Save As: Ability

How do authentic disability stories reshape media and culture? 🎬

ReelAbilities Film Festival CEO Isaac Zablocki shares how inclusion is transforming storytelling and opportunity. 🌍

✅ Introduction to ReelAbilities Film Festival and its mission to advance authentic disability representation
✅ Isaac Zablocki shares his journey as a neurodivergent filmmaker and visual learner
✅ Why authentic storytelling matters more than inspirational clichés
✅ How accessibility like audio description became standard at the festival
✅ The importance of first-person storytelling from filmmakers with disabilities
✅ How disability adds depth, conflict, and realism to compelling film narratives
✅ The growing number of independent American films created by disabled storytellers
✅ Inside the ReelAbilities Industry Summit and interactive film discussions
✅ The gap between disability population numbers and Hollywood representation
✅ How audiences can support disability storytelling through attendance and advocacy

Authentic representation isn’t charity — it’s great storytelling that makes media stronger and more inclusive. 🎥

Website: https://reelabilities.org/newyork

Isaac Zablocki is the Director of the Israel Film Center at the JCC in Manhattan - The leading resource for Israeli films in the U.S. He was born in New York, and grew up in Israel and served in the IDF's leading film unit as an Educational film producer.

He attended film school at Columbia University and went on to work at Miramax films. He produced and directed a feature film entitled Reality Lost and developed film educational programs for the Board of Education.

Since 2004 Isaac has been the Director of Film Programs at the JCC in Manhattan. He programs over seven film festivals a year including The Other Israel Film Festival and Reelabilites: The NY Disabilities Film Festival.

Isaac also teaches film in various institutions. In 2012, The Israel Film Center launched a major streaming site for Israeli Films https://israelfilmcenterstream.org/

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disability Employment Solutions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ⓒ 2026 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PodPro Entertainment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#SaveAsAbility #Ability #Inclusive #Inclusivity #LaborForce #Disability #DisabilityEmployment #ReasonableAccommodation #Accommodation #ReelAbilities #DisabilityInFilm #InclusiveMedia #Neurodiversity #IndieFilm #ContentCreators #FilmFestival #TheNewRadio

Turning obstacles into opportunity—this episode explores how resilience and networking can unlock unexpected career paths. 🚀
Discover how disability entrepreneurship is reshaping the future of inclusive business and leadership. ♿ 💼

✅ A powerful personal story of growing up legally blind and building a successful professional career

✅ How disability can strengthen problem-solving skills and entrepreneurial thinking

✅ Why people with disabilities are statistically more likely to become entrepreneurs

✅ The role of disability-owned business enterprises (DOBEs) in today's economy

✅ How networking creates unexpected career breakthroughs and opportunities

✅ The importance of mentorship in growing a business or career path

✅ Why flexibility and innovation are strengths within the disability community

✅ A real story of how a retail job led to a first legal career opportunity

✅ Encouragement for students and job seekers facing uncertainty in today's economy

✅ Why resilience remains one of the greatest competitive advantages for people with disabilities

Success isn't always a straight line—resilience, networking, and action often open doors you never expected. 🔑

Beth Butler Fadel, JD, Executive Director of Disability:IN North Carolina has over 25 years of experience providing subject matter expertise to Fortune 50 companies in EO and ADA Compliance, including the accommodations process and disability employment strategies.

Legally blind since birth, Beth leverages her experiences both personally and professionally to challenge companies to think, act and lead differently.

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disability Employment Solutions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ⓒ 2026 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PodPro Entertainment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#SaveAsAbility #Ability #Inclusive #Inclusivity #LaborForce #Disability #DisabilityEmployment #ReasonableAccommodation #Accommodation #DisabilityEntrepreneurship #AccessibleCareers #TheNewRadio

Is America leaving disability talent on the sidelines? 📊
Exploring meritocracy, employment gaps, and why opportunity must be accessible to all. 🇺🇸

✅ A follow-up discussion on meritocracy and why it matters for people with disabilities

✅ How the ADA emphasizes the importance of performing essential job functions

✅ Why talent, effort, and character should remain the foundation of opportunity

✅ Examining the employment gap between Americans with and without disabilities

✅ Why disability employment statistics reveal untapped workforce potential

✅ How trust in institutions impacts belief in the American Dream

✅ The difference between professional networking and unfair access to opportunity

✅ Why access—not favoritism—is the real key to economic mobility

✅ How overlooking qualified disability talent hurts businesses and the economy

✅ Why expanding opportunity for people with disabilities strengthens America

A true meritocracy works best when everyone has access to opportunity—including talented people with disabilities. ♿

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disability Employment Solutions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ⓒ 2026 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PodPro Entertainment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#SaveAsAbility #Ability #Inclusive #Inclusivity #LaborForce #Disability #DisabilityEmployment #ReasonableAccommodation #Accommodation #FutureOfWork #DisabilityRights #EmploymentEquity #OpportunityForAll #UntappedTalent #TheNewRadio

Disability inclusion isn’t charity — it’s smart economics. 📊 💼Learn why employment, policy, and data must align to unlock opportunity.

✅ Why disability inclusion must be treated as a business strategy, not just social good 

✅ The connection between meaningful employment and long-term independence 

✅ Why government programs alone cannot solve disability employment gaps 

✅ How benefit systems can unintentionally discourage workforce participation 

✅ The role of employers in building inclusive hiring pipelines 

✅ Why measuring outcomes with data is essential for policy progress 

✅ Understanding the unemployment gap among working-age people with disabilities 

✅ How incentives could encourage businesses to hire more inclusively 

✅ The importance of balancing compassion with performance expectations 

✅ How listeners can help spread awareness and grow the disability inclusion movement

True inclusion happens when compassion meets strategy and opportunity meets preparation. 📈

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disability Employment Solutions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ⓒ 2026 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PodPro Entertainment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#SaveAsAbility #Ability #Inclusive #Inclusivity #LaborForce #Disability #DisabilityEmployment #ReasonableAccommodation #Accommodation #InclusiveHiring #DisabilityAdvocate #EqualAccess #WorkplaceEquity #TheNewRadio

There are a billion people with disabilities worldwide—are companies missing this talent pool? 🌎

This conversation reveals how inclusion creates stronger leaders and better businesses. 📈

✅ Doug McCullough explains how his disability shaped his resilience and professional journey
✅ How stigma around disability can prevent people from identifying openly
✅ The connection between representation and opportunity in leadership
✅ Why disability unemployment remains disproportionately high
✅ The business case for hiring and developing employees with disabilities
✅ How Johnson & Johnson built one of the largest employee disability groups globally
✅ The importance of preparing disability talent for leadership opportunities
✅ How mindset shifts changed corporate views from charity to business value
✅ The importance of self-acceptance as a foundation for leadership growth
✅ Where listeners can find Doug’s book and his Disability Leadership Ventures work

When businesses recognize disability as talent—not limitation—they unlock innovation and leadership potential. 🌟

Website: https://disabilityleadershipventures.com/

Amazon: A Billion People in the Shadows: The Ultimate 1-hour Guide to Understanding Disability

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/doug-mccullough-2a64473

Doug McCullough grew up on a dairy farm in South Central Pennsylvania. He received a bachelor’s degree in dairy science from Virginia Tech, was named top dairy student in the nation, and was a brother and officer in the Alpha Gamma Rho social-professional fraternity. He then went on to obtain a master’s degree in dairy management and operations research from the University of Florida.

McCullough worked in the dairy industry as a farmer in the family business, as an extension outreach specialist at the University of Wisconsin, and as a consultant at a start-up dairy financial services firm.

After going back to school for his MBA at Duke University, heworked at Johnson & Johnson for 23 years in roles of increasing responsibility in customer logistics as well as procurement, materials management, and project management. Most recently he worked for the company’s pharmaceutical division as a senior manager supporting global supply chain reliability.

He was a leader in the company’s DEI community, serving on multiple DEI councils and helping launch and lead the global disability employee group which grew to 4,000 employees and encompassed autism, disability, neurodiversity, and mental health.

He’s also the business manager and co-owner with his brother of a 600-acre cattle and crop farm outside of Springfield, Missouri.

Born with spinal muscular atrophy, a degenerative neuromuscular disease, McCullough performs community service to help people with disabilities lead more active lives. He also serves on advisory committees for CureSMA, US Volt Hockey Association, and Penn Medicine Princeton Hospital in Princeton, New Jersey, and previously for the National Muscular Dystrophy Association. Recently, he launched a program focused on leadership development specifically for people with disabilities.

A popular speaker known for his authenticity and humor, McCullough has been invited to speak at events throughout the continental US as well as in Puerto Rico, Colombia, Germany, and Turkey.

His first book, “A Billion People in the Shadows: The Ultimate 1-Hour Guide to Understanding Disability” was published in October 2024 and reached #1 in Amazon’s Business Diversity & Inclusion category.

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disability Employment Solutions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ⓒ 2026 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PodPro Entertainment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#SaveAsAbility #Ability #Inclusive #Inclusivity #LaborForce #Disability #DisabilityEmployment #ReasonableAccommodation #Accommodation #TheNewRadio

What if hiring people with disabilities became cash positive? 💼

This is the moonshot plan to transform SSI, VR, and workforce policy. 🚀

✅ The real numbers behind disability labor force participation
✅ Why “not working well enough” demands transformational change
✅ Strategy 1: Redirect training dollars straight to employers
✅ Strategy 2: Modernize Vocational Rehabilitation with open competition
✅ Outcome-based funding that rewards retention and performance
✅ Strategy 3: A predictable 5-year benefits glide path
✅ Reducing long-term strain on SSI, SSDI, and public spending
✅ Strategy 4: Fund accommodations like a small-ticket insurance model
✅ Strategy 5: Expand the Work Opportunity Tax Credit with a sliding scale
✅ Why AI disruption shouldn’t stop us from acting now

Reform the rules, reward performance, reduce fear — and disability employment becomes America’s next growth story. 📈

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disability Employment Solutions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ⓒ 2026 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PodPro Entertainment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#SaveAsAbility #Ability #Inclusive #Inclusivity #LaborForce #Disability #DisabilityEmployment #ReasonableAccommodation #Accommodation #WorkforceTransformation #DisabilityPolicy #EconomicReform #LaborMarketSolutions #PublicPolicyInnovation #AccessibleEmployment #SocialSecurityTrustFund #FutureReadyWorkforce #TheNewRadio

What if disability employment isn’t a charity issue — but a capital markets opportunity? 💼 📈

David D’Arcangelo breaks down a bold economic innovation that could reshape America’s growth.

✅ Why this episode focuses on market mechanics — not charity or bureaucracy
✅ The reality: 1 in 8 working-age Americans has a disability
✅ The 40-point employment gap and what it means for the U.S. economy
✅ How income suppression limits purchasing power and capital access
✅ Why 200% of the Federal Poverty Level defines financial vulnerability
✅ The concept of “weak signals” and how markets misread disability demand
✅ Why venture capital doesn’t fund need — it funds scalable opportunity
✅ Structural underutilization: idle labor capacity and underdeveloped markets
✅ How de-risking labor participation could unlock private capital
✅ Why this proposal is about stabilizing markets — not expanding bureaucracy

When we reduce risk and unlock participation, disability inclusion becomes an engine for national economic growth — not a side program. 🚀

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disability Employment Solutions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ⓒ 2026 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PodPro Entertainment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#SaveAsAbility #Ability #Inclusive #Inclusivity #LaborForce #Disability #DisabilityEmployment #ReasonableAccommodation #Accommodation #MarketMechanics #InclusiveEconomy #EconomicInnovation #CapitalMarkets #WorkforceParticipation #DisabilityAdvocacy #MainStreetGrowth #VentureCapital #LaborForce #FinancialStability #TheNewRadio

Health isn’t equal for everyone — and disability plays a major role in healthcare access worldwide. 🌍
Discover how removing barriers can transform health outcomes, employment, and everyday life for millions. ♿

✅ CEO and Founder Dahlia Shaewitz shares the mission of ThirdSight and advancing disability inclusion across industries

✅ Defining disability health equity and why equal access means removing barriers — not creating special treatment

✅ Exploring the World Health Organization Disability Health Equity Network and its global advocacy work

✅ Breaking down the statistic that 1.3 billion people globally live with disabilities and what that means for healthcare systems

✅ Understanding why people with disabilities face higher risks of chronic conditions and shorter life expectancy

✅ Examining social determinants of health including transportation, housing, employment, and poverty

✅ Highlighting how inaccessible healthcare facilities and digital systems delay or prevent essential medical care

✅ Discussing how employment access impacts healthcare coverage and overall well-being

✅ Explaining the power of universal design and why accessibility benefits entire communities

✅ Sharing practical ways policymakers, organizations, and individuals can apply a disability-inclusive lens

Health equity starts with accessibility. When systems remove barriers for people with disabilities, they improve life for everyone. 🌍

Website: https://www.thirdsightllc.com/

Dahlia Shaewitz is the founder and CEO of Third Sight, LLC, where she leads innovative strategies for disability inclusion, workforce development, and leadership training. She has 30 years of experience directing complex projects to advance disability rights, adult literacy, educational leadership, and vocational rehabilitation, impacting both policy and grassroots leadership across sectors. She has designed and implemented training for leaders in adult education and vocational rehabilitation across the country on topics that include: leadership development, data quality and use, program improvement, disability inclusion, and quality assurance and risk management.

Ms. Shaewitz provides strategic business development, education and workforce development, leadership development, executive coaching and staff management expertise to people, projects, and organizations ranging from the local to national arena. As an iPEC-certified executive leadership coach and trainer in MENTOR® — a leadership assessment tool that supports emerging leaders — she support leaders in examining their strengths and areas for growth. She also trains coaches and consultants in use of the MENTOR Leadership Assessment in support of leaders in community-based organizations, nonprofits, local and state government, and others who work to build an inclusive and equitable society.

Recognized for her expertise in knowledge translation, Dahlia has published data analyses and policy briefs to inform policies and practices to improve employment outcomes for people with and without disabilities. Her leadership has been acknowledged internationally, and she is a sought-after executive coach and mentor, known for driving systems change and fostering authentic, inclusive workplaces.  In 2020, she was selected for inclusion in Many Facets: America's Women Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment published by the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE). She serves on the Prince George’s County Commission for Individuals with Disabilities.

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disability Employment Solutions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ⓒ 2026 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PodPro Entertainment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#SaveAsAbility #Ability #Inclusive #Inclusivity #LaborForce #Disability #DisabilityEmployment #ReasonableAccommodation #Accommodation #DisabilityHealthEquity #HealthEquity #TheNewRadio

The disability economy is massive—but still ignored. 💸

Aarti Sahgal explains how capital, credit, and confidence can unlock real opportunity . 🚀

✅ Why disability and money are rarely discussed in the same breath

✅ How stigma—not talent—keeps founders with disabilities underfunded

✅ The hidden power of microbusinesses in the U.S. economy

✅ Why 99% of businesses are overlooked in policy and finance


✅ What it means to be “credit invisible” in the disability community


✅ How banks misjudge disability as risk instead of opportunity


✅ The role of networks in entrepreneurial success


✅ Why designing for disability improves systems for everyone

✅ How Synergies at Work supports founders beyond charity


✅ What a disability-first CDFI changes about access to capital

When disability meets capital markets, innovation follows—and everyone wins 💡

Website: ⁠https://synergieswork.org/⁠

Website: ⁠https://synergiesfund.org/⁠

Aarti Sahgal is the founder of Synergies Work, the largest startup hub dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs with disabilities to build scalable and sustainable ventures. Expanding this mission, she also leads Synergies Seed Fund, a rising Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) focused on closing the financial gap for disabled founders by providing accessible capital and financial inclusion solutions.

Aarti’s passion for this work is deeply personal. As the parent of a young man with Down syndrome, she has spent over two decades challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations that too often limits people with disabilities from reaching their full potential. Her work is rooted in fostering economic empowerment and inclusive ecosystems that recognize disability as a vital part of diversity.

Prior to founding Synergies Work, Aarti spent 14 years in advertising and marketing, bringing a strategic approach to brand-building and audience engagement. She holds a master’s degree in business management from one of Mumbai, India’s top business schools.

A sought-after thought leader, Aarti actively collaborates with corporations, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to advance disability inclusion in the workforce and entrepreneurship. Her work is redefining the landscape of disability inclusion—bridging the gap between talent, opportunity, and capital to create one world where people with disabilities belong.

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disability Employment Solutions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ⓒ 2026 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PodPro Entertainment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#SaveAsAbility #Ability #Inclusive #Inclusivity #LaborForce #Disability #DisabilityEmployment #ReasonableAccommodation #Accommodation #DisabilityEconomy #InclusiveCapital #DisabilityInBusiness #SocialImpactInvesting #AccessibleFinance #DisabilityInnovation #Microbusiness #CDFI #Entrepreneurship #InclusionMatters #ImpactEconomy #DisabilityAdvocacy #EquityInAction #PurposeDriven #FinancialAccess #SystemicChange #EconomicJustice #TheNewRadio

Private capital is reshaping disability innovation and opening massive new markets. 🚀
How assistive tech, AI, and inclusive design are changing lives and business right now. ♿ 💡

✅ Meet Chris Maher, founder of Samaritan Partners, a public benefit venture capital fund focused on disability innovation
✅ Learn why private capital is a missing but critical driver in scaling accessibility solutions
✅ Explore how inclusive and human-centered design leads to better products for everyone
✅ Understand why disability-focused startups are not niche — they’re market-expanding
✅ Discover how assistive tech and AI are accelerating independence and autonomy
✅ Hear how lived experience as a parent shapes smarter investment decisions
✅ Learn why accessibility is shifting from compliance to competitive advantage
✅ Dive into real-world innovations like Be My Eyes and real-time ASL translation
✅ Understand why the disability market represents billions in untapped opportunity
✅ See how collaboration across sectors can redefine inclusion for the next generation

Accessibility isn’t charity — it’s innovation, opportunity, and smart business rolled into one future-facing movement. 🚀

Website: https://www.samaritanpartners.com/

Chris Maher is Founder & General Partner at Samaritan Partners, a public benefit venture capital fund. Chris launched Samaritan Partners after spending 25 years as an operator and multi-time CEO at a variety of venture capital-backed companies, and 20 years raising two daughters with disabilities. 

Samaritan is focused on creating a more inclusive and accessible world by investing in early-stage, for-profit companies that provide products and services to, and/or create job opportunities for, people in the disability community.

Portfolio companies include Be My Eyes, Sign-Speak, Making Space, and Wheel the World.

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disability Employment Solutions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ⓒ 2026 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PodPro Entertainment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#SaveAsAbility #Ability #Inclusive #Inclusivity #LaborForce #Disability #DisabilityEmployment #ReasonableAccommodation #Accommodation #DisabilityInnovation #AccessibleTech #InclusiveDesign #ImpactInvesting #VentureCapital #AssistiveTechnology #DisabilityCommunity #AIForGood #FutureOfWork #UniversalDesign #AccessibilityMatters #TechForGood #SocialImpact #InclusiveEconomy #DisabilityRights #StartupCulture #InnovationMindset #TheNewRadio