On October 12, 2010, Georgetown University hosted the Conference on Employment of People with Disabilities to examine the challenges and opportunities in the area of employment of people with disabilities. Held in the Rafik B. Hariri Building of the McDonough School of Business, the conference featured two panels focusing on public policy, business and technology and the effect on disability employment. Panelists represented IBM, the American Association of People with Disabilities, the Federal Communications Commission, Autism Society of America, American Foundation for the Blind, AMC Entertainment Inc., the Financial Services Roundtable and US Business Leadership Network.
At the conference, organizers presented Congressman Tony Coelho with the Human Spirit Award, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the independence and employment of people with disabilities. He was the original House of Representatives sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and remains an advocate for the employment of people with disabilities. Furthermore, guests of the conference were privileged to hear Legendary ABC Newsman Sam Donaldson serve as the event’s emcee.
The committee that spearheaded this conference included Georgetown alumni Taylor Price (‘10), John Kemp (’71), Michael Marshall (’95, ’05) and Cameron Lynch, along with Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development’s Dr. Toby Long and Toni Brathwaite-Fisher. They look forward to next year’s conference.