- Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities
Media Contact
Imene Bouziane Saidi, Executive Director
Boston — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2026
Contact:
Imene Bouziane Saidi, Executive Director
Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities
Imene.BouzianeSaidi@mass.gov
Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month at the Massachusetts State House
Boston, MA – The Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities hosted its 2026 National Disability Employment Awareness Month Celebration on October 7, 2026, at the Massachusetts State House and virtually via Zoom, bringing together people with disabilities, employers, legislators, state leaders, advocates, and community partners from across the Commonwealth.
More than 200 people registered to attend the morning celebration in person, with more than 100 additional registrations to join virtually. The program featured Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll as keynote speaker, remarks from employees with disabilities, and recognition of legislative leaders, employers, and an employment support professional for their contributions to disability-inclusive employment across Massachusetts.
The Commission recognized Senator Joan Lovely as its 2026 Senate Legislative Honoree and Representative Sean Garballey as its 2026 House Legislative Honoree. The Langham Boston Hotel and Disability Policy Consortium were recognized as the Commission’s 2026 Small-to-Mid-Size Organization Honorees, Eastern Bank as its 2026 Large Organization Honoree, and Micah Fleisig, Senior Manager of Disability Services at JVS Boston, as the 2026 Employment Support Champion.
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll delivered the keynote address, highlighting the importance of removing barriers to employment and expanding opportunities for people with disabilities to build meaningful careers and participate fully in their communities.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a meaningful career and succeed,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Our administration is committed to breaking down barriers and expanding opportunities for people with disabilities across Massachusetts. I’m proud to celebrate this year’s honorees for their leadership in building more inclusive workplaces and making sure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
Commission Chair Denise Garlick reflected on the contributions of employees with disabilities and the collective work needed to advance employment accessibility and inclusion across the Commonwealth.
“Today we are inspired by this outstanding gathering of individuals with disabilities, who are joined by their work colleagues to celebrate and honor their many contributions to the success of the businesses and organizations of Massachusetts,” said Commission Chair Garlick. “We are empowered by the actions of legislative leaders who, through their advocacy, policy and budget support, remove barriers to employment and enhance accessibility and inclusion. Together, we make the Commonwealth work for everyone!”
Commission Vice Chair and Executive Board Member Christopher White, Ed.D., highlighted the role employment can play in inclusion and empowerment for people with disabilities:
“Having a job is the best path for true inclusion in the community while empowering people with disabilities! We salute them all and the employers providing opportunities to them!”
Senator Joan Lovely reflected on the recognition and the importance of meaningful employment:
“I am deeply grateful to the Commission for this honor, and I share it with the workers, families, and employers who make inclusion real every day. Every person deserves the dignity of meaningful work, and I will keep working to ensure our workplaces are open, accessible, and welcoming to all.”
The Commission recognized Representative Sean Garballey as its 2026 House Legislative Honoree:
“I am honored to be recognized by the Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities during their National Disability Employment Awareness Month Celebration and would like to extend my gratitude to my colleagues and the advocates that have made life-changing legislation possible,” said Representative Sean Garballey. “Without years of steadfast commitment by many individuals, laws like the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative, which sets students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and autism up for future success in the workplace by reducing barriers to higher education, would not be on the books today. I look forward to continue working with the commission and furthering our shared mission of creating a more inclusive Commonwealth.”
The celebration recognized three Massachusetts employers for their work to advance disability inclusion in the workplace.
Robin White, Director of People & Culture at The Langham Boston Hotel, one of the Commission’s 2026 Small-to-Mid-Size Organization Honorees, reflected on the recognition:
“The Langham Hotel Boston is extremely honored and proud to be recognized as an Honoree as part of the National Disability Awareness Month Celebration. Recognizing, respecting and celebrating the differences in one another, make our workplaces and the world a better place to live.”
Harry Weissman, Executive Director of Disability Policy Consortium, also recognized as a 2026 Small-to-Mid-Size Organization Honoree, spoke about DPC’s approach to disability inclusion as a disability-led organization:
“The Disability Policy Consortium (DPC) is thrilled and humbled to receive this honor from the Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities. As an organization led by and for people with disabilities (over 75% of our staff and board identify as people with disabilities), we strive to create organizational policy and foster an inclusive environment where employees with disabilities feel supported, and that empowers them to grow in their roles and careers. We’re proud to be recognized for these efforts, and it only fuels our commitment to making DPC a place where people with disabilities want to work and volunteer.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is an opportunity for employers around the country to reflect on what they can do to better support and recruit employees with disabilities, but in reality, this is a year-round exercise. People might take for granted and expect a disability-led organization to prioritize disability inclusion in its own workplace. But we believe every employer has both the ability and the responsibility to go beyond ADA compliance and build workplaces where people with disabilities are fully included. We're excited to celebrate NDEAM with other honorees and advocates for workplace inclusion on October 7th and dream up a not-too-distant world where people with disabilities have equal opportunity and support in the workplace.”
Kathy Henry, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Human Resources Officer of Eastern Bank, the Commission’s 2026 Large Organization Honoree, reflected on disability inclusion and belonging in the workplace:
“Disability inclusion and belonging at Eastern is important to us - it requires that we know our colleagues and understand how they can prosper at work," said Kathy Henry, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Human Resources Officer of Eastern Bank. "It is part of how we attract and retain great people, and it contributes meaningfully to how we make an impact in serving our customers and communities across Massachusetts. Being named the Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities’ 2026 Large Employer Honoree during National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a meaningful honor for our colleagues, especially the members of our Diverse Abilities Employee Resource Group who help shape our culture and workplace. We thank them for their leadership and the Commission for this recognition.”
The Commission recognized Micah Fleisig, Senior Manager of Disability Services at JVS Boston, as its 2026 Employment Support Champion. The recognition honors an individual whose work supports people with disabilities in finding, navigating, and succeeding in meaningful employment.
Fleisig reflected on receiving the recognition and the community behind his work:
“I am deeply grateful to be recognized by the Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities, and receiving this honor during National Disability Employment Month makes it all the more meaningful. It feels strange to receive this for work I do alongside a remarkable community — my colleagues at JVS Boston and so many partners beyond it. This work has given me far more than I could ever give back.”
Following the morning celebration, the Commission continued its NDEAM programming with Artificial Intelligence, Disability, and the Future of Work. More than 150 people registered to attend the afternoon panel in person.
Commissioners Rachel Stanton and Carl Richardson co-moderated the discussion, which explored AI and employment, including hiring and resume screening, accessibility, bias, inclusive design, and the opportunities and concerns emerging as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into the workplace.
Stanton reflected on the importance of keeping accessibility and disability inclusion at the forefront beyond NDEAM:
“October is ‘National Disability Employment Awareness Month’, but disability inclusion should be every day of the year. Across all sectors, we need to stop working backwards and consider accessibility first. Only then will we have a diverse and fully representative workforce in the Commonwealth.”
The Commission extends its appreciation to Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll; the 2026 legislative, employer, and Employment Support Champion honorees; Commissioners and Advisory Council members; panelists; staff and volunteers; ASL interpreters and CART providers; and the many community members, employers, advocates, state partners, and organizations who joined the Commission in person and virtually for this year’s celebration.
For event materials and recordings visit: NDEAM 2026
For the photo album (coming soon!), visit: NDEAM 2026 Photo Album
For more information about the Commission, visit: Commission's website
To stay in touch with the Commission’s meeting and upcoming events, visit Stay in touch link
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