Michigan Department of Civil Rights to Host 2025 Civil Rights Summit on Thursday, May 8 in Novi
Lansing, MI—The Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) will host the Civil Rights Summit for 2025, this year with a focus on disability rights and accessibility.
Members of the news media are invited to attend, in person or virtually via ZOOM (see links below.)
What: 2025 Civil Rights Summit: Disability Rights – Accessibility Beyond Compliance in Michigan
Where: Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave., Novi, MI 48374 / VIRTUAL VIA ZOOM
When: Thursday, May 8, 2025 – 10 AM to 4 PM
Plenary/Workshops:
Opening Plenary: Accessibility from a Public Policy Perspective – 10 AM-11 AM
Morning Workshops: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- Workshop 1: Accessible Healthcare -
- Workshop 2: Inclusive Employment Practices/Policy
- Workshop 3: Responsible AI, Assistive Technologies and Digital Accessibility
Lunch Plenary: Fireside Chat with Claudia L. Gordon, Senior Accessibility Strategist with T-Mobile US, Inc – 12:45 PM – 2:00 PM
Afternoon Workshops (repeat of morning workshop topics) 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Closing Plenary: John E. Johnson, Jr., Executive Director, MDCR
Keynote Speakers/Panelists:
- KEYNOTE: Rebecca Cokley, Program Officer for the Ford Foundation’s U.S. Disability Rights program
- KEYNOTE: Claudia L. Gordon, Senior Accessibility Strategist with T-Mobile US, Inc.; former Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and Associate Director of Public Engagement for the White House Office of Public Engagement; former Chair of the National Council on Disability
- MC: Tyra Khan, Director of MDCR’s Disability Rights and Compliance Division; State of Michigan ADA Coordinator
- David Q. Worthams, Chair, Michigan Civil Rights Commission
- John E. Johnson, Jr., Executive Director, MDCR
- Dr. Michael McKee, University of Michigan Center for Disability Health and Wellness
- Robin Jones, Project Director and Principal Investigator, Great Lakes ADA Center
- Michelle Roberts, Executive Director, Disability Rights Michigan
- Nacsha Ealy, Business Relations Consultant, Michigan Rehabilitation Services
- Brendan Coleman, Staff Attorney, MDCR
- Alannah Buford-Kamerman, Acting Director of Legal Affairs, MDCR
- Tameka Citchen Spruce, Disability Justice Advocate
- Annie Urasky, Legislative Liaison and former Director of the Division on Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing, MDCR
- Sarahelizabeth Baguhn, Research Specialist, American Foundation for the Blind
- Kellie Blackwell, Assistive Technology Program Co-Director, Michigan Disability Rights Coalition
- Dana Justice, Service Manager, Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget
- Amy Maes, Director of Access Services, Disability Network Eastern Michigan
- Kim Woolridge, Deputy Executive Director, MDCR; former State of Michigan ADA Coordinator
- Tiara Yakini, ADA Compliance Manager, MDCR
Opening Plenary: Accessibility from a Public Policy Perspective, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Welcome Remarks: David Q. Worthams, John E. Johnson, Jr.
- Keynote Speaker: Rebecca Cokley
Morning Workshop: Inclusive Employment Practices/Policy, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
- Panelists: Nacsha Ealy, Alannah Kamerman, Tameka Citchen Spruce
- Moderator: Annie Urasky
Lunch Plenary: Fireside Chat, 12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
- Keynote Speaker: Claudia L. Gordon
- Interviewer: Tiara Yakini
Afternoon Workshop: Responsible AI and Assistive Technologies, Digital Accessibility, 2:15 PM - 3:30 PM
- Panelists: Sarahelizabeth Baguhn, Kellie Blackwell, Dana Justice
- Moderator: Amy Maes
Closing Plenary: 3:45 PM - 4:00 PM
- Speaker: John E. Johnson, Jr, MDCR Executive Director
Morning Workshop: Accessible Health Care, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
- Panelists: Dr. Michael McKee, Robin Jones, Michelle Roberts
- Moderator: Brendan Coleman
Afternoon Workshop: Accessible Health Care, 2:15 PM - 3:30 PM
- Panelists: Dr. Michael McKee, Robin Jones, Michelle Roberts, Rep. Sharon MacDonell
- Moderator: Brendan Coleman
Morning Workshop: Responsible AI and Assistive Technologies, Digital Accessibility, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
- Panelists: Sarahelizabeth Baguhn, Kellie Blackwell, Dana Justice
- Moderator: Amy Maes
Afternoon Workshop: Inclusive Employment Practices/Policy, 2:15 PM - 3:30 PM
- Panelists: Nacsha Ealy, Alannah Kamerman, Tameka Citchen Spruce
- Moderator: Annie Urasky
The Michigan Department of Civil Rights is charged with investigating complaints of discrimination and working to prevent discrimination through educational programs that promote voluntary compliance with civil rights laws. The Department also provides training and services to government agencies, businesses, schools and organizations on diversity initiatives, fair housing and equal employment law. MDCR is the operational arm of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. Learn more about MDCR at michigan.gov/mdcr.
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