During this four-day event, 258 attendees gathered on Capitol Hill, including 64 employees with disabilities ("self-advocates") and leaders from 58 nonprofit agencies, representing 35 states and territories. Attendees met with members of Congress and their legislative staff to share their personal stories of success through employment in the AbilityOne Program. Key organizations represented at the conference included the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the National Council on Disability (NCD), the National Council of SourceAmerica Employers (NCSE), the AbilityOne Commission, ACCSES, and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). The self-advocates' personal success stories illustrated how the Program supports the American economy and delivers Made in America mission critical products and services that support the nation's military.
"This year's conference reaffirmed why our self-advocates' voices matter most in shaping the policies that determine their futures," said Richard Belden, president and CEO of SourceAmerica. "We're grateful to the members of Congress who continue to engage on this issue as SourceAmerica encourages more employment opportunities for people with disabilities, including veterans, through the AbilityOne Program."
Speakers featured throughout the conference included self-advocate Zane Sanford, a ships provision lead laborer at VersAbility Resources Inc.; Brian Patchett, NCD council member; and Julie Hocker, U.S. assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. The conference also featured a keynote address from Hocker, who shared her message on the transformative impact of employment for people with disabilities. During her remarks, Hocker shared that 6.7 million Americans with disabilities have a job today and acknowledged the self-advocates and nonprofit leaders in the room for that accomplishment.
"You are the ones training and supporting job seekers and workers," said Hocker. "You are the ones doing the heavy lifting on the ground. You are the ones turning capabilities into careers. The victories that we are seeing belong to you."
During the "Celebration of Stories" segment, self-advocates including Sanford shared their personal employment experiences, offering moving testimonies to the impact of the AbilityOne Program on their lives. Members of Congress and their staff also had the opportunity to visit SourceAmerica's Disability Employment Educational Fair on Capitol Hill, which featured SourceAmerica's sponsorship of America250 and showcased Made in America products manufactured by AbilityOne employees, including the cargo net from TAC Industries, and the improved combat shelter from ORC Industries.
To learn more about the 2026 Grassroots Advocacy Conference, visit sourceamerica.org/get-involved/public-policy/grassroots-advocacy-events.
References to federal officials or agencies do not imply endorsement by the federal government.
About SourceAmerica
SourceAmerica is a national nonprofit that helps administer the AbilityOne Program – a program that creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities through federal product and service contracts. We are a bridge between our network contractors and federal customers, providing the resources and support they need to successfully navigate the AbilityOne Program. To learn more, visit SourceAmerica.org and follow @SourceAmerica on Facebook, X.com (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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