Unified Work Summit
Championing inclusive employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Unified Work Summit, a completely new event unique to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games and proudly presented by Accenture, is a call to action addressing the critical employment gap within the intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) community. Currently, a staggering crisis of un- and under-employment persists, with only about 18% of people with IDD competitively employed compared to approximately 65% of adults without disabilities in similar roles. This Summit, held during Games week, serves as a direct response to these statistics by creating a powerful ecosystem of organizations and companies dedicated to championing inclusive hiring practices. By bringing together leaders and advocates to share success stories and provide tangible tools for action, the Unified Work Summit aims to create a lasting legacy of economic empowerment and professional opportunity that extends far beyond the final whistle of the Games.
Scheduled for Tuesday, June 23rd from 1:00PM–4:00PM at Huntington Bank Stadium, the Unified Work Summit will center on the theme “The Water Cooler.” In workplace culture, the water cooler represents the heart of informal connection—those spontaneous, unplanned interactions that build a shared culture, facilitate knowledge sharing, and spark the creative problem-solving necessary for true innovation.
Central to this mission is the Unified Work Playbook, a curated collection of resources for employing individuals with IDD and key considerations from expert interviews. This playbook was developed by Accenture in partnership with the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, Best Buddies International, and various subject matter advisors. The playbook serves as the cornerstone for the Summit and the preceding Summit Series workshops, and it is available to view and download for free! Scroll down to check it out!
The afternoon’s programming includes:
- Welcome: An introduction to the day’s objectives and a walkthrough of the agenda.
- Unified Work Initiative Overview: A deep dive into the “why” behind the playbook, using powerful storytelling to anchor the initiative in the emotional impact of inclusive hiring.
- Panel on Inclusive Hiring: A moderated conversation featuring employers and employees sharing their real-world experiences and successes with inclusive employment.
- Breakout Groups: Expert-led candid discussion where participants, grouped by industry, will tackle the “3 must-get-rights,” to solve common barriers to moving from initial interest to a mature inclusive hiring model.
- Unified Work Initiative Overview: A deep dive into the “why” behind the playbook, using powerful storytelling to anchor the initiative in the purpose and impact of inclusive hiring.
- Networking and Resource Fair: Following the session, participants have the opportunity to attend a resource fair and enjoy networking and hospitality. This “Ask Me Anything” fair includes accessible tech demos and non-profit booths to enable your organization’s next steps.
Representatives from the 2026 USA Games and Accenture are co-hosting a series of supplementary inclusive hiring webinars for organizations in the community as we build momentum for the Unified Work Summit. This “Summit Series” meets attendees where they are in their own inclusive hiring journey by offering various breakout workshops within each meeting focused on starting, maintaining, and advocating for inclusive practices. While invitations are extended to 2026 USA Games partners, anyone can reach out to join the Summit Series at any time—even if you can only attend one meeting—on the following days:
- March 19th
- April 16th
- May 21st
To learn more and sign up for these sessions, please reach out to partnerships@2026usagames.org.
