Today, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) will host its first National Diversity Forum at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center,. This event is part of Add Us In – an initiative with the main goal of identifying and developing strategies to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities in small business communities. This specifically entails those located in or serving underrepresented and historically excluded communities, including those owned and operated by ethnic and racial minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals; veterans; women; and people with disabilities.
Add Us In is not only a project that is a priority for the department, it is also a project that is very close to my heart. Like so many of you, my life has been profoundly impacted by my various identities and experiences. Disability, race, gender and sexual orientation have all shaped the person I am today.