2026 Summit Speakers & Schedule
The 2026 CDI Summit is more than an event—it’s a space where leaders, advocates, and innovators come together to move disability inclusion forward in meaningful, measurable ways. Our speakers bring real-world experience, practical insights, and proven strategies to help you build a stronger, more inclusive workforce.
As you explore the schedule, you’ll find sessions designed to meet you where you are—whether you’re just getting started or looking to scale your efforts. Each conversation is grounded in actionable takeaways you can bring back to your organization to drive engagement, improve retention, and create lasting impact.
Main Speakers
Keynote Speaker
Alycia Anderson
CEO, The Alycia Anderson Company
Alycia Anderson is a Global Keynote Speaker, Disability Advocate, Accessibility Strategist, Podcast Host of Pushing Forward with Alycia, and CEO who empowers workplaces worldwide through transformative keynotes and workshops.
A wheelchair user since birth, Alycia holds a Master’s Degree in Adaptive Physical Activity and serves on California’s Insurance Diversity Task Force as the inaugural Persons with Disabilities Business Enterprise (PDBE) Representative.
Her work has been featured by TEDx, the Los Angeles Times, NBC, CBS News, and Authority Magazine’s Female Disruptors series.
She has partnered with 200+ global brands, including Microsoft, Victoria’s Secret, Netflix, Etsy, and the International Paralympic Committee, and modeled at New York Fashion Week 2024.
Alycia delivers keynotes, workshops, and trainings that help teams operationalize inclusion and build high-performing cultures.
She is also the Founder & Facilitator of Own It Mastery, a community and resource program for early-stage entrepreneurs to speak, sell, and scale with purpose through curriculum, coaching, and peer accountability.
Known for “right-sizing” everyday obstacles, Alycia opens minds to a world of possibility. And that’s how she rolls.
Visit www.alyciaanderson.com and connect with Alycia on LinkedIn for more insights and engagement highlights.
Emcee
Dustin Giannelli
CEO & Founder, HearsDustin
Dustin Giannelli is the CEO and Founder of HearsDustin LLC, a dynamic consultancy that champions accessibility and inclusion in the workplace. Dustin is profoundly deaf, has worn hearing aids since the age of 5, and leverages his personal journey to shed light on the transformative impact of effective communication, disability awareness, and best practices
Known for his authentic energy and inspiring message, Dustin is a sought-after public speaker and consultant, helping organizations foster a more inclusive and accessible workplace culture.
Visit HearsDustin.com and connect with Dustin on LinkedIn for more insights and engagement highlights.
Schedule
Doors Open & Breakfast
8:00 am
Morning
8:30 am – Noon
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Meaghan Walls, CEO, Center for Disability Inclusion
Keynote
Alycia Anderson, CEO, The Alycia Anderson Company
Break - Vendor Exhibitors & Book Fair
Session 1: Collective Responsibility for Disability Allyship
Eric Harris, Disability Rights California
Session 2: Connecting for Impact: Stories That Drive Disability Inclusion Forward
Matt Leger • Tiffany Adams • Nick Howe • Dr. Charnessa Warren
Lunch & Vendor Showcase
Showcase Companies: LightGuide • Mezmo Technologies • Wellthy • Nick Howe Foundation
Afternoon
1:30 – 5:00 pm
Session 3: From Requirement to Advantage: Cross‑Sector Perspectives on Disability Inclusion Beyond Compliance
Dustin Giannelli, hearsdustin • Michael Murray, GAO • Craig Leen, K&L Gates • Rachel Scheer Hoffman, Steelcase
Session 4: The Caregiving Imperative: Partnering for Inclusive Workplaces That Perform
Break - Ice Cream Social, Vendor Exhibitors & Book Fair
Session 5: Making Inclusion Stick - A Hands-On Workshop in Cross-Functional Collaboration
Meaghan Walls • Andy Traub, Center for Disability Inclusion
Closing Remarks
Evening
5:00-6:00 pm
Networking Social
Explore the Sessions
Opening Keynote: Alycia Anderson
Own It: Embrace, Elevate & Empower
Alycia Anderson brings her powerful storytelling and OWN It framework — Embrace, Elevate, Empower — to this keynote experience. Attendees will explore how identity, accessibility, and disability inclusion shape stronger leadership, deeper engagement, and more inclusive workplace cultures. This session will inspire participants to recognize barriers, elevate potential, and take meaningful action that supports both people and business success.
Eric Harris
Session 1: Collective Responsibility for Disability Allyship
True disability allyship goes beyond policies, benefits, and employee resource groups. In this session, Eric Harris will explore how organizations can build shared responsibility for disability inclusion through everyday practices, culture shifts, and sustained action. Attendees will learn how authentic relationships, community partnerships, and the voices of people with disabilities can help businesses move beyond compliance and create more proactive, inclusive, and sustainable workplaces.
4x4 Microlearning Sessions
Session 2: Connecting for Impact: Stories That Drive Disability Inclusion Forward
This dynamic “4×4” session brings together four powerful, story-driven micro talks that showcase how disability inclusion is advanced through collaboration, courage, and insight. Across four 12-minute segments, speakers will share real-world examples of impact – from cross-sector partnerships that reshape hiring practices, to individual leadership moments that inspire collective action, to personal journeys that transform adversity into purpose, and data-informed strategies that drive measurable change.
Together, these stories illuminate how meaningful connections – between people, organizations, and ideas – can spark innovation, expand opportunity, and create lasting, sometimes unexpected, outcomes in disability inclusion.
Panel Discussion
Session 3: From Requirement to Advantage: Cross‑Sector Perspectives on Disability Inclusion Beyond Compliance
This panel brings together leaders from business, government, and law to explore how accessibility and disability inclusion can move beyond compliance and become shared drivers of progress. Through real-world examples, panelists will show how proactive approaches can reduce barriers, support innovation, and create measurable value across organizations and systems.
Speakers TBA
Session 4: The Caregiving Imperative - Partnering for Inclusive Workplaces That Perform
Caregiving touches nearly every workforce, yet too often remains invisible in workplace strategy. As organizations rethink what true inclusion looks like, one question is rising to the forefront: how can companies better support employees balancing professional responsibilities with caregiving roles?
This dynamic discussion will explore the evolving definition of caregiving and its far-reaching impact on today’s workforce. Through powerful data insights and real-world perspectives, our panelists will uncover what caregivers are experiencing, what they need most, and how leading organizations are responding with innovative, people-centered strategies.
Whether you’re shaping culture, leading teams, or driving inclusion initiatives, this conversation will offer practical ideas and fresh inspiration to help you build a more supportive, resilient, and inclusive workplace for everyone.
Meaghan Walls • Andy Traub
Session 5: Making Inclusion Stick: A Hands-On Workshop in Cross-Functional Collaboration
What if we collaborate to fix stuff rather than work around it?
Inclusion efforts succeed when systems work—and systems work best when teams are aligned. This highly interactive closing workshop equips participants with the tools and shared language needed to turn disability inclusion intentions into sustained action.
Attendees will move through key stages of the disability inclusion journey, using data-informed frameworks to assess alignment at the business, department, and team levels. Through guided table discussions and live system-mapping exercises, participants will identify common barriers, pinpoint root causes, and define what meaningful improvement looks like.
Using real-world examples such as accommodation processes, digital accessibility, and event accessibility, participants will apply practical worksheets to evaluate systems and uncover opportunities for collaboration. The session concludes with reflection and action planning, ensuring attendees leave ready to take an immediate, informed step toward stronger, more connected disability inclusion efforts.