Relay Resources Announces 2026 Signature Events: 75th Anniversary Celebration and the Second Annual DisabilityNext™ Summit

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Relay Resources, the leading social enterprise nonprofit in the Pacific Northwest advancing disability inclusion in the workplace, has announced the dates and details of its two signature 2026 events. The Relay 75th Anniversary Celebration, bringing together the community for a night of celebrating our past, dreaming about our future, and supporting our present strategic goals, will take place April 15. The DisabilityNext™ Summit—Relay’s second-annual conference creating and implementing the future of disability inclusion in the workplace—will be October 6-7. Both events will happen at the Hyatt Regency in Portland, OR.

Relay 75th Anniversary Celebration

Relay Resources is hosting the 75th Anniversary Celebration in honor of its diamond anniversary, following the organization’s founding in 1951 as the Portland Children’s Center, which became Oregon’s leading institution in educational programs for children with intellectual disabilities.

The event will celebrate both Relay’s legacy and its exciting future transforming workplaces and communities where all disabled people belong. The evening will include:

• An awards program recognizing changemakers who are advancing disability inclusion in their communities.
• An auction in which participants can bid on one-of-a-kind experiences ranging from celebrity meetups to surprise perks and other exclusive opportunities.
• Family-style dining, offering guests delicious cuisine while we celebrate with Relay Resources' ambassadors for belonging, supporters, and community members.
• Live entertainment provided by talented disabled artists.

A 75th Anniversary Celebration Committee comprised of prominent Portland community and business leaders is forming under the leadership of Suhail Khan, Relay Resources board member and Senior Vice President at Marsh. The committee will engage leading regional organizations and individual philanthropists to support Relay Resources, Oregon’s largest employer of disabled people.

“For almost 75 years, Relay has been a pillar in the community, providing education and jobs for disabled people,” says Dr. Jennifer Camota Luebke, CEO, Chief Disability Inclusion Officer, and President of Relay Resources. “The 75^th Anniversary Celebration is our inflection point where we honor the people who have blazed the trail in our past, and where we are poised to lead the way into the future by transforming workplaces and communities to become places where all disabled people belong.”

The event, taking place in the Hyatt Regency’s Hotel Ballroom Space, will offer numerous accessibility features for attendees (see below for more details). People interested in attending the celebration can find more information and tickets here.

DisabilityNext™ Summit

In fall 2026, Relay Resources will present the second-annual DisabilityNext™ Summit. The event will coincide with National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which takes place each October to promote inclusive employment practices and highlight the contributions of disabled employees.

For the 2026 Summit, leaders, futurists, and innovators from across the country will gather to:

• Learn from 15-plus speakers who are leaders and innovators in disability inclusion at work
• Discuss opportunities and scalable solutions for workplace accessibility and disability inclusion
• Share case studies that demonstrate accessible and disability-inclusive workplace environments
• Accelerate action advancing the disability inclusion movement
• Network with other thought leaders from around the U.S.

The 2026 Summit will build on the success of the inaugural event last April, which gathered hundreds of attendees for an event centered on disabled voices and featured keynote presentations from disability rights and inclusion advocate Imani Barbarin and other distinguished speakers.

“The DisabilityNext™ Summit was a powerful and energizing event, and it's only the beginning of a long-term approach for Relay Resources,” said Catarina Rivera, founder of Blindish Latina, a platform dedicated to challenging disability stigma through storytelling, advocacy, and training. “I appreciate getting to connect with so many amazing disabled changemakers.”

Discounted Early Bird tickets for the 2026 DisabilityNext™ Summit are on sale now. To receive updates on tickets and more, sign up for Relay Resources’ email list here.

Accessibility features and sponsorship opportunities

In keeping with Relay’s mission of disability inclusion, both the 75th Anniversary Celebration and the 2026 DisabilityNext™ Summit will offer numerous accessibility features for attendees, including:

• American Sign Language interpretation
• Screen captioning
• Assistive listening devices
• Sighted guides
• Sensory break rooms
• Reserved seating for wheelchair accessibility throughout the seating areas
• Service animal relief station
• Sensory bags
• Face masks and hand sanitizer throughout the venue
• Sunflower lanyards
• Accessibility-trained support staff to provide assistance

Sponsorship opportunities for both events are also available at Relay Resources’ website.

About Relay Resources

Relay Resources is the leading disability social enterprise nonprofit in the Pacific Northwest, with a mission to transform workplaces and communities by championing disability inclusion. The organization employs over 900 team members in four lines of business: Building Solutions, which includes janitorial, landscaping, and floor care services; Document Solutions; Supply Chain Solutions; and Disability Inclusion and Accessibility Consulting Services. Additionally, Relay operates three programs: Competitive Integrated Employment, which places and supports disabled people in competitive jobs in the community; abilIT, a cybersecurity and technology training and job placement program; and Affordable Housing, which manages 760 units for 1,500 residents, 27% of whom have a household member with a disability. Learn more at www.RelayResources.org.