Unseen, Unheard, Unstoppable: Navigating Self-Advocacy as a Disabled Employee

​Finding power, belonging, and voice in workplaces that weren’t built with us in mind

​Join Julie Harris, Sam Gordano, Dennis Tran, Leah Reinardy, and Myles Wallace to explore why existing in workplaces were not designed for Disabled people and how it comes with an invisible weight- the mental load of constantly navigating access, belonging, and safety. For some, disclosure feels impossible; for others, being “out” brings a different set of challenges. Too often, corporate events and everyday interactions leave us feeling othered, excluded, or silently carrying grief, anger, and exhaustion.

​This session is an honest conversation about what it means to show up as a Disabled employee, whether disclosed or not, and how to reclaim agency in spaces that often overlook us.

​

​Together, we’ll explore:

• ​What “disclosure” actually means in practice , and why it’s deeply personal

• ​Strategies for showing up at work and at events while protecting your energy

• ​The heavy emotional toll of existing in workplaces not built for us — and how to process the sadness, anger, and grief

• ​How to move consciously from surviving to self-advocating, shifting from the energy of conflict or victimhood into grounded power

​You don’t have to have it all figured out to join this conversation. This is a space to be real, connect, and leave with practical tools to help you navigate your workplace, and yourself, with intention.