FEED Meeting February 12, 2025

Wednesday, February 12, 2025
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET

Overview

During this interactive meeting, you will learn about new efforts to enhance accessibility and disability inclusion across the federal workforce. The session will feature updates on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) latest research on retaining people with disabilities in the federal workforce and various related initiatives, including a focus on travel accommodations and insights from the U.S. Departments of State and Transportation.

Additionally, you will hear about EARN’s federal research efforts, receive updates and resources from key agencies such as the EEOC and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and have the opportunity to engage in discussions on best practices and emerging priorities for disability inclusion in federal employment.

Agenda

Introduction (1:00-1:05 p.m.)

• Akinyemi Banjo, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)

Welcoming Remarks (1:05-1:10 p.m.)

• Jennifer Sheehy, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)

EEOC Report: Retaining Persons with Disabilities in the Federal Workforce (1:10-1:40 p.m.)

• Karen Brummond, Social Science Research Analyst, Office of Federal Operations, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Focus on Travel Accommodations (1:40-2:25 p.m.)

• Elyssa Santos-Abrams, Attorney-Advisor, Outreach, Training, and Engagement Division, Federal Sector Programs, Office of Federal Operations, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
• Lisa Mathess, Principal Consultant and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Specialist, Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

Agency Spotlight: U.S. Department of Transportation’s “What We Wish You Knew” (2:25-2:35 p.m.)

• Julia Wolhandler, Disability Resource Analyst, Disability Resource Center, U.S. Department of Transportation

U.S. Department of State’s Neurodiversity Working Group (2:35-2:40 p.m.)

• Heidi Howland, Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Department of State

Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) Federal Research Efforts (2:40-2:50 p.m.)

• Sarah von Schrader, Director of Research and Program Evaluation, K. Lisa Yang and Hock E. Tan Institute on Employment and Disability, Cornell University, EARN

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Updates and Resources (2:50-2:55 p.m.)

• Wendy Doernberg, Senior Attorney-Advisor, Federal Sector Programs, Office of Federal Operations, EEOC

U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Updates, Resources, and Closing Remarks (2:55-3:00 p.m.)

• Jennifer Croft, Diversity Program Manager, Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (ODEIA), OPM

Real time captioning and ASL interpretation will be provided. Should you need additional accommodations, kindly submit your request via the registration form.

*You must be an employee of the U.S. Federal Government with a .gov, .mil, .us, or .edu email address to join FEED.

The Federal Exchange on Employment and Disability (FEED) is a federal interagency working group focused on advancing employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the Federal Government. Supported by the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) and managed by representatives from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), FEED members meet four times per year to share and develop information, resources, and best practices on a variety of topics related to disability-inclusive employment in the federal sector.

Membership is open to Federal Government employees at any level. Federal employees whose job duties involve recruiting, hiring, retaining, or advancing people with disabilities are encouraged to join.

Visit EARN's page on FEED for more information.