The USBLN® is preparing to hold its 11th Annual Conference. The purpose of the conference is to assemble employers, BLN Chapter members and other stakeholders to identify successful strategies aimed at diversifying the American workplace. The USBLN® Vision is that every employer recognizes and benefits from the best practice of including people with disabilities in their workforce and marketplace.

Since becoming a legal entity in 2002, The USBLN® has held four national conferences hosted by our state chapters: CABLN, NYBLN, PABLN, MNBLN and last year's Greater Orlando BLN. Each year the attendance has grown, evaluations have become more enthusiastic, and USBLN® chapters and members have expanded. Our theme for the 2007 conference, "Building the New Workforce: Inclusion & Innovation" focused on implementing the many innovative strategies in order to educate business on the business imperative of including people with disabilities in the workforce.

For the first time in 2006, we partnered with AAPD to launch Disability Mentoring Day with a national career fair for students. There were 600 students - high school and college - who attended the career fair (and we had to turn away another 400 students). Conference keynote speakers included U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, former Senator Bob Dole, John Kemp, well-known disability rights advocate, attorney and author, Stedman Graham and Emanuel Yeboah.

In 2007, we built upon our many successes in Minnesota and convened our most successful conference in history. Our many testimonials prove it…

“Building the New Workforce to look like America creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities and makes our nation stronger. I commend the work the USBLN® and its partners are doing to prepare our country’s future workforce.”

Karen M. Czarnecki, J.D. Acting Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy

"If you read business management "best-practice" books, you see the leading corporation names repeated. If you participated in the USBLN Annual Conference, you saw these same corporations. Coincidence or "best practice?" USBLN participants demonstrated to others how disability and employment should be done. Learning from the best is a practice I'll gladly use."

Philip A. Hyssong, Managing Partner Alternative Communication Services, LLC

“You did an amazing job. I don't know how you physically kept it together. It was the first USBLN I attended and I was inspired. Many opportunities to network and to learn. Your key note speakers were unforgettable.”

Merry P. Korn Pearl Interactive Network, LLC

CLICK HERE to learn more about the USBLN’s 2007 Annual Conference.