Financial Experts, Civic Leaders to Convene at “The Bottom Line of Disabilities” Symposium to Discuss the Economics of Disabilities

Pete CodellaBusiness

On Friday, April 1, 2016, the “Bottom Line of Disabilities: Investing in Social Change” symposium will convene expert panelists to discuss the social, financial, and economic impact that disabilities have in our communities. The event will be held at Columbus, 3495 South West Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dr. Temple Grandin will give the keynote address “Helping Different Kinds of Minds Become Successful.” For registration information and a list of speakers and topics, go to bit.ly/SaltLake2016.

With 1 in 11 adults unemployed due to a disability, there are life-long consequences of poverty and isolation that disproportionately impact individuals with disabilities, their families and the communities where they live. Business, government, nonprofit, and civic leaders will discuss the role that governments, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, researchers, businesses, and the nonprofit sector play in facilitating opportunities for individuals with disabilities. This year’s panel topics include “The Employment Odyssey—A Candid Conversation about Government and Corporate Social Responsibility”; “The Role of Federal Reserve Bank: Policy, Research, Practices, and Collaboration that Impact our Communities”; and “Building Intentional Communities.”

Dr. Grandin is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University, bestselling author, autism advocate, and consultant on animal behavior. Articles have appeared in the New York Times, People, National Public Radio, 20/20, The View and the BBC. She was also honored in 2010 as one of “The 100 Most Influential People in the World” by Time Magazine. According to The Economist (Oct. 10, 2015), “She is a star in two seemingly separate firmaments: animal welfare and the understanding of autism.”

The event is co-hosted by Columbus (www.columbusserves.org) and the Global Interdependence Center (www.interdependence.org). Salt Lake-based Columbus is locally and nationally recognized as a nonprofit social enterprise that creates opportunity for individuals with disabilities through its business services and social services. The Philadelphia-based Global Interdependence Center convenes conferences and roundtable discussions with experts to address emerging global issues on such topics as economics, financial markets, healthcare, and government.

Follow on Twitter: Join @Interdependence and @Columbus_Serves as they discuss economics of disabilities, 4/1 in SLC bit.ly/SaltLake2016 #accessibility

Media contacts:
Stephanie Mackay, smackay@columbusserves.org, 385-715-5399 (direct); 801-699-5954 (cell)
Angelina Kendzior, a.kendzior@hotmail.com, 801-580-7614 (cell)