Accessing the Disability Labor and Market Segments

A Mountain View Chamber of Commerce Inclusion Initiative

The U.S. population is projected to result in a decline in the overall labor force participation rate between now and 2026.i Moreover, older workers will fill over 25 percent of positions by 2026 compared to only 17 percent in 2006 - at the same time of a slowing civilian growth rate. For growth sectors, including software development where an additional 250,000 developer jobs are projected, it is clear that a race for acquiring and retaining talent is a leading priority.

People with disabilities represent an untapped and under-utilized human capital talent pipeline that has shown to have an 85 percent retention rate, thereby reducing an organization’s high turnover cost.ii In the case of older workers, retaining those who have or acquire age-related disabilities will help retain institutional knowledge. Simply put, organizations that do not have mature disability-inclusive diversity employment strategies and pipelines are already behind in the race to acquire, develop and advance this innovative, often ignored and dynamic labor segment. If accommodations AKA “Productivity Tools” are required, most cost less than $500.

Beyond hiring and accommodations, smart Silicon Valley companies value a disability-inclusive strategic approach to create accessible and usable products and services, maximize Universal Design principles (design for largest number of customers), build profitable strategic alliances and advance professionals with disabilities in all business units and corporate functions to yield a higher return on investment with corporate social responsibility.

These companies have recognized and maximized the growing economic power of 22.6 million working-age adults with disabilities in the U.S.iii 1 and 1 billion individuals with disabilities worldwide. The American Institute of Research (AIR)’s April 2018 Report, A Hidden Market: The Purchasing Power of Working-Age Adults With Disabilities, highlighted power of a U.S. market where total after-tax disposable income for working-age people with disabilities is about $490 billion, which is similar to that of other significant market segments, such as African Americans ($501 billion) and Hispanics ($582 billion), and higher than the coveted teen market.iv2

Discretionary income of working-age people with disabilities is $21 billion; that’s more than non- disabled African-American and Hispanic markets combined. Disability is the only diversity group to transcend race, nationality, gender identification, socio-economic and religion. Customers with disabilities are surrounded by brand-loyal family, friends and colleagues who recognize value in products and services accommodating all people that amp up purchasing power to $3 trillion. Working together, and joining forces as co-branded named partners, the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce and Disability Media Technology Alliance (DMT Alliance ) is producing a

2 Overton, C., Shaewitz, D., Smith, D-M., Yin, M., American Institute For Research (AIR), A Hidden Market: The Purchasing Power of Working-Age Adults With Disabilities, April 2018, https://www.air.org/system/files/downloads/report/Hidden-Market-Spending-Power-of-People-with-Disabilities- April-2018.pdf

© 2018 Disability Media Technology Alliance: Disability Health Access, EIN SOF Communications, Forward Works, National Disability Mentoring Coalition, Lights! Camera! Access! 2.0 ~ Confidential & Proprietary

multi-faceted and unprecedented May 17, 2019 Global Accessibility Awareness Symposium and Showcase, hosted by the Computer History Museum. The third Thursday of May designated as Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) when multi-national technology companies plan global events to differentiate and celebrate their advances and sharpen their competitive edge. Our proposed event has powerful potential to galvanize and spotlight Silicon Valley companies with the Chamber, Computer History Museum and DMT Alliance at the epicenter.

Join us to help educate Silicon Valley businesses, recognize progress, showcase technology’s role in driving digital inclusion,
and mentor through career exploration activities.

EDUCATE RECOGNIZE SHOWCASE MENTOR

Educational Panel A curated diversity pipeline panel – Creating Change Through Technology Leadership and Employment – on creating hiring and advancement opportunities for intersectional groups and the brand loyal disability market segment.

Silicon Valley Access Awards The Mountain View Chamber of Commerce will recognize leading Silicon Valley employer(s) for progress, innovation and the upside of disruption in accessible technology, employment and inclusion.

Disruptive Technology Showcase Highlight work and legacy of Silicon Valley technology companies, to invent and embrace early assistive technology and accessible design of innovations in augmented reality, virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

Career Exploration Summit Lights! Camera! Access! 2.0 (LCA2.0) Career-Exploration Summit with workshops and mentoring for job-seeking young adults and veterans with disabilities across delivery platforms.

Event Partnership and Co-Branding

The Mountain View Chamber of Commerce, Computer History Museum and the Disability Media Technology Alliance (DMT Alliance) as named partners are committed to advancing disability inclusion and technology accessibility. Moving forward, we will approach corporate, foundation, academic, government and individual investors to launch and sustain the education series and its on-going activities. Investments can include in-kind.

$25,000 Platinum Partner: Lead event partner, opening session remarks, Technology Disruption & Accessible Technology Showcase partner, LCA2.0 Career Exploration Summit and Webinar series partner, name in program and website link, recorded testimonial as accessible technology pioneer, and 2 tables (seats 8) at event.

$10,000 Gold Partner: Technology Disruption & Accessible Technology Showcase, Webinar, Career Summit, name in program and website link, and one table at the event.

$5,000 Silver Partner: LCA2.0 Career Exploration Summit and Webinar series partner, name in program, website link and one table at the event.

$1,000 Bronze Partner: Name in program, website link and half table (4 tickets) at event.

© 2018 Disability Media Technology Alliance: Disability Health Access, EIN SOF Communications, Forward Works, National Disability Mentoring Coalition, Lights! Camera! Access! 2.0 ~ Confidential & Proprietary

Moving Forward – Accessible Technology Road Show

The May 2019 series of launch events to fortify Silicon Valley for Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) will help activate the below on-going activities to maintain momentum for employers and the career exploration participants, from GAAD 2019 – GAAD 20/20.

Accessible Technology Traveling Exhibit – Accessible technology traveling exhibit to galvanize companies to name, frame and claim pride in creating, incubating and bringing to market revolutionary tools that make our communities more livable with increased productivity in the workplace, marketplace, boardrooms and classrooms, now, and for generations to come. The exhibit includes recorded interviews with tech pioneers, companies and organizations that paved the way, and will be customized by the corporate and academic hosts entities.

Ongoing Mentoring Webinar Support Series - Young adults and veterans with disabilities who participate in LCA2.0 Career Exploration Summit are invited to participate in six follow-up online group mentoring sessions that include subject matter experts with the following content:

• Welcome and Motivational Guest Speaker from Tech Sector

• How to Make it in the Technology Sector

• Using LinkedIn for Networking Success

• Navigating the Advertising Sector

• Finding Mentors to Fuel Your Career Pathways

• Closing and Motivational Guest Speaker from Disability Community

  Contact Us - Disability Media Technology Alliance: Disability Health Access:

  Anne Cohen - anne@disabilityhealthaccess.com

  EIN SOF Communications & Lights! Camera! Access! 2.0:

  Tari Hartman Squire - tari@einsofcommunications.com ForwardWorks Consulting & National Disability Mentoring Coalition:

  Derek Shields - dshields@forwardworks.net

  i BLS Labor Projections for 2016-2026, https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ecopro.pdf
  ii Unger, D., Employers' Attitudes Toward Persons with Disabilities in the Workforce: Myths or Realities?, Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, VOLUME 17, NUMBER 1, Spring 2002. (Accessed 10/12/18). http://trans2work.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/proed_employersattitudes.pdf/
  iii Stevens AC, Carroll DD, Courtney-Long EA, et al. Adults with One or More Functional Disabilities — United States, 2011–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:1021–1025. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6538a1
  iv Overton, C., Shaewitz, D., Smith, D-M.,Yin, M., American Institute For Research (AIR), A Hidden Market: The Purchasing Power of Working-Age Adults With Disabilities, April 2018, https://www.air.org/system/files/downloads/report/Hidden-Market-Spending-Power-of-People-with-Disabilities- April-2018.pdf

  © 2018 Disability Media Technology Alliance: Disability Health Access, EIN SOF Communications, Forward Works, National Disability Mentoring Coalition, Lights! Camera! Access! 2.0 ~ Confidential & Proprietary