This symposium convenes expert panelists, corporate and civic leaders, advocates, and industry professionals to discuss the impact disabilities have in our communities. It is an opportunity to have candid conversations about the innovative ways we can tackle the pressing social, financial, and economic issues related to disabilities.

About This Year’s Topic: Recently, the impact of disabilities was elevated to a global discussion when the first-ever panel on disability inclusion was convened at the 2019 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. 19% of the world population has a disability, and these individuals experience the highest poverty, unemployment, and social isolation of any demographic group. However, as was pointed out at the World Economic Forum, we seldom recognize disabilities as systemic to other social and economic issues. Multi-national corporations can lead change with disability-inclusive business strategies that promise a proven return on investment, and developers can lead out with innovative, affordable housing solutions. However, as families demonstrated six decades ago, significant change only occurs when we collaborate to create innovative, meaningful, and sustainable solutions for some of the most marginalized among us.

The Bottom Line of Disabilities symposium will be held in conjunction with the Utah Film Society for the Peek Award for Disability in Media. The award is named after Kim Peek, who was the inspiration for Dustin Hoffman’s character in the Oscar-winning move Rain Man. Kim Peek was a Salt Lake resident, and his father Fran Peek was a founding parent of Columbus. The annual award honors a subject, director, or actor in a film that has helped to improve the public’s understanding of disability in society.

Click here to register.

Please email [email protected] for more information on how attendees can receive credit from the following CE organizations:

• CFP Board (3 CE credit hours)
• AFCPE Post Certification (3 credit hours)

Agenda

Monday, April 1, 2019, 7:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Peek Award for Disability and screening of Intelligent Lives from award-winning filmmaker Dan Habib
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
138 Broadway (300 South), Salt Lake City, UT
Click here for more information about the Peek Award.
There is no cost to attend the screening.

Tuesday, April 2, 2019, 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Bottom Line of Disabilities Symposium
Zions Bank Tower
Founders Board Room, 18^th Floor
One South Main Street, Salt Lake City, UT

7:30 – 8:00 a.m. | Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00 – 8:10 a.m. | Welcome

• Kristy Chambers, CEO,Columbus Community Center
• Event Emcee: Lance Allred, International Keynote Speaker and First Deaf Player in NBA History

8:10 – 8:20 a.m. | Opening Remarks

• Stephanie Mackay, Chief Innovation Officer, Columbus Community Center

8:20 – 8:45 a.m. | Keynote Address

• Bryan Miller, Writer, Coach, and Philanthropist, “Make the World Work for Every One”

8:45 – 9:45 a.m. | Session I: An Economic Outlook from Top Economic and Financial Experts
Tax reform, a trade war, the global economy, the Fed balance sheet, and a government shutdown are all headline news. A distinguished panel of economists will have timely updates on current economic and financial news.

• Moderator: Spencer P. Eccles, Managing Director, The Cynosure Group
• Philippa Dunne, co-editor, TLR Analytics High Resolution Economic Research, “A Look at Unemployment and the Labor Participation Rate”
• David Altig, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Director of Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, “A Decade After the Great Recession: Lessons Learned about Workforce Development”
• Patricia Healy, Senior Vice President of Research, Cumberland Advisors, “An Investors Perspective on Opportunity Zone”

9:45 – 10:45 a.m. | Session II: Models of Corporate Social Responsibility that Make a Difference
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a self-regulating business model that guides organizations to be socially accountable. CSR is becoming institutionalized in many companies, but how can we assess actual impact in our community? Only 4% of corporations have diversity policies that specifically acknowledge individuals with disabilities. Representatives from a cross-section of companies, ranging from small to large, will discuss their CSR models and how they are demonstrating impact locally, nationally, and globally. They will be invited to bring to the discussion their ideas on how, as business leaders, they can provide guidance in addressing ways to improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

• Moderator: Jay Francis, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs & Miller Family Philanthropy
• Jeff Miller, General Manager, Mark Miller Subaru, “Integrating Social Corporate Responsibility in a way that Creates Positive Change in the Workplace and the Community”
• Jennifer Hwu, Ph.D., CEO, InnoSys, “Tapping into Neurodiversity in the Workplace”
• Safia Keller, Chief Employment Development Officer, Columbus, “Collaborations that are Redefining Neurodiversity in the Workplace
• Elizabeth Whisamore, EVP, Director of Human Resources, Zions Bancorporation,
• Jamee Rawlings Beus, Trust Specialist, Zions Bank, “Diversity and Disabilities: A Success Story”

10:45 – 11:00 a.m. | Break

11:00 a.m. – noon | Session III: A Roundtable Discussion with Emerging Leaders about the Future of Housing and Workplace Environments
With a booming economy and low unemployment, we still see “at-risk” low-income families struggling with stagnate wages, lack of affordable housing, and obstacles to community services. Many of these families are disproportionately impacted by disabilities. This panel of emerging leaders will discuss some of the innovative efforts that are paving the way to make our communities more accessible and affordable for current and future generations. They will be invited to bring to the discussion their ideas on how, as community leaders, they can facilitate discussions about access and affordability for individuals with disabilities and their families. 

• Moderator: Wayne Niederhauser, Principal and Co-Founder, CW Management Corporation
• Abby Ivory, Manager, Impact Investing, Sorenson Impact Center, “The Ivory Innovation Prize in Affordable Housing”
• Cameron Gunter, president, PEG Development, “Balancing the Social Mission and Business Proposition of Affordable Housing”
• Brian Dawson, CFO, MADi Homes, “International Efforts to Create Affordable Housing”
• Taylor Woodbury, COO, Woodbury Corporation, “Building on a Family Legacy: Thoughts on Issues Faced by the Next Generation of Real Estate Development Leaders”

12:15 – 1:00 p.m. | Lunch and a conversation with Barry Morrow

• Barry Morrow, Oscar-award winning screenwriter of the Rain Main. How the Rain Man Changed the Discussion of Disabilities.
• V.R. Ferose, author, autism advocate, and Senior Vice President at Globalization Services, SAP, SE.
  These two inspiring individuals will share their stories about how disabilities shaped their lives and careers in ways that have transformed how we look at disabilities. Barry Morrow is best recognized for his Oscar-winning screenplay of The Rain Man and his friendship with Kim Peek, a Salt Lake native, who inspired the Raymond Babbitt character in the movie. V.R. Ferose founded SAP’s “Autism at Work” program in India, and it has since become a model of inclusion at SAP and other major corporations. He is a widely acclaimed author and speaker who shares inspiring stories about individuals with disabilities to audiences around the world.

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. | Session IV: The Role of Media and Disabilities: Telling the Story
The movie Rain Man had a profound impact in popular culture because it gave an authentic and humane portrayal of a man with a significant disability. Panelists will share how storytelling raises awareness and facilitates change that is positive and meaningful for families and communities.

• Moderator: Jasen Lee, Journalist, Deseret News/KSL
• Dallas Graham, Founder, The Red Fred Project, “The Legacy of a Child’s Story”
• Kasandra VerBrugghen, Executive Director, Spy Hop, “Unlocking Potential through the Creative Process”
• Suzi Montgomery, Media Arts Education Director, Utah Film Center, “The Power of Filmmaking in the Classroom”
• Vanessa Williamsen, Filmmaker and Founder, Rootworthy Films, “Integrating Filmmaking into the Classroom to Help Children Tell Their Stories About Disabilities”

2:15 – 3:00 p.m. | Breakout Sessions

• Breakout Session 1. Meet the Filmmaker. Join Barry Morrow, Oscar-award winning screenwriter as he discusses his film career and his friendship with Kim Peek, the inspiration for Rain Main.
• Breakout Session 2. Corporate Social Responsibility. An opportunity to discuss with corporate leaders best practices and ideas for implementing and measuring the impact of corporate social responsibility.
• Breakout Session 3. Supporting Neurodiversity through Technology and Best Practices. An opportunity to discuss some of the practices and technologies that can support neuro-diverse individuals, their families, clinical and medical providers, and employers as they pursue employment and independent living.

Event Contacts

• Angie Kendzior, [email protected], 801-580-7614
• Monica Owen, [email protected], 385-715-5375