On September 17, the Department of Commerce Office of Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships (OFBNP), in partnership with the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), held the department’s first-ever National Disability Leadership Summit.

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Derrick Brent, and Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development Eric Morrissette headlined the event with keynote remarks emphasizing the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to celebrate, empower, and connect people with disabilities with appropriate stakeholders to improve and create more impactful opportunities and integrations.

Each official provided an overview of the resources and opportunities from our bureaus and national partnerships and highlighted the range of programs supported by the Biden-Harris Administration. Similarly, they expressed their appreciation for the incredible ways Commerce continues to empower our nation's leaders in the disability space, as they are essential to America's ability to compete and win globally. They also emphasized the critical role the disabled community plays in the U.S. economy and urged faith, business, and community leaders to continue engaging at the state and federal level to streamline access to resources supported by the Biden-Harris Administration Efforts to Support Full Participation and Equality for People with Disabilities agenda which is unlocking new pathways to economic growth, entrepreneurship, and job creation. 

Maria Town, President, and CEO of AAPD, and Rebecca Cokley, Program Officer at the Ford Foundation, also delivered keynote remarks emphasizing current challenges and opportunities.

The Fireside Chat included Deputy Under Secretary Derrick Brent, Acting Under Secretary Eric Morrissette, and State Department Special Advisor on International Disability Rights (SAIDR) Sara Minkara, who discussed their journey to Federal employment, the crossroads of innovation and people with disabilities, as well as the effects of singling out disabilities and not making accessibility and inclusion the norm.

The Disability Rights and Representation panel moderated by Rachel Patterson, White House Disability Policy Director, included a diverse range of voices: Ines Hernandez, Commerce Counselor for Equity; Jennifer Mathis, DOJ Deputy Assistant Attorney General; Census Bureau Assistant Director Tasha Boone; and Ariana Aboulafia, Policy Counsel at the Center for Democracy. This panel featured a robust conversation about how disabled people are and have been represented in our nation while overcoming attitudes, challenges, and opportunities in public policy. The diversity of the panel ensured that a wide range of perspectives were represented, making everyone feel included and heard.

Three breakout sessions encompassed a host of crucial resources on Education with Dr. Conchita Hernandez Legorreta from the Maryland School for the Blind and Assistant Secretary Glenna Wright Gallo from the U.S. Department of Education, to tangible opportunities for people with disabilities with Mary Fuller, United States Patent and Trademark Office; Yumi Escalante, with the U.S. Census Bureau; Kristen Rhinehart Fernandez from the Department of Labor; Lauren Mendoza from the Department of Education; Katina Washington, from the Department of Housing and Urban Development; Amelia Ryba from AmeriCorps; and Jennifer Johnson from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. And finally, a timely discussion on how we can create an equitable economy for all Americans with Rory Slatko, Deputy Director of the Commerce Office of Public Engagement, Assistant Secretary Taryn Williams, U.S. Department of Labor, Robert Espinoza, CEO of National Skills Coalition, and Keely Cat Wells, CEO and co-founder of Making Space.

During the Summit's Mini-Fair, representatives from AAPD, Ameri-Corp, the Departments of Education, Health and Human Service, Housing and Urban Development, and Labor, the Economic Development Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, International Trade Administration, Minority Business Development Agency, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Census Bureau and the USPTO, each provided a range of resources and opportunities that support everything from workforce development and technical assistance to data analysis techniques for climate resilience and business innovation. Each of them shared how they partner with the disability leadership community.

This year, OFBNP hosted several convenings; we hope they can become a blueprint for uplifting our communities while bringing together government, private, and public partnerships. For those who couldn't attend or want to revisit the insightful discussions, portions of the summit are available via recorded live stream. This ensures everyone can benefit from the knowledge and inspiration shared at the National Disability Leadership Summit, regardless of physical presence.