September 2020 Denver Disabilities Network Meeting
The Denver Disabilities Network is a quarterly event featuring speakers, workshops and the sharing of best practices for disability inclusion. The goal is to bring together interested stakeholders in the Denver Metro area. By highlighting the skills and talents of people with disabilities, an open discussion of the best practices and desired outcomes between all parties can take place.
Creating Accessible Workplaces, Conferences/Events, and Online Meetings
September 29th DDN Meeting—Zoom Online Platform
Registration: http://bit.ly/DDN_Sept_2020
Captioning to be provided by Purple Communications
This session is for you if—
- you desire input in making your workplace, products, or services more accessible.
- you would like to learn best practices from other organizations that have created systems and processes for disability inclusion.
- you would like to learn about workplace accommodations necessary for individuals with disabilities.
- you are interested in an open dialogue with those who live with disabilities and/or work in the diversity and inclusion space.
The focus of the September 29th event will be on Creating accessible workplaces, events, and online meetings, and features three accessibility professionals who will share their knowledge in creating accessible solutions for employees (and customers) with disabilities.
TRICIA DOWNING, ORGANIZER AND CO-HOST
Tricia Downing—Event Organizer and Host
Since sustaining a paralyzing spinal cord injury in 2000, Tricia has become passionate about elevating the quality of life for individuals with disabilities within the Denver Community. In the past ten years, she founded and directed a sports and fitness camp for female wheelchair users, has mentored newly injured patients through Craig Hospital and paved the way as a pioneer in the sport of paratriathlon, becoming the first female wheelchair racer to complete an Iron distance triathlon. She is a 2016 Paralympian and is currently training for Tokyo 2020ne. Tricia has master’s degrees in both Sport Management (Eastern Illinois) and Disability Studies (Regis University). Additionally, she published her memoir in 2010 and in 2018 published her first fiction novel, starring a main character who has a disability. Tricia hopes to see more positive portrayals of individuals with disabilities in books, on TV, and on the big screen.
MEREDITH MCCANSE, CO-HOST
Meredith McCanse—Event Co-Host
Meredith McCanse (she/her) is a Senior Corporate Accountant with RLH Corporation in Denver, Colorado. She has had a wide range of professional experiences from freelance artist as a professional dancer in New York, to SAT/GMAT tutor, as a side-gig to support her dance career, to Feldenkrais practitioner, to office manager, and operational accountant. She is a CPA and holds an MBA from CUNY’s Baruch College. Meredith began her career with EY (NYC), and in her three years there, she experienced the powerful community-building impacts of workplace ERGs, both through her involvement with EY’s LGBTQ+ network and through participation/collaboration with other EY ERGs. More recently, Meredith has stepped into owning “disabled” as one of her identities and has been exploring and learning about disability justice spaces.
BRIAN HORN, EVP OPERATIONS, DISABILITY:IN
Brian Horn—Panelist, Executive Vice President of Operations, Disability:IN
Brian serves as Executive Vice President of Operations at Disability:IN leading the organization’s operations, annual conference, public policy advocacy, and other efforts. Prior to joining Disability:IN, Brian was Legislative Assistant at the Council on Foundations. Working on the Public Policy and Legal Affairs team, he represented the Council on Capitol Hill and with executive branch departments, and assisted Council members in planning and executing their policy advocacy strategies. Previously, he worked at GYMR Public Relations advising clients on strategic communications, media relations and social media. He began his career working on congressional campaigns, and in the office of U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer.
Brian serves on the advisory council of the NextGen Chamber of Commerce and previously served on the board of directors of the Capital Pride Alliance. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and American studies from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where he served as co-chair of his reunion committee.
STACEY ROMERO, MANAGER, ACCESSIBILITY, SPECTRUM
Stacey Romero—Panelist, Accessibility Mgr—Spectrum
Stacey Romero leads the Learning function for Spectrum’s Accessibility Center of Excellence. In her role, she is responsible for ensuring that employees are equipped with the skills and knowledge to incorporate accessibility, universal design, and disability inclusion best practices into their work, whether it is web developers, learning professionals, or customer-facing employees. With experience managing Learning for both Field and Call Centers, as well as Leadership Development, Stacey chose to combine her learning background with her passionate advocacy for customers and employees with disabilities to help others create the best possible learner and end-user experience for all. She also co-hosts a Community of Practice around Designing Inclusive Learning, and supports Communications for Spectrum’s Abled Business Resource Group.
MEGAN KENNEDY, CERTIFIED ACCESSIBILITY PROFESSIONAL
Megan Kennedy—Panelist, Certified Accessibility Professional
Megan is a certified accessibility professional recognized as an influential leader within the disability community. She is known for launching and leading complex change-management programs to drive inclusive experiences for employees and customers with disabilities, inspiring passion in others, and being a hands-on doer. Her experience in design, human resources, non-profits, and communications drives innovative solutions towards disability-inclusive products, programs, and experiences. Currently driving Amazon’s Global Internal Accessibility Program, she draws on her own experiences with deaf blindness to connect with her customers and work.
