Who We Are
The iDisability® software solution was launched by Joyce Bender of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Andrew Houghton of Disability Inclusion Solutions. These internationally recognized and Disability:IN certified, disability-owned business enterprises (DOBEs) drew upon their 25+ years of expertise in disability employment and strategic digital media, in addition to Joyce’s experience representing the U.S. State Department on information exchanges on disability employment in Panama, South Korea, Indonesia, Japan and Kazakhstan. iDisability® was built by individuals with disabilities involved in all phases, including content creation, product development, and testing.
Mission & Vision
The mission of iDisability® is to provide technology driven eLearning solutions that provide concise, on-demand resources on disability employment and inclusion topics. Our vision is to remove barriers that impact disability employment and engagement while connecting employers with the resources they need to make informed and educated decisions that will positively impact their organization.
Leadership Team
Joyce Bender
Joyce Bender, president and CEO of Bender Consulting Services, has built her career on over 30 years of executive search and disability inclusion experience. She is an internationally recognized leader in disability employment, accessibility, inclusion and learning and has participated in informational exchanges on the subject of employment equity for people with disabilities through the U.S. State Department in several countries, including South Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Panama, Tunisia, and Libya. Bender Consulting Services, Inc., a certified Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE), was founded in 1995 and provides services in the area of disability talent programming, inclusion training, strategic planning, and digital accessibility.
Joyce began her career in 1979 as a search consultant, and in 1988, founded Bender and Associates International, Inc., an executive search firm specializing in technology and management search. In 1985, Joyce had a life-threatening accident due to epilepsy that caused a cerebral hemorrhage that required subsequent brain surgery. This accident left Joyce with a 70 percent hearing loss in one ear and a realization that she had epilepsy. As a result of her personal experience, she developed a passion for helping people with disabilities secure employment. Joyce has received numerous recognitions and been featured in various publications and broadcasts. Joyce is also the host of “Disability Matters with Joyce Bender,” a weekly Internet talk radio show on voiceamerica.com. Joyce holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Geneva College.
Andrew Houghton
Andrew Houghton, founder and president of Disability Inclusion Solutions has used a wheelchair since a 1986 motorcycle accident resulted in paraplegia. Disability Inclusion Solutions is a leading global diversity supplier source for clients seeking inclusive products and services at competitive prices, including multimedia production, Universal Design consultation and in partnership with Bender Consulting Services, Inc., the scalable and sustainable iDisability® eLearning software solution. Disability Inclusion Solutions has received Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE) Certification® through the Disability:IN® Disability Supplier Diversity Program® DSDP®.
Andrew launched Disability Inclusion Solutions following six years as chairperson of the U.S. AbilityOne Commission, which is responsible for overseeing the AbilityOne Program, a federal program employing nearly 50,000 people with disabilities through a nationwide network of over 600 nonprofit agencies. During his appointment, he was elected by his peers to an unprecedented three terms as chairman. He was also the first private citizen and the first person with a disability to chair the Committee until his service ended on July 14, 2011.
Andrew’s technical expertise in strategic communications and developing messages inclusive of people with disabilities, combined with his strategic partnerships, makes Disability Inclusion Solutions a leading diversity supplier source for clients seeking high quality products and services at competitive prices. Results of his national and international work have fostered public policy and systems change initiatives, increased brand awareness and improved program performance while linking socially responsible corporate and government programs to under-served communities and non-profit organizations.