Beyond the Theory: Real Voices and Hands-On Learning at DIPC 2025
While keynote speakers undoubtedly bring valuable expertise to a conference, some of the most powerful learning happens when we hear directly from the people at the heart of disability inclusion - and when we get to practice what we're learning in real-time.
This year's Disability Inclusive Pathways Conference features authentic panel discussions that cut through assumptions and give you direct access to lived experiences, paired with interactive scenario workshops that let you immediately apply new insights.
- Journeys into Leadership
Our Disabled Leaders Panel: "Our stories into leadership" brings together distinguished disabled leaders who will share their personal journeys into leadership positions. You'll hear about the abilities, resilience, and support systems that shaped their paths, gaining actionable insights on removing barriers and creating more inclusive leadership pathways in your own organisation. - Creating Spaces that Work for Everyone
The Environments Panel: "Making our environments work for kaimahi and customers alike" features built-environment accessibility experts exploring how to create physical spaces that truly work for everyone. These aren't theoretical discussions but practical insights from professionals who understand how design choices impact daily experiences. - Customer-Focused Insights
The Customer Services Panel: 'Welcoming disabled customers' shifts the lens to the external-facing side of inclusion. How do organisations create genuinely welcoming experiences for disabled customers? What are the common pitfalls, and where are the unexpected opportunities to excel? This panel brings together frontline perspectives and strategic insights about serving the disability community - a market segment that represents significant economic power and influence. - Building Successful Employee Networks
Our Employee Network Panel: 'Learning directly from disabled kaimahi' brings together champions, allies, and leaders from successful Disability Employee Networks/ERGs. These panelists will share what it takes to build and sustain impactful employee networks. You'll hear practical strategies for engagement, overcoming common challenges, and creating networks that deliver real value for both employees and organisations. Senior Leadership Perspectives
The Senior Leaders Panel: "Organisation realities and what senior leaders need from us" offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from senior executives about the real challenges they face in advancing disability and neurodiversity inclusion. This honest discussion will explore what makes progress difficult at the organisational level and, crucially, what support they need to make disability and neurodiversity inclusion a genuine organisational priority.
Interactive Sessions and Workshops
But hearing about inclusion is only the beginning. Throughout both conference days, scenario-based workshops will give you the chance to work through real workplace situations with fellow attendees. These interactive sessions take the concepts from keynotes and panels and help you figure out how they actually apply in your context. Whether you're wrestling with accommodation requests, designing accessible services, or building inclusive teams, these workshops provide safe spaces to practice, problem-solve, and learn from others facing similar challenges.
In the guided workshop "Defining the disability value proposition," NZDEN's Chief Executive Phil Turner will challenge attendees to redefine the perception of disability inclusion as simply social good. Together, we'll explore the true value proposition of disabled people as employees and customers, shifting from disability inclusion from simply being ‘the right thing to do’, to real business advantage.
Quick-Fire Innovation - Lightning Talks: "Things to Ponder" delivers rapid-fire learning from five experts sharing their latest work in disability inclusion - but here's the catch: they have only five minutes each. Perfect for busy professionals who want concentrated insights and fresh perspectives.
Why This Matters
The combination of authentic voices and hands-on learning creates something unique - a conference experience that moves beyond inspiration to practical capability building. You'll leave with both deeper understanding of the lived experience of disability and concrete tools for creating change in your own organisation.
Ready to learn from real voices and practice real solutions?
Conference tickets are available at www.dipc.nz, with special member pricing for NZDEN members.