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Disabled Voices Matter! As an award-winning intellectual disability advocate and host of the Special Chronicles Podcast, Daniel Smrokowski tells special needs stories from an insider’s perspective. “PodmanDan” is himself a person with special needs. As your weekly guide to finding joy and acceptance, Special Chronicles offers entertaining and informational disability conversations.
Episodes

Monday Aug 28, 2023
Monday Aug 28, 2023
On this episode of the Special Chronicles Podcast’s Unified at Work Series S4: Pt 6: Daniel Smrokowski and Capt. Jill Mills talk about DEI Best Practices with United Airlines and Special Olympics, Recorded Live From VMS Professionals 2023 Conference.
We begin our presentation in talking about: DEI and the Inclusion Revolution with the May 2023 Cover of British Vogue magazine; Disability Stats; United's first ever Accessibility Showcase; What is a SOSA?; Daniel on being a SOSA at United; Jill on her favorite part of Daniel being a SOSA; and the Future of SOSA Program.
We then shift to DEI Best Practices to highlight the partnership with United Airlines and Special Olympics and how to be the most inclusive company possible at United. We mention a few United Airlines Awards and highlight a new video released for Global Accessibility Awareness Day.
Finally we wrap up with DEI Best Practices including: United Leadership agrees this is a priority; Training is key for employees; Include the community; and we remind attendees to have a plan from hiring to accommodations to retention long term. Join us as we present at the VMS Professionals 2023 Conference, originally presented on 11 May 2023 in Chicago.
Listen full episode here:
Watch full video here:
Special Chronicles Podcast Episode 541 ShowNotes & Links:
- Learn more about VMS Professionals Conference HERE
- Bridge, United Airlines’ Business Resource Group connecting people of all abilities. Book your travel today at United.com or on the award-winning mobile app.
- Listen and Subscribe to our Unified at Work Series for more inclusive employment conversations.
- Meet The SOSA’s: Tune in to our Podcast Playlist to listen to a collection of conversations with United Airlines’ Special Olympics Service Ambassadors (SOSAs) from Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN) & Houston (IAH).
- Connect with your local Special Olympics Program
- Support This Podcast HERE
- Review this show on ApplePodcasts or Spotify
- Follow this podcast on social media: @SpecialChronicles
- Subscribe to our Newsletter
- Send your audio and email feedback to feedback@specialchronicles.com
- Follow Daniel on social media: @podmandan
- Subscribe to Daniel’s SSIGM Journal
- WATCH ‘From Challenges To Opportunity’ (Full Talk) HERE
- Book Daniel to speak at your event: Daniel's Official Speaking Page
- Podcast Theme Music: “It Starts With A Voice” written by Amy Wright and performed by Ben Wright, co-founders of Bitty and Beau’s Coffee. Used with permission.
- Sponsor Break Background Music: Puzzle by Roa Used with permission: Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream | Music promoted by Audio Library
Thank you to our partners!
Support for Special Chronicles comes from ComEd. Special Chronicles is proud to partner with the ComEd Energy Force Ambassador Program. The Energy Force is the country’s first energy-efficiency education program designed for and taught by people with disabilities. ComEd is powering lives and really is powering us here at Special Chronicles to keep the lights on and our technology is powered on. As ComEd powers the lives of us, they are literally giving a voice to people with special needs. We thank ComEd for their generous support of our mission at Special Chronicles. Learn more at specialchronicles.com/comed
Support for Special Chronicles comes from United Airlines Bridge Disability Business Resource Group. Special Chronicles is proud to partner with United Airlines and their Bridge BRG. Bridge BRG is committed to being an ally for all employees and customers with disabilities. Bridge helps to create internal awareness to keep accessibility needs in mind and partner with key organizations to empower disability inclusion for employment and travel. Bridge. Connecting people of all abilities. Book your travel today on United dot com or on the award-winning United app. Learn more on United’s commitment to disability inclusion for employment and travel at specialchronicles.com/united
Special Chronicles is hosted by Podbean Podcast Hosting, the easiest, most affordable option to get started in podcasting. At Special Chronicles, we proudly host our weekly podcasts with Podbean and highly recommend you use Podbean Podcast Hosting to get started in podcasting today! Sign up for an unlimited hosting plan and Get One Month Free Now to get started in podcasting today when you visit SpecialChronicles.com/Podbean
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Sign The Inclusion Inclusion Pledge! The Revolution Is Inclusion - Click here to Sign the Inclusion Pledge Now: JoinTheRevolution.org
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