WGR’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee met for its monthly meeting -- which is open to all WGR members -- on Tuesday, October 13th for a moderated panel discussion on Women with Disabilities in the Government Relations (GR) Field. Corresponding Secretary Angela Lee opened the meeting by recognizing that October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which commemorates landmark civil rights legislation for people with disabilities and focuses on sharing resources for increasing access and opportunity at work. Then, Committee Member Chris Metzler introduced and moderated a panel of remarkable women with disabilities working in government relations: Jennifer Sheehy, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Labor; Liz Weintraub at the Association of University Centers on Disability; and Channon Hanna, Principal at Carpi & Clay Government Relations and active WGR Board member.
Committee Member and Panel Moderator Metzler led a highly insightful discussion in which the panelists shared their experiences with disability -- what it meant to be diagnosed with a disability early vs. later in life and how to navigate a world that was not designed for them. The discussion centered on how the GR field can increase inclusivity and awareness. Panelist Weintraub shared the importance of having a seat at the table in decision-making, stating powerfully “nothing for us without us.” Panelists offered recommendations for creating a more inclusive workspace, discussing communication strategies like using plain language to break down complex topics, considering learning styles in sharing materials (for example, sharing meeting materials or agendas in advance or summarizing key points after participants are asked to read material in a short amount of time), and employing universal design principles to create truly inclusive spaces - both physical and digital.
A robust question and answer session followed during which meeting attendees shared their experiences with barriers to inclusion in the workplace, asking panelists for their recommendations for navigating these gaps. Panelists emphasized that equitable supports—where everyone gets what they need—are critical to ensuring equal respect and access. Panelist Sheehy flagged the following publicly available resources to guide initial conversations on increasing accessibility:
Committee members enjoyed the speakers' expertise and panel format this month, which spurred our learning and helped us identify tangible actions to support women with disabilities in our daily work. Recognizing that 2020 has affected us all in different ways, next month’s topic of discussion will be Caring for Your Mental Health. Join us on November 17th on Zoom! Register at: https://www.wgr.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1318843&group=.
For more information on WGR’s DEI Committee, please reach out to dei.wgr@gmail.com.
This blog is authored by Vieshnavi Rattehalli, co-Vice Chair of the WGR DEI Committee.
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