Our Story
From a local business network to a national partner, CDI has been helping companies turn disability inclusion into measurable business results for over 15 years.
The Center for Disability Inclusion (CDI) began in 2009 with a clear mission — to partner with businesses to create practical, results-driven disability inclusion strategies. Founded as the Business Leadership Network of Greater Kansas City through support from the SHRM-KC chapter and Kansas Works, our early years were marked by strong corporate partnerships, national recognition, and the creation of programs that connected companies with qualified talent.
Over the years, we’ve grown from a regional affiliate into a trusted national partner serving organizations of all sizes and industries. Along the way, we’ve launched innovative collaboration through the Disability Inclusion Network and expanded our reach into new markets across the country.
Our history is filled with milestones that reflect both innovation and impact — from hosting annual Disability Inclusion Summits to creating the Leader in Disability Inclusion Process Seal of Accomplishment award, a first-of-its-kind process that guides businesses toward measurable progress and recognition of those efforts.
Today, CDI delivers hundreds of hours of consultation, training, and customized solutions each year. Our work touches thousands of employees, reaches across multiple countries, and supports our partners in building workplaces where disability inclusion is a driver of performance, retention, and competitive advantage.
We invite you to explore how the Center for Disability Inclusion can help your business grow by turning commitment into action. Through customized training, proven best practices, and ongoing partnership, we’ll work alongside you to strengthen recruitment, retention, and performance — while positioning your company as a leader in disability inclusion.
The Center for Disability Inclusion exists to advance disability inclusion in the workplace, marketplace, and beyond.
2025
Year In Review
Celebrating the companies, people, and milestones driving inclusion forward.
At the Center for Disability Inclusion, we believe progress should be measurable, actionable, and tied to real business outcomes. In 2025, our growing network of partners—from local organizations to global brands—took bold steps to elevate disability inclusion in the workplace and beyond. This report highlights the milestones we achieved together: from delivering strategic consulting and training sessions, to recognizing leaders through the Seal of Accomplishment, to gathering changemakers at our Disability Inclusion Summit. It’s more than a recap—it’s a reflection of what’s possible when business and inclusion align.