanes, what happens with..."

2020 US Presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar speaking to a packed room, with an ASL interpreter and captions for accessibility.

5 women sitting onstage in front of seated audience, with an ASL interpreter standing in front of the stage.

5 women participating in a panel discussion onstage, while an ASL interpreter interprets in the foreground.

Booker speaking, visible on huge screen with captions. Captions read, "When I came to the Senate it was literally the least diverse place I had ever seen. And I'm not joking"

2020 Presidential candidate and US Senator Cory Booker speaking on the lack of diversity in the Senate.

3 people engaged in conversation using ASL.

WID Disability Ambassador Daya and two ASL interpreters talk and laugh together.

An ASL interpreter sits across from a young woman at a round table.

An ASL interpreter sits in front of a Deaf participant, translating the words of the speaker.

2 women smiling, sitting at round table in a crowded hotel ballroom.

WID Disability Ambassador Ligia smiles with her personal care attendant at a lunch event.

A woman in an electric wheelchair and her care attendant smiling. The photo cutout says "You count! Tu cuentas!"

WID Disability ambassador Michelle and her personal care attendant smile and pose with a CHCI photo cutout.

Torres stands onstage, her image projected onto a large screen. Captions read "It is no longer acceptable. We are heads of households, many of us are single parents, and we must continue to push the envelope."

Congresswoman Norma Torres speaking onstage, with captions for accessibility.

Buttiege speaking. Captions read, "It's why I've proposed as part of our plan for rural economies that local communities have the option to apply for community renewal."

US 2020 Presidential candidate Pete Buttiege discussing community roles in economical renewal.

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Leadership Conference

Read about the experience in the words of our Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Annual Leadership Conference Disability Ambassadors:

Eric Harris’s CBCF Blog

Cathy Bennett-Santos’ CBCF Blog

Luticha André Doucette’s CBCF Blog

Gregory Pickett’s CBCF Blog

Here are some photos from the conference:

Jesse Jackson stands at a podium in front of large screen showing the chorus. Captions: "...moved up and didn't let the inhumane treatment kill our hope nor the champion that you..."

Reverend Jesse Jackson at the Prayer Breakfast with captions on the screen behind him.

2 black men wearing suits pose in front of a backdrop covered in CBCF logos. Eric (right) uses a wheelchair and his brother stands with his arm around Eric's shoulder.

WID Disability Ambassador Eric (right) with his brother (left).

A Black woman wearing a white dress and leopard print high heels smiles and holds a microphone. A Black man wearing a floral print shirt and a black baseball cap stands in front of her, holding up his cell phone to record her.

WID Disability Ambassador Cathy Bennett being interviewed in front of the WID Disability Concierge Desk by reporter Russell Price Jr. for Be There Magazine.

2 Black women smiling in front of the WID desk. Luticha is wearing a blue blazer and floral jumpsuit with pink flowers that match her pink wheelchair. Cathy stands next to her, wearing a black and white striped shirt and white pants with a red belt.

WID Disability Ambassadors Luticha (left) and Cathy (right) in front of the WID Disability Concierge Desk.

Warren kneeling next to Eric, her arm around his shoulder

WID Disability Ambassador Eric smiling with US Presidential Candidate Elizabeth Warren

Group of Black people smiling and waving, captions read "Ladies and gentlemen, these are the members of the congressional black caucus"

Congressional Black Caucus members waving to the crowd.

3 women onstage, captions projected on the screen next to them

Open captions and ASL interpretation making a panel discussion accessible.

WID’s Managing Director Tom Foley and consultant Tonya Bradley in front of the WID Disability Concierge desk.

WID Board Member Kamilah Proctor met up with WID Staff and Disability Ambassadors for dinner in D.C.

Independent Sector Upswell Conference

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

Jennifer Wolff’s Upswell Blog

Altaira Hatton’s Upswell Blog

Here are some photos from the conference:

Paper taped to wall with blue painter's tape. Ideas include: climate disruption, reparations for descendants of enslaved Africans , people with disabilities, care work, green new deal, poverty and homelessness, early education access

A brainstorm from Upswell participants on what topics the 2020 US Presidential candidates should be discussing.

WID Disability Ambassadors Altaira (left) and Jenn (right).

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiling brightly and posing in her electric wheelchair. She is wearing an ivory jacket and maroon pleated skirt.

WID Disability Ambassador Altaira, ready for the next session

Two Black women onstage in front of large crowd. The interpreter is signing and Norris is speaking.

Michele Norris, founder of The Race Card Project, speaking on her work, an ASL interpreter working beside her.

An ornate hotel ballroom filled with people standing and sitting in rows, around round tables, and at cocktail tables.

A packed room with a variety of seating options for the Main Stage sessions

A white woman with shoulder-length blonde hair smiling

Upswell’s Bush Foundation Fellow, Jessalyn in front of the WID Disability Concierge desk.

A white person with a shaved head holds a microphone and gestures towards a projector screen. They are wearing a bright pink suit. An ASL interpreter sits next to them signing.

WID Projects Coordinator Moya Shpuntoff presenting their workshop, “An Intersectional Approach to Disability Inclusion”

Signage: Salon A-1, Thursday. 9:30 AM to 10:15 AM, Activating Collective Purpose Through Your Story, sponsored by American Express; 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM, An Intersectional Approach to Disability Inclusion, presented by World Institute on Disability; 2:30 PM - 3:45 PM, How to be the Expert in the 2020 Elections, presented by Independent Sector; 4:15 PM - 5:30 PM, Drink as You Pour: Anti Burnout Practices for Warriors of Change.

List of break-out sessions, including “An Intersectional Approach to Disability Inclusion” presented by WID

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiling brightly and posing in her electric wheelchair. She is wearing a blue jacket and dark velvet skirt.

WID Disability Ambassador Altaira in front of the Disability Concierge desk

Large screen with the words, "Impossible is a total fallacy" over image of worktable with wires and fasteners.

“Impossible is a total Fallacy”, a slide from a presentation from the organization Not Impossible

The WID Disability Concierge Desk, including some materials about WID’s usability testing and consulting services.

A white woman with short dark hair smiling. She is seated in her wheelchair and wearing a light gray blazer with several bright slogan buttons pinned to the lapel.

WID Disability Ambassador Jenn in front of the Disability Concierge desk

A white person with a shaved head holds a microphone and gestures towards a projector screen. They are wearing a bright pink suit. Participants are seated at round tables facing the screen.

WID Projects Coordinator Moya Shpuntoff discussing intersectionality in identities and oppression in their workshop, “An Intersectional Approach to Disability Inclusion”