North Texas Disability Chamber

10/13/2026

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)!
This month, we're celebrating the skills, leadership, and contributions people with disabilities bring to workplaces and communities every day.

At REACH, we're proud to be led by and alongside people with disabilities who help advance independence, advocacy, and inclusion throughout our communities. Their lived experience strengthens our mission and helps create a more inclusive future for all.

Join us in recognizing the value of disability-inclusive employment. Read our latest article and share it with your network to help raise awareness and champion workplace inclusion: reachcils.org/en/news
👥 Thank you to our CEO, Jenny, Dylan, and North Texas Disability Chamber for helping shine a light on this conversation.

10/09/2026

Inclusive employment is not just a disability issue. It’s a workforce and economic opportunity.

We are encouraged to see KERA’s Abigail Ruhman spotlight the importance of expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities across North Texas.

The article references the recent announcement of the North Texas Inclusive Employment Collaborative in partnership with My Possibilities.

As our President & CEO, Dylan M. Rafaty, emphasizes, accessibility and disability inclusion must be recognized as economic drivers that strengthen businesses, expand workforce participation, and create meaningful opportunities for all.

At the North Texas Disability Chamber, we remain committed to convening businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders to bridge gaps, elevate collaboration, and turn conversations into measurable impact.

The business case for inclusion is clear. Now is the time to act.

Read the article:

A new initiative hopes to increase workforce participation among people with disabilities. The North Texas Inclusive Employment Collaborative will connect employers with resources, education and opportunities for disability-inclusive hiring.

09/25/2026

What happens when organizations stop focusing only on policies and processes and start focusing on the people behind them?

Dylan M. Rafaty sits down with Dee Maddox of DMX Consulting for a conversation about people-first leadership, organizational change, employee engagement, and creating workplaces that are accessible and inclusive for all.

Dee shares lessons from her career in human resources and organizational leadership, including her experience serving as the Human Capital Team Lead during the Space Shuttle retirement transition. She explains why communication is one of the most important tools leaders have during times of change—and how transparency can reduce confusion, resistance, and conflict while strengthening trust and credibility.

The conversation also explores what Dee calls “putting the human back into human resources.” Instead of applying the same approach to every employee, she encourages leaders to understand individual strengths, communication styles, motivations, development goals, and needs.

Dylan and Dee discuss the connection between empathy and accountability, why clear expectations matter, how delegation can become a professional development tool, and why strong systems and a people-first culture don’t have to compete with one another.

They also examine the business case for disability inclusion and accessibility. Dee explains why businesses may be overlooking highly capable talent simply because accessibility hasn’t been intentionally built into their processes—and why creating an inclusive organization begins with inviting different perspectives to the table.

09/24/2026

- Upcoming Event -

Community Connections: Fall 2026
Hosted by First United Bank - Plano

Our twice-a-year event features a guest speaker with ample opportunity to connect, learn, and grow with other community members. A charcuterie spread with w**e and bottled water is graciously provided by the North Texas Disability Chamber.

Please consider bringing a guest or two to come join you. There will be ample networking opportunities available.

Guest Speaker: Matthew Baek, President & Founder, The Stray Point Project

Purchase Tickets Today: https://events.humanitix.com/community-connections-fall-2026

Join us on October 1 for our next Community Connections where attendees will learn, connect, and grow together.

09/17/2026

It’s North Texas Giving Day! Support the North Texas Disability Chamber - Help Power Our Next 5 Years!

Donate Now: https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/Ntxdc

09/16/2026

🎙️ COMING UP ON LET’S WORK INCLUSIVELY!

On our upcoming episode, we sit down with Dee Maddox of DMX Consulting for a conversation about people-first leadership and elevating organizations through both empathy and accountability.

We’ll explore what it means to put people first while still setting expectations, driving results, and building stronger organizations.

Stay tuned for Episode 2 of Season 2! 💜

09/16/2026

Huge Win for the Disability Community in North Texas. Let’s go State Fair of Texas!

09/10/2026

🎞️ Introducing the 2026 NTXDC Awards Luncheon Highlight Reel!

On September 3, we celebrated our largest event yet and 5 Years of Impact for the North Texas Disability Chamber!

What a celebration of our journey, our community, and our incredible 2026 honorees:

⭐ TX State Representative Mihaela Plesa
⭐ Samar Waqar, Kind Theory
⭐ Annette Underwood, Vistra Corp.
⭐ Trip Neil, Dallas Trinity FC

Thank you to our sponsors, partners, volunteers, and everyone who joined us. Your support continues to help us advance accessibility, disability inclusion, opportunity, and belonging across North Texas and beyond.

Five years down and we’re just getting started.

🎥 Video Credit: Pi Studio, LLC

08/28/2026

MEET OUR FINAL 2026 HONOREE: TRIP NEIL 💜⚽

The North Texas Disability Chamber is proud to recognize Trip Neil as the namesake and inaugural recipient of the 2026 Trip Neil Community Impact Award!

For 20 years, Trip represented the United States with the U.S. Deaf Men’s National Soccer Team and spent more than a decade helping lead USA Deaf Soccer. In 2024, Trip and his family helped make North Texas sports history by founding Dallas Trinity FC, bringing professional women’s soccer to our region.

Today, Trip continues his impact through U.S. Soccer, Deaf sports, business, and community advocacy.

The Trip Neil Community Impact Award recognizes leaders and athletes in sports who strengthen communities, expand opportunity, and use the power of sports to create impact far beyond themselves. It is especially meaningful that its inaugural recipient is the leader whose legacy inspired its name.

Congratulations, Trip! We’re proud to celebrate you at the 2026 NTXDC Awards Luncheon — 5 Years of Impact.

📅 September 3, 2026
⏰ 10 AM–1:30 PM
📍 Hilton Dallas/Plano Granite Park

🎟️ Purchase tickets today: ntxdc.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/2026NTXDCAwardsLuncheon

08/27/2026

What does it really mean to create an experience where everyone feels seen, respected, and included?

On this episode of Let’s Work Inclusively, host Dylan M. Rafaty sits down with Dr. Shahriela Ganjoor, founder of Modern Bite Dentistry, Home of Veneer Lounge, to explore the intersection of entrepreneurship, patient experience, accessibility, and disability inclusion.

Dr. Ganjoor shares how she went from dental hygienist to dentist and entrepreneur, and why she designed her practice around creating a more personalized experience for every patient. From private dental suites and sensory considerations to additional appointment time and individualized communication, she explains how understanding what a person actually needs can transform their experience.

Dylan also shares his perspective as a deaf and hard-of-hearing patient, including why well-intentioned accommodations can sometimes create new barriers when organizations make assumptions instead of simply asking.

The conversation goes beyond dentistry to explore how businesses can empower employees, build cultures centered on empathy, approach accessibility as an opportunity rather than an obligation, and give people the freedom to provide the kind of support each individual needs.

Dr. Ganjoor also shares the philosophy that has influenced her entrepreneurial journey: “Today is yesterday’s tomorrow.” Her message is simple—when you see an opportunity to make something better, take action instead of waiting for someone else to do it.

Ultimately, inclusion isn’t about treating everyone exactly the same. It’s about creating an environment where people feel loved, respected, and able to fully participate.