5 Things not to Miss at the 2017 Ruderman Inclusion Summit

5 Things not to Miss at the 2017 Ruderman Inclusion Summit

November 16, 2017 / 0 Comments 0 Comments

[:en]5 Things not to Miss at the 2017 Ruderman Inclusion Summit!—Something for Everyone!

The Ruderman Inclusion Summit is right around the corner, taking place on 11/19 and 11/20 and sold out at 1200 attendees, it is gearing up to be the biggest disability inclusion event of the year. We have over 50 remarkable speakers and 17 amazing breakout sessions over those two days. It will be such a blast that it’s a bummer I can’t time travel to be at each session.

We are covering such a diversity of sectors and issues that impact the disability community that there truly is something for everyone in there. So with that in mind, here is a (very incomplete) brief breakdown of five things you don’t want to miss—sorted by interest

One: For the engineers, designers, and overall tinkerers

If you are into making things and solving problems by making things—often via 3D printers—you really want to check out the makeathon. There makers collaborate with need-knowers—who are people with disabilities, intimately familiar with an everyday obstacle they face (for example, how to wipe your wheelchair wheels after rolling through a puddle and not wanting to get your house dirty). Over the course of two days these teams will embark on a marathon to find a usable solution to the problem at hand.

makeathon-2017

 

Two: For those who follow politics and are hopeful about bipartisan collaboration

If this sounds like you, then you don’t want to miss the opening plenary session on Sunday with Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) in conversation with Congressman Gregg Harper (R-MS). The two will discuss bipartisan collaboration and the future of disability inclusion in Congress.

Three: For music fans

If you are really gung ho about music, then you have probably already heard about Mandy Harvey. The America’s Got Talent phenomenon earned the much-coveted golden buzzer from Simon Cowell this summer and finished in fourth place for the entire season. She will be wowing us at the Summit with her remarkable singing, and will also speak.

Four: For fans of movies and TV

As you know, the Ruderman Family Foundation has been doing a lot of work in Hollywood with two of our Ruderman White Papers focusing on the inclusion of performers with disabilities. Well, if you don’t feel like reading about the latest challenges and successes of Hollywood inclusion, you can hear about it directly from the stellar lineup of our Hollywood panel: Danny Woodburn, Wendy Calhoun, CJ Jones, Eileen Grubba, and Tari Hartman Squire. And also at the Summit, in other engagements will be Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin, actress and model Stephanie Nogueras, and actor and model Nyle DiMarco.

Five: For young adults and aspiring leaders

If you are a young adult with or without a disability and seeking a community and network that is all about making change in the world and advancing disability inclusion as a civil right, come to the Link20 party on Sunday night! Mingle and network with likeminded peers and just maybe meet a couple of celebrities to boot.

If you’re reading this and are bummed that you cannot be with us for one reason or another, no worries. All our plenaries as well as the Hollywood panel will be live streamed! Just go to our Facebook page and join us virtually. We will also be live tweeting the whole Summit, so follow #inclusion2017. Let’s keep the movement going![:]

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