“Disability, Inclusion & Access: Moving Forward” Launch Event

Thursday, November 21st, 2019

The Heinz Endowments and FISA Foundation invited grantees, community leaders, and fellow funders to a program at the Heinz History Center to hear presentations from inspiring regional and national leaders, and consider opportunities for foundations and nonprofits to be more inclusive of people with disabilities. We’re pleased to share photos from the event as well as these videos of our featured speakers:

KEYNOTE: The Role of Philanthropy in Promoting Disability Inclusion

Our featured speaker was Darren Walker, President of Ford Foundation, who shared his thoughts about the role of philanthropy in promoting disability inclusion. Read Darren’s blog on the subject: Ignorance is the enemy within: On the power of our privilege, and the privilege of our power.

Welcoming remarks

Carmen Anderson, Director of Equity and Social Justice, The Heinz Endowments; Kristy Trautmann, Executive Director, FISA Foundation; Josie Badger, CRC, DHCE, President, J Badger Consulting, Inc.; and Chaz Kellem, Director, PittServes, University of Pittsburgh.

Disability as a Civil Rights Issue

Paul O’Hanlon, Chair, City/County Taskforce on Disability

Building an Inclusive Arts Community in Pittsburgh

Dennis Robinson, Jr., Director of Education and Accessibility, City Theatre; Vanessa Braun, Director of Accessibility and Manager of Employee Engagement, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust; and Regina McDonald Russian, Digital UX & Accessibility Specialist, Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh

Changing Systems and Eliminating Barriers in Education

Thena Robinson Mock, Program Officer, Communities for Just Schools Fund

Making Healthcare More Fully Accessible

Ashli Molinero, DSc, Director, UPMC Disabilities Resource Center

Creating an Inclusive Culture for Young Children

Anne Fullenkamp, Director of Design, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh

Toward More Inclusive Employment

Joyce Bender, President and CEO, Bender Consulting

Disability in Philanthropy & Nonprofits: Data on Inclusion, Exclusion and How We Can do Better

Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, President, RespectAbility, shared the results of a recent national survey: Disability in Philanthropy & Nonprofits: A Study on the Inclusion and Exclusion of the 1-in-5 People Who Live with a Disability and What You Can Do to Make Things Better

Next Steps and Closing Comments

Carmen Anderson, Director of Equity and Social Justice, The Heinz Endowments; Kristy Trautmann, Executive Director, FISA Foundation & Closing – Josie Badger, President of J Badger Consulting Inc., and Chaz Kellem, Director of PittServes, University of Pittsburgh

“Disability, Inclusion & Access: Moving Forward” Launch Event￼