2025 Disability Leadership Summit
The Disability Leadership Summit is an online conference designed by disabled professionals to support the advancement of disabled professionals in the workplace. The Summit advances our vision that people with disabilities will lead with power and influence for full participation and equal opportunity as a vital part of our civic fabric.
The Summit schedule is below. Please review carefully, as some sessions occur at the same time, before making your selections on the registration page.
Day 1 - PEOPLE: Empowering Disabled Leaders
Keynote featuring Rachel Arfa
February 25, 2025, 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. CT
Rachel Arfa was appointed Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) by Mayor Lori Lightfoot in July 2020. Rachel comes to MOPD with years of experience as a disability and civil rights attorney. As MOPD Commissioner, Rachel leads the City of Chicago’s efforts to make Chicago a more accessible city. MOPD provides services including in the areas of independent living services (information and referral, home-delivered meals, and homemaker services), employment and youth transition services, home modifications, assistive technology, accessible housing and architectural accessibility. MOPD also creates policies on disability accessibility, accessible transportation, and emergency preparedness. Her extensive professional, and civic leadership experience has prepared her for this role. Rachel previously was employed as a Staff Attorney at Equip for Equality, Illinois’ governor-designated protection and legal advocacy agency which advocates for the civil and human rights of people with disabilities. Her work focused on representing people with disabilities in employment discrimination cases and civil rights violations. In this role, she managed the PABSS Project and served as the Chair of the Illinois ADA Project Steering Committee. Rachel is the President of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association and in December 2019, made the motion using spoken language and ASL for 10 deaf and hard of hearing attorneys to be admitted to the United States Supreme Court Bar. Read more about Rachel.
Keynote Meet and Greet with Rachel Arfa
February 25, 2025, 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. CT
Time for an open dialogue with Commissioner Rachel Arfa. Note: This event is the same time as “Build Your Personal Brand” with Emily Vorde.
Build Your Personal Brand with Emily Voorde
February 25, 2025, 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. CT
Hosted by Emily Voorde, the Founder and CEO of INTO Strategies. INTO Strategies is a disability-led inclusion consultancy committed to bringing people with disabilities into campaigns, moments, and movements. Emily most recently worked as an Associate Director with NEWCO Strategies, a majority-women, majority-LGBTQ progressive consulting firm. During her time with NEWCO, Emily led communications strategy, project management, and landscape research on a number of client accounts, including The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and EMILY's List. Following the tragic passing of Judy Heumann, Voorde spearheaded AAPD's response, including drafting of a press release, press pitching, digital engagement, rapid response, and coalition coordination. Note: This event is the same time as the “Keynote Meet and Greet with Rachel Arfa.”
Lessons in Leadership (Panel)
February 25, 2025, 11:45 – 12:45 p.m. CT
This is a panel moderated by Emily Voorde that will explore the various leadership journeys of professionals with disabilities. On the panel are Eric Harris and Zane Landin.
Eric Harris is the Director of Public Policy at Disability Rights California. Growing up in California, Eric played any sport that he could. He played wheelchair basketball competitively through college at the University of Arizona and beyond with the Golden State Road Warriors and as one of the founding members of the Sacramento Rollin Kings. Eric is passionate about adaptive sports. While in college, Eric focused on public policy and worked for United States Representative Barbara Lee. While in Washington, he worked on policies relating to student athletes with disabilities. After his experience in Washington, Mr. Harris attended the University of Oregon School of Law. In 2012, Mr. Harris worked at the Democratic National Committee and worked on general policy for the western region and disability policy throughout the country. The following year, he interned at the American Association for People with Disabilities. Eric returned to California and worked as a campaign staffer for U.S. Representative Barbara Lee in Oakland and as a staffer for Sacramento City Councilmember Allen Warren. He then worked for the California State NAACP as their only legislative advocate working at the state level. He started to work at Disability Rights California in 2019 as a legislative advocate. He worked in the Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement Unit as a Special Advisor with Tho Vinh Banh from October 2020 to February 2021. Eric has done community work with disability leaders, community members and elected officials throughout the country. Read more about Eric.
Zane Landin is an Associate Product Marketing Manager at Google. Since Zane was young, he was always inspired by stories. He believes that storytelling is an exploratory experience. Zane graduated Summa Cum Laude from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, with a Bachelor of Science in Communication and Public Relations. He is a passionate entrepreneur and advocate for social justice. He is the founder and CEO of PositiveVibes Magazine, a digital magazine dedicated to positive storytelling about mental health and disability. I have worked with brands and organizations like General Motors, SAGE Publishing, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. As the Founder and President of Landing Dreams PR, a PR agency, he has landed my clients on several podcasts and platforms like Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation and WebMD. Zane is also a speaker and thought leader featured on 100+ platforms like Forbes, Buzzfeed, Jubilee, and Authority Magazine. Read more about Zane.
Disability Rights at Work with Rebecca Williford
February 25, 2025, 1:00 – 1:45 p.m. CT
Rebecca Williford is the President and CEO of Disability Rights Advocates. Rebecca Williford is a globally recognized disability community leader and attorney with extensive experience litigating class action lawsuits on behalf of people with disabilities. As President & CEO of Disability Rights Advocates, she leads the organization’s work from its Chicago, New York City, and Berkeley offices. As a litigator, she has achieved multiple precedents on matters of first impression, advancing the rights of people with disabilities throughout the United States. For example, in Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled v. Bloomberg, she litigated a class action to a successful trial verdict, representing more than 900,000 people with disabilities in a challenge to New York City’s failure to address their needs in its disaster plans.
Rebecca also speaks frequently at legal and disability conferences. She is a Disability Rights Bar Association board member and a member of the National Disabled Legal Professionals Association. She is a co-editor of Lawyers, Lead On: Lawyers with Disabilities Share Their Insights (ABA Press 2011) and a past Commissioner of the ABA Commission on Disability Rights. She also co-founded and served as president of the National Association of Law Students with Disabilities. Her lived experience as a wheelchair-user since adolescence informs and motivates her career. Note: This event is the same time as the “Authentic Storytelling.”
Authentic Storytelling
February 25, 2025, 1:00 – 1:45 p.m. CT
More details coming soon! Note: This event is the same time as the “Disability Rights at Work with Rebecca Williford.”
Day 1 Closing
February 25, 2025, 2:00 – 2:15 p.m. CT
Day 2 - CULTURE: Strengthening Inclusive Workplaces
Keynote featuring Catarina Rivera
February 26, 2025, 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. CT
Catarina Rivera, MSEd, MPH, CPACC is a disability public speaker, DEIA consultant, and content creator with over 14 years of experience in the public sector. Catarina works with companies to improve disability awareness, inclusion, and accessibility. She is the founder of Blindish Latina, a platform smashing disability stigmas through storytelling and advocacy. Catarina has worn hearing aids from a young age and was diagnosed with a progressive vision disability at 17 years old. She has a BA from Duke University, an MSEd from Bank Street College of Education, and an MPH from Hunter College. Catarina is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (IAAP).
She is a member of KeyNote Women's Global Speakers Directory. She has been featured in Nasdaq, POPSUGAR, ABC News Live, and as an unstoppable woman by Telemundo. She was also named a LinkedIn Top Voice in Disability Advocacy. Past clients have included HarperCollins Publishers, LinkedIn, Hachette Book Group, Whole30, Grant Thornton, ColorStack, and BCG Digital Ventures. Catarina is a TEDx Speaker and her TEDx talk “Creating Inclusive Workplaces for All” has over 59,000 views. Read more about Catarina here.
Keynote Meet and Greet with Catarina Rivera
February 26, 2025, 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. CT
Time for an open dialogue with Catarina Rivera. Note: This event is the same time as “Neurodiversity (at Work)” session.
Neurodiversity (at Work)
February 26, 2025, 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. CT
More details coming soon! Note: This event is the same time as “Keynote Meet and Greet with Catarina Rivera."
Leveraging Executive Buy-In (Panel)
February 26, 2025, 11:45 – 12:45 p.m. CT
This is a panel moderated by Kim Knackstedt will explore the roles of C-Suite executives in creating inclusive workplaces and in advancing opportunities for professionals with disabilities. On the panel is Rylin Rodgers and more executives to be announced.
Kim Knackstedt is the principal consultant of Unlock Access, LLC and brings more than a decade of accessibility and disability policy experience to your projects. She previously served in disability policy positions in Congress and the White House and brings experience as a person with chronic illnesses to her accessibility and policy perspectives. Prior to launching Unlock Access, LLC, Kim was the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Public Policy Fellow, serving on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in 2016. She then served as the disability policy advisor for Chairman Bobby Scott on the Committee on Education and Labor in the U.S. House of Representatives. Next, she was the senior disability policy advisor for Senator Patty Murray on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in the U.S. Senate. In January 2021, Kim was appointed as the first ever director of disability policy for the Domestic Policy Council for the Biden–Harris Administration. Following her experience in the White House, Kim was a Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation, Director of the Disability Economic Justice team, and Director of the Disability Economic Justice Collaborative. Read more about Kim.
Rylin Rodgers serves on Microsoft’s Accessibility Team as a Disability Policy Advisor. She strives to impact disability policy in the areas of technology, workforce and fundamental rights. Rylin’s work is influenced by her lived experiences with disability. She is dyslexic, has idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and is the mother of two young adults with physical disabilities and medical complexity.
Lightning Talk on Disability and Technology with Ariana Aboulafia
February 26, 2025, 1:00 – 1:45 p.m. CT
Ariana Aboulafia leads the Disability Rights in Technology Policy Project at the Center for Democracy & Technology. This project aims to advance policy that protects the digital and civil rights of people with disabilities, while raising awareness of the many ways that technologies -- including algorithmic systems and AI-enabled tools -- can impact disabled people. An attorney with particular expertise in disability, technology, criminal law, and the First Amendment, Aboulafia was first introduced to technology policy while serving as a fellow to the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative. Later, she worked as an assistant public defender in Miami-Dade County, providing direct representation to clients facing both misdemeanor and felony criminal charges. Ariana holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and law, history and culture from the University of Southern California, as well as a J.D. with a concentration in social justice and public interest from the University of Miami School of Law. Her work has been published in Teen Vogue, Slate and Tech Policy Press, as well as several academic journals. Note: This event is the same time as “Strong E/BRGs” with Kim Holmes.
Strong E/BRGs with Kim Holmes
February 26, 2025, 1:00 – 1:45 p.m. CT
With almost 40 years of experience leading complex enterprise initiatives, Kim Holmes takes a solutions-focused approach to diversity and inclusion challenges. She conducts comprehensive assessments and analyzes qualitative and quantitative data to identify opportunities for clients. Kim then collaborates with stakeholders across the organization to develop and execute customized strategies that drive measurable improvement. Kim has designed and led large-scale DEI transformations resulting in more inclusive cultures. Her talent development programs have increased representation and belonging among women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups. She is known for bringing together cross-functional teams and gaining executive buy-in to effectively implement organizational change. An insightful advisor, Kim provides coaching to senior leaders on inclusive leadership, bias mitigation, and modeling desired cultural values. She is a sought-after speaker at industry conferences discussing topics related to culture change, stakeholder alignment, and leading through uncertainty. Kim holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from Shimer College and a Master of Nonprofit Administration from North Park University. She currently serves on the boards of prominent social impact organizations including Northern Illinois Food Bank and Disability Lead. Kim also serves on the all-female board of the Chicago Union, Chicago’s professional ultimate disc team. When she’s not working, you can find Kim enjoying Chicago’s vibrant arts scene, spending time with family, and giving back to causes focused on equity and access. Note: This event is the same time as “Lightning Talk on Disability and Technology” with Ariana Aboulafia.
Day 2 Closing
February 26, 2025, 2:00 – 2:15 p.m. CT
