Disability Lead is a network of people with disabilities who use our power to create an equitable and inclusive society. Our vision is that people with disabilities will lead with power and influence for full participation and equal opportunity as a vital part of the civic fabric in the Chicago region. And our mission is to increase civic engagement and diverse leadership in the Chicago region by developing and building a network of leaders with disabilities — consistent with the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Alongside our Network, we lead with our disability identity to pursue our vision with a voracious belief that creating a more equitable and inclusive society matters and is an obligation of everyone. We believe our disabilities are an asset and that we are most powerful when we are represented by an intersectional voice. We believe our leaders will change the world by delivering disability justice. And our leaders can and will create solutions for our most intractable social problems because they are inherently disability issues.
To feel engaged, connected, and empowered to make a difference, we know our employees must feel valued. We strive to build a culture where inclusion is are flex, not a nice idea. This includes providing accommodations through every phase including application, hiring, onboarding, and working day to day. We strive to create a place where employees can come and feel a deep sense of pride, passion and belonging that transcends any role and is unified in our shared commitment to supporting new leaders and improving our region’s civic life. We hold to be self-evident that creating a space where different ideas, perspectives, and backgrounds can come together to build something new, that we can create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers results as unique as our program (the only one of its kind in the nation).