Harkin International Disability Employment Summit

“The unemployment rate among adult Americans with disabilities who want to work and can work is over 60 percent. That is a blot on our national character.” – Senator Tom Harkin in his farewell speech to the U.S. Senate.

The Harkin Summit brings together key champions and implementers from around the world to increase employment of people with disabilities.

Harkin Summit D.C. 2024

The Harkin Summit brings together key champions and implementers from around the world to increase employment of people with disabilities. The 2024 event will be held in Washington, D.C. at the JW Marriott Hotel.

The Harkin International Disability Employment Summit has occurred annually since 2016 and has gathered private employers, government leaders and disability advocates from more than 40 countries to address the barriers to competitive, integrated employment for persons with disabilities.

Become a Sponsor

Learn more about past Harkin Summits

The Harkin International Disability Employment Summit has occurred annually since 2016 and has gathered private employers, government leaders and disability advocates from more than 40 countries to address the barriers to competitive, integrated employment for persons with disabilities. 

Most recently, The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement hosted a regional Harkin Summit in our home state of Iowa in August 2021. In December 2020, The Harkin Institute partnered with Valuable 500 to host a virtual Harkin Summit. Learn more about both events by clicking the buttons below. 

New Report: Innovative Employment Practices at Work

Celebrating the Efforts of the Harkin Summit Community

The planning partners, speakers, and attendees of The Harkin Summit have formed  a community of practice in promoting competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities. This report shares a collection of innovative employment initiatives from around the world, solicited from past Harkin Summit participants and meant to celebrate the work of this community. Submissions were vetted through a formal review process. This project was led by The Harkin Institute Senior Disability Policy Fellow Julie Christensen.

New Report: Solving “Then What?”: Empowering Investors to Achieve Competitive, Integrated Employment for Persons with Disabilities

Empowering Investors to Achieve Competitive Integrated Employment for Persons with Disabilities

This white paper explores the role the investor community can play in improving employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Investors have both the power and the influence to work with the companies they invest in to fully integrate people with disabilities into all levels of their operations – from entry level to executive management. This paper, authored by The Harkin Institute Research Fellow Robert Ludke, provides a blueprint for achieving this.

Resources

In November 2017, Senator Tom Harkin (Retired) issued a challenge of doubling the labor force participate rate globally for persons with disabilities in the next decade. The following resources can help organizations fulfill their goal of employment more people with disabilities.

10 Things Everyone Should Know about People with Disabilities and Employment: In this column for Forbes Magazine, Andrew Pulrang encourages the creation of supportive social structures and government supports that position disabled people well to approach the labor market from a position of strength. Read the column here. 

Inclusive Employment: How to develop projects which promote the employment of people with disabilities and other vulnerable populations (2011): This paper applies the mandate and values of Humanity & Inclusion to inclusive employment activities. View report here and brief format here.

Situation of Wage Employment of People with Disabilities: This white paper is based on the results of a qualitative study of Handicap International’s inclusive livelihoods programs in 10 developing countries. The paper’s goal is to increase wage employment of people with disabilities by providing employers with the best practices showcasing successful wage employment facilitated by Handicap International and partner businesses, enterprises, and organizations. View the report here.