# Event Details - **Event Name**: Building Stronger Workforces Through Disability Inclusion - **Event Start and End Date**: Tue, 10 Mar, 2026 at 04:30 pm – Tue, 10 Mar, 2026 at 06:30 pm - **Event Description**: Join us for an in-person panel discussion designed for business leaders navigating the future of inclusive employment.About this EventMore than 1 in 4 adults in the United States report having a disability, yet in Illinois, people with disabilities face an unemployment rate more than 50 percent higher than workers without disabilities. Illinois also ranks second nationally in granting certificates that allow employers to pay workers with disabilities below minimum wage, which perpetuates inequity and limits economic independence.In Illinois, momentum for change has been building for decades. With the Dignity in Pay Act requiring all Illinois employers to pay workers with disabilities at or above minimum wage by 2029, businesses are asking: What does an integrated workforce truly look like, and how can it strengthen our operations?Designed for business owners and leaders, this conversation will provide practical guidance for building workplaces that are equitable, compliant, and stronger because of inclusion.What you’ll learnWhat integrated workforces look like, and why they benefit employees with and without disabilitiesLessons from successful, scalable models of inclusive employmentHow employers can prepare for the end of subminimum wages while remaining competitive and still achieving their revenue and output goalsModeratorCarrie Shepherd- Chicago Reporter, AxiosPanelistsTheresa Mah- Illinois State Representative and co-sponsor of the Dignity in Pay ActBrad Cohen- Director of Growth, AutonomyWorks Carter Sanders- Associate, HB Threads, Easterseals Serving Chicagoland & Greater RockfordCocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served.Please contact Dorothy Dohoney at ddohoney@eastersealschicago.org with questions or to request accommodations.Agenda?: 04:30 PM - 05:00 PMArrival and networking?: 05:15 PM - 06:15 PMPanel discussion?: 06:15 PM - 06:30 PMClosing and Networking - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/chicago/building-stronger-workforces-through-disability-inclusion/100001981956388912 - **Event Categories**: business, nonprofit - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 2 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 0, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Chicago - **state**: IL - **country**: United States - **location**: Impact House - **lat**: 41.8822634 - **long**: -87.6344471 - **full address**: Impact House, 200 West Madison Street, Chicago, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Building Stronger Workforces Through Disability Inclusion - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events10/banners/b18f9bde80aab420210a3df36103e427abdbe9b6d97c03bcf8041496677c9f5e-rimg-w1200-h600-dccd4b01-gmir.jpg?v=1770272485 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Building Stronger Workforces Through Disability Inclusion being held? - **A:** Building Stronger Workforces Through Disability Inclusion takes place on Tue, 10 Mar, 2026 at 04:30 pm to Tue, 10 Mar, 2026 at 06:30 pm at Impact House, 200 West Madison Street, Chicago, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Building Stronger Workforces Through Disability Inclusion? - **A:** Building Stronger Workforces Through Disability Inclusion is organized by Easterseals Serving Chicagoland & Greater Rockford. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Building Stronger Workforces Through Disability Inclusion is ideal for professionals, entrepreneurs, startup founders, and networking enthusiasts eager to grow their connections. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Chicago, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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