Dallas, Texas – The Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) was honored with the esteemed Martha Arbuckle Award for its innovative Disability Inclusion Toolkit, an effort meant to promote workplace diversity by improving the integration of people with disabilities. This honor was included in the annual Lex Frieden Employment Awards, sponsored by the Committee for People with Disabilities under Governor Greg Abbott.
Emphasizing the state’s dedication to provide opportunities for all its residents, including the two million Texans living with disabilities, Governor Abbott at the awards ceremony commended the efforts of Texas groups such as the DRC.
“Our lives are not defined by how we are challenged, but how we respond to those challenges, and I applaud all the Texas businesses who empower Texans with disabilities,” Abbott said.
Launched in June during the DRC’s 2024 Inclusion Conference, the Disability Inclusion Toolkit is a complete toolkit for businesses looking to enhance their employment policies for individuals with disabilities, including neurodivergent diseases. Working with Ernst & Young LLP, the toolkit offers statistics, tools, and best practices gleaned from professionals and people personally experienced with living and working with impairments.
Nicole Ward, a Storyteller at the DRC who was instrumental in the development of the toolkit because of her own path with a traumatic brain injury, brought attention to the great disparity in conversations around disability.
“The disability community is so big, but the people talking about it is so small. And so, our goal with the toolkit is to get this conversation going,” she explained.
Read also: The famous Dallas Cabana Hotel is about to undergo a dramatic make-over into luxury apartments
The DRC’s program was officially recognized during the HireAbility Employer Forum and Lex Frieden Employment Awards luncheon hosted at Dallas College – Cedar Valley Campus. The celebration of the DRC’s successes specifically highlighted the cooperative character of this project. Senior Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement for DRC Latosha Herron Bruff noted the company commitment to diversity.
“We are an organization that prioritizes diversity and inclusion. This is not just a department; it’s part of what we do. It’s in the DNA of our organization… We could not do this without executive leadership and support. If your leadership doesn’t believe that this matters, this stuff doesn’t happen,” Bruff said.
Revealing that they are not a normal chamber of business, DRC President and CEO Dale Petroskey also considered the special position and dedication to inclusiveness of the chamber. He said the purpose of the chamber goes beyond mere business support to guarantee that every member of the community has equal chances for education, work, and a happy life.
Leading businesses like JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Bank of America as well as powerful groups like the North Texas Disability Chamber participated in the creation of the Disability Inclusion Toolkit.
Dylan Rafaty, the President & CEO of the North Texas Disability Chamber, lauded the DRC’s efforts: “This toolkit promotes competitive and integrated employment of persons with disabilities while promoting an increased employment pipeline and supporting local and regional organizations.”
Read also: Dallas-based Atmos Energy gives huge donation to North Texas Food Bank
Herron Bruff thanked the community and partners for their continuous support and recognition, which has been very essential for the development and influence of the toolbox. Further information about the projects of the DRC and the Disability Inclusion Toolkit is available on their website, which provides insights on the continuous effort to make Dallas an even more inclusive city.
 was honored with the esteemed Martha Arbuckle Award for its innovative Disability Inclusion Toolkit){kind=link}