I just got back from the USBLN 2010 Conference - Aligning Disability with the Bottom Line: Talent, Market Share and Supplier Diversity. I have been to many conferences over the years, but this will be remembered as the one that changed everything for me. I went into this conference with the goal of gaining new insight and knowledge about outreach programs and support for people with disabilities. I did this with the intent to help my clients meet their current and soon changing needs on their affirmative action efforts for people with disabilities. I came out of this conference with the same purpose, to assist in outreach for people with disabilities, but for a different reason. I was looking at it all wrong. It is not about government requirements, it is not about charity, for me it's about valuing an undervalued population. Giving them an opportunity, watching them succeed and letting everyone know it is possible.

For three days I went to session after session immersing myself in a new culture. At lunch I would sit next to someone who was blind, it seemed to me about a quarter of the attendees were in wheelchairs and there were sign language interpreters everywhere. It wasn't until this week that my eyes were opened, that my heart was opened and my mind was able to understand things differently. I owe this to the attendees of the USBLN conference who were warm and welcoming, the panel of operations guys (Randy Lewis, Senior Vice President – Distribution, Walgreens; James R. Salzano, Executive Vice President, Clarks Companies, N.A.; Stephen J. Szilagyi, Senior Vice President, Distribution) who took a risk, followed their heart and knew the workplace could be a better place by reaching out to people with disabilities and to my sister a high school counselor for a deaf and hard of hearing program who I have a new found respect for.

Like I said, my goal is no longer merely to help federal contractors meet their requirements, it is to inspire every company and help them understand the possibilities. The title of the blog is This Place Changes Everything, this has two meanings, first the place that changed everything for me was the USBLN Conference and the second meaning is that I hope that the Walgreens distribution center in Anderson, SC will be the place, the example that changes the minds of everyone on the abilities of people with disabilities. Please click here to view the Walgreens video, This Place Changes Everything to see and listen for yourself what a difference this company is making, not only in the lives of those with disabilities, but their families, co-workers and managers. Also please visit their Disability Inclusion website for further information, videos and awards on their program.