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Disability Advocate and Activist Caroline Casey Announced as Keynote for Adapted Sport Leadership & Business Symposium (LABS) 2021

Second Annual Conference to Convene Virtually on Oct. 20 and 21

Caroline Casey, founder of The Valuable 500

DENVER — June 8, 2021 — The second annual Adapted Sport Leadership & Business Symposium (LABS), presented by All In Sport Consulting, today announced Caroline Casey, founder of The Valuable 500, as a keynote speaker for the online conference taking place Oct. 20 and 21. Currently one of the most well-known and powerful voices for disability inclusion,  Casey is bold in her approach to establish disability as a central responsibility on every business and corporate agenda. During her LABS keynote, she will integrate her thoughts on disability inclusion as business and sport intersect. 

“Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has become a much higher priority for many organizations, but too often, disability is overlooked in diversity efforts, including the sport landscape” said Dawna Callahan, founder and CEO of All In Sport Consulting and LABS. “Through her lifetime of work, Caroline Casey has been a pioneer when it comes to integrating disability into the corporate agenda. Her efforts go above and beyond employment for those with disabilities, but helping corporate leaders see the value that disability has across the business landscape. Her work naturally parallels with what we’re trying to accomplish through LABS, and we are honored and delighted to have her as a featured keynote this year.”   

Casey is an award-winning social entrepreneur and founder of #valuable and The Valuable 500, an ambitious year-long campaign to get 500 businesses to commit to putting disability inclusion on their leadership agendas. The Valuable 500 is supported by a host of global leaders including Sir Richard Branson and Paul Polman, and global brands including Virgin Media, Apple, and Coca-Cola. In November 2020, the Valuable 500 signed a co-operation agreement with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to collaborate on major events, strategy, policy, communication campaigns, and the development and promotion of persons with disabilities. Casey is a TED speaker, Ashoka Fellow, Eisenhower Fellow, a past advisor for the Clinton Global Initiative, a One Young World Counsellor, and a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.

Building on the inaugural LABS conference in 2020, which drew more than 850 people for eight sessions led by 28 amazing speakers, LABS will take place virtually Oct. 20-21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. MT each day. LABS is founded, led by, and highly focused on including people with disabilities, including Callahan and LABS advisory board members, who bring lived experience to its mission and programming. In addition to Casey’s keynote, LABS 2021 will feature progressive sessions and meaningful conversations focused on DEI, innovation, advocating and having a voice in the sport community, and economic impact and the business case for adapted sport. 

“LABS aims to shift the energy, narrative, and trajectory of the adapted sports industry so that our leaders, professionals, and athletes are always included in critical sport decisions and conversations,” said Callahan. “Our research in 2020 established that the total economic impact of adapted and para sport-related events nationwide likely ranges from approximately $80.5 to $134.2 million annually. With this kind of economic reach and value, we are ready to be part of the important discussions around sport in general, DEI, leadership development, innovation, facilities development, and more. It’s our time.” 

The LABS 2021 theme is “The Time is Now,” reflecting the adapted sports movement’s mission and energy to bring about real change and more opportunities for athletes with disabilities. Sponsorship opportunities are available now for LABS 2021. Registration, full conference agenda, and speaker information will be available in the coming weeks. For more information, visit www.adaptedsportlabs.com

About All In Sport Consulting

All In Sport Consulting is a Denver-based consulting firm that leads organizations in creating life-changing opportunities for people with disabilities through adapted sport. Through strategic planning, adapted sport program management and implementation, and training and education, All In Sport helps organizations ensure they are in the best position to create opportunities for all who want to experience the power of sportFor more information, visit http://allinsportconsulting.com/

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