National Disability Institute, Washington D.C., DC (2025)

10/30/2025

NDI joined the RootEd Apprenticeship Fair last week at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO! We partnered with the Missouri Office of Apprenticeship to give students a hands-on look at STEM careers — including trying out virtual reality goggles for immersive career simulations.

Events like this help connect young people to inclusive pathways in STEM and skilled trades, and we’re proud to be part of the collaboration.

Image description: Two NDI staff members sit behind an NDI table display at the RootEd Apprenticeship Fair at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. The table features NDI brochures, flyers, pens and information about financial empowerment programs. Next to them, a participant uses virtual reality goggles to explore STEM career simulations. Other exhibitors are visible in the background.

10/29/2025

At NDI, we believe inclusion strengthens every workplace.

This National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we celebrate the incredible talent and contributions of people with disabilities — including our staff and those supported through the American Dream Employment Network (ADEN).

Empowering talent. Advancing inclusion. Celebrating contributions at work and beyond.

Learn more about ADEN at https://www.nationaldisabilityinstitute.org/aden/

Video description: Footage of NDI staff posing for a group photo outside amongst fall foliage, with a scenic lake behind them. There are several close-up shots of individuals from NDI's staff, smiling and looking into the camera with warm, strong gazes. A final shot of the NDI ADEN team smiling and posing for a group photo closes the video. Overlaid text reads: Celebrating Value and Talent. National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) 2025. National Disability Institute is proud to celebrate value and talent this NDEAM. Empowering Talent. Advancing Inclusion. Celebrating the contributions of people with disabilities at work and beyond. NationalDisabilityInstitute.org/ADEN

10/28/2025

Are you a small business owner, or do you dream of becoming one?

Join NDI’s 2025 Disability-Owned Small Business Convening on November 5–6, 2025 for two days of connection, learning and empowerment. Hear from entrepreneurs, explore resources and find inspiration to help your business thrive.

The event is free and fully virtual!

Register now: bit.ly/disabilityownedsb

10/27/2025

Join us November 5 at 1:30 pm ET for Intro to ADEN!

Discover how the American Dream Employment Network (ADEN) can empower your organization to deliver high-quality employment services for people with disabilities.

As an Employment Network through Social Security’s Ticket to Work program, ADEN partners gain access to:

• Comprehensive technical assistance
• Cutting-edge tools and resources
• A secure case management portal
• No upfront costs to participate

Learn how ADEN can help you grow your impact and connect job seekers with the support they need to thrive.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMscuGqpz8jG90GAjgjy_WQpBCOmYPy-j26 #/registration

Image description: Graphic with blue background and white text that reads: “Live Webinar: Intro to the American Dream Employment Network. Learn how the American Dream Employment Network (ADEN) can empower you to offer top-notch employment services. November 5, 2025 | 1:30 PM ET.” The NDI ADEN logo appears in the top right corner.

10/24/2025

Our ADEN team brought the spirit of New Orleans to life this week at the ADEN Symposium!

Two days of learning, laughter and connection — and yes, a little jazz too. 🎷✨

Here’s to 10 years of ADEN and 20 years of NDI — and to letting the good times roll!

Image descriptions: (First) Five members of the ADEN team stand together smiling in front of a presentation screen that reads “Welcome! Celebrating 10 Years – ADEN: American Dream Employment Network.”

(Second) Two ADEN staff members smile at the camera while seated at a conference table.

(Third) A woman stands at the front of a conference room speaking to attendees, with a slide behind her displaying her name, “Elizabeth Jennings,” and the ADEN logo.

(Fourth) A man stands at the front of a conference room speaking to an audience seated at tables. A screen behind him displays a slide with the ADEN logo and the word “Welcome.”

(Fifth) Close-up of a conference notebook and folder labeled “2025 ADEN Symposium: Celebrating 10 Years of Growth and Service,” with a pen resting on top.

(Sixth) A woman sits in a chair being filmed for an interview. A banner beside her reads “ADEN: American Dream Employment Network – Helping people with disabilities achieve their American Dream.” A man behind a camera films the conversation in a conference room.

(Seventh) A tall banner displays the ADEN logo and the tagline “Helping people with disabilities achieve their American Dream,” with a QR code in the center.

10/24/2025

NDI is proud to highlight the American Dream Employment Network (ADEN) this . ADEN is a national administrative Employment Network that helps people with disabilities achieve their career goals through Social Security’s Ticket to Work program.

Learn how ADEN partners nationwide are advancing inclusion and opportunity in the workplace at https://www.nationaldisabilityinstitute.org/aden.

10/22/2025

Day Two of the Small Business Disability Owned Convening is packed with inspiration and practical insights for entrepreneurs with disabilities!

Here’s a preview of what’s ahead:

Jonathan Katz-Ouziel and Tiffany Meehan
From Federal Service to Small Business Success
Hear how two former federal employees turned entrepreneurs are applying their public sector experience to launch thriving businesses.

Suzanne Edwards
Hosting for Profit and Purpose – Accessible Short-Term Rentals with Airbnb
Learn how accessibility features can open your rental to more guests while creating inclusive travel experiences.

Lorinda Gonzalez-Santana
You’re Not Alone – Building Support Systems Through SCORE and VR
Find out how to make the most of SCORE mentoring and Vocational Rehabilitation connections to strengthen your business foundation.

Ruth Chavez, Ashley Geiman, Syrretta Martin and Dr. Felicia Kelso
Smarter Workflows, Stronger Businesses – Using AI to Streamline Your Operations
Discover simple ways AI can help you save time, boost productivity and grow your business.

✨ Don’t miss this incredible lineup—where innovation meets inclusion! Have you signed up yet? Register now at https://www.disabilityownedconvening.com/.

Image description: A collection of eight promotional graphics for the Disability Owned Small Business Convening, hosted by the National Disability Institute. Each image features a speaker, their session title, and date.

Speakers include Jonathan Katz-Ouziel and Tiffany Meehan on transitioning from federal service to entrepreneurship; Suzanne Edwards on accessible Airbnb hosting; Lorinda Gonzalez-Santana on leveraging SCORE and Vocational Rehabilitation partnerships; and Ruth Chavez, Ashley Geiman, Syrretta Martin, and Dr. Felicia Kelso on using AI to strengthen small business operations. All sessions take place on November 6, 2025, with event details and registration information shown on each graphic.

10/21/2025

As we celebrate 80 years of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we also mark 10 years of the American Dream Employment Network (ADEN).
In our latest blog, ADEN Director Kevin Nickerson reflects on the progress made in disability employment and what’s next in advancing opportunities and inclusion.

Read the full post: https://www.nationaldisabilityinstitute.org/blog/reflecting-on-80-years-of-ndeam-and-10-years-of-aden/

Image description: Graphic with text that reads: “New Blog Post. Reflecting on 80 Years of NDEAM and 10 Years of ADEN. Kevin Nickerson, Director of the American Dream Employment Network.” A photo of Kevin Nickerson appears on the left. The NDI | ADEN logo is in the top right corner on a blue background.

10/20/2025

The Disability Inclusive Financial Counseling (DIFC) Initiative has expanded to Iowa!

This week, NDI met with the Central Iowa cohort of financial and housing counselors for a two-day, in-person training in Des Moines. The session explored public benefits for people with disabilities and strategies for providing inclusive, accessible financial counseling.

A guest presentation from Disability Rights Iowa’s Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program provided valuable insights on employment supports and benefits navigation.

The training was led by Kelley Land, Nancy Boutot, and Katie Metz, with additional support from the DIFC team. Special thanks to our host and anchor partner, the Polk County Financial Empowerment Center at the Evelyn K. Davis Center, for providing a welcoming and accessible space for learning and collaboration.

Lunch each day was provided by small, locally owned businesses — Grem’s Pit Happens BBQ and AJ’s Catering — highlighting NDI’s ongoing commitment to community partnership and inclusion.

Learn more about the Disability Inclusive Financial Counseling Initiative:
https://www.nationaldisabilityinstitute.org/inclusive-financial-counseling/

Image description: (First) Two NDI trainers stand together and smile in front of tropical plants inside a large greenhouse dome in Des Moines during a break from the training. (Second) Group photo of 14 participants and trainers from the Disability Inclusive Financial Counseling training in Des Moines. They are gathered in a classroom, smiling in front of a whiteboard with “2025 SGA” written on it. (Third) Printed handout for the National Disability Institute’s Disability Inclusive Financial Counseling training. The page displays the NDI logo, a green dollar sign graphic filled with words like “Passion,” “Service,” “Education,” and “Community,” and the text “Central Iowa In-Person Training, October 15–16, 2025.” (Fourth) Trainer leads a presentation on verifying and clarifying benefits for individuals with disabilities. Participants sit at tables taking notes while a slide titled “Verifying and Clarifying Benefits” is displayed on a screen at the front of the room.

10/17/2025

20 Years of Empowering Employment for People with Disabilities

For two decades, NDI has worked to ensure that people with disabilities have access not just to jobs, but to meaningful, sustainable careers.

Our employment initiatives combine financial empowerment, training and systems change to make the workforce more inclusive nationwide.

Here’s how we make it happen:
• American Dream Employment Network (ADEN): Supporting job seekers with disabilities who receive SSDI or SSI through personalized employment planning and long-term support.
• Small Business Hub: Tools and resources to help you, whether you need help with finding capital, creating a business plan or expanding customer outreach.
• Inclusive Employment Solutions: Equipping workforce systems and community partners to build disability-inclusive employment practices.
• Customized Employment and Career Pathways: Creating individualized approaches that align people’s strengths with employer needs, ensuring long-term job success.
• Policy and Systems Change: Advancing inclusive employment through national leadership and technical assistance.

Employment is more than a paycheck—it’s independence, dignity and opportunity. As we celebrate 20 years of impact, NDI remains committed to building a future where work truly works for everyone.

👉 Learn more about our employment impact by exploring the Employment tab at nationaldisabilityinstitute.org.

Video description: Video of a woman with a prosthetic arm working at a laptop with overlaid text reading "20 Years of Employment Impact." The NDI 20 logo is in the top right corner.

10/16/2025

As we celebrate the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we’re proud to honor a major milestone for NDI’s American Dream Employment Network (ADEN) — 10 years of impact helping Social Security disability beneficiaries return to work and achieve financial independence.

In that time, ADEN Participants have collectively earned more than $100 million in employment income. Each success story represents determination, empowerment and the belief that work can transform lives.

ADEN is an approved Employment Network under SSA’s Ticket to Work program, helping people with disabilities find meaningful employment, increase financial stability and reclaim independence.

Learn more about ADEN and how it’s changing lives at AmericanDreamEN.org.

10/15/2025

We’re kicking off the Small Business Disability Owned Convening with an incredible lineup of speakers and sessions designed to empower entrepreneurs with disabilities to learn, connect and grow.

Here’s a look at four of our Day One Concurrent Session speakers:

Sarah Soliz, Founder, Labyrinth Consulting LLC
Session: Demystifying the Language of Startup Capital
Investment terms can feel like a secret code. Sarah will break down key terms and acronyms — like “burn,” “churn,” SAFEs, and TAM — so you can speak the language of startup capital with confidence.

Melinda Emerson, CEO, Quintessence Group
Session: Verizon Small Business Digital Ready – How to Sell and Market Online.
Learn how to attract and convert customers through smart digital marketing. Melinda will share how to understand your audience, create compelling content and stay ahead of marketing trends.

Ruby “Sunshine” Taylor, M.S.W., CEO and Founder, Financial Joy School
Session: Start Small, Dream Big – Building Generational Wealth with Purpose and Power.
Ruby will share practical tools to turn small beginnings into generational wealth through financial literacy, long-term investing, and purpose-driven planning.

Laine Hodges, Social Media and Content Specialist, National Disability Institute
Session: Growing Your Social Media Presence – Practical Marketing Strategies on Any Budget. Laine will share how to use Canva and social platforms like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to build your business and connect authentically with your audience.

Don’t miss these inspiring Day One sessions — and much more!
👉 Register now: https://www.disabilityownedconvening.com/en/registration-form

Image description: A set of four square graphics promoting Day One sessions at the Disability Owned Small Business Convening, each with a teal geometric background, the NDI logo, and speaker information.

The first image features Sarah Soliz, a woman with short curly hair wearing a navy shirt, smiling against a light blue background. Text reads: “Session: Demystifying the language of startup capital. November 5, 2025, 3:00 p.m. ET. Register now! Sarah Soliz, Founder, Labyrinth Consulting LLC.”

The second image shows Melinda Emerson, a woman with shoulder-length dark hair wearing a black blouse with white polka dots, smiling. Text reads: “Session: Verizon Small Business Digital Ready: How to sell and market online. November 5, 2025, 3:00 p.m. ET. Register now! Melinda Emerson, CEO, Quintessence Group.”

The third image features Ruby “Sunshine” Taylor, a woman with short natural hair, smiling and seated in a black chair while wearing a black T-shirt that reads “Future Millionaire Coming Soon” and yellow pants. Text reads: “Session: Start small, dream big: Building generational wealth with purpose and power. November 5, 2025, 4:00 p.m. ET. Register now! Ruby ‘Sunshine’ Taylor, Founder and CEO, Financial Joy School and Co-Founder and CEO, GREAN.”

The fourth image shows Laine Hodges, a woman with long wavy reddish-brown hair, glasses, and a black sweater and blazer, smiling. Text reads: “Session: Growing your social media presence: Practical marketing strategies on any budget. November 5, 2025, 4:00 p.m. ET. Register now! Laine Hodges, Social Media and Content Specialist, National Disability Institute.”

National Disability Institute

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