Session Speaker: Olegario “Ollie” D. Cantos VII, Esq., Member, West Covina City Council, Attorney, and Author
Session Overview:
In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), our speaker will address how self-determined persons with disabilities or other barriers to employment can foster economic self-sufficiency. Strategies include high expectations, involvement in organizations of and for disability or difference, and identifying specific ways to optimize opportunities on the journey to successful economic independence.
Ollie will share how to combine a positive philosophy about disability or difference with concrete actions and follow-through to achieve measurable results. He will share information about his book of resources which helps one to move beyond the theoretical and into the practical. He will discuss effective approaches to refine personal expertise and accomplish heights of success once thought to be almost impossible.
About the Speaker:
Blind since birth, Olegario “Ollie” D Cantos VII has been a disability rights activist for more than 34 years, He has been a civil rights attorney since 1999 and, has worked in the Federal Government for more than 20 years. Currently, he is an elected official, serving on the West Covina City Council. He is also an author, public speaker, businessman and real estate investor. He has served in many local and national non-profit leadership roles. He is also the proud adoptive dad to three blind triplet boys, who are now successful adults in their own right. His adoption story and the story of how his sons all rose to the rank of Eagle Scout have been viewed around the world more than 61 million times.
A graduate of Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School Los Angeles. Ollie’s past positions include Staff Attorney and Director of Outreach at the Disability Rights Legal Center, General Counsel and Director of Programs for the American Association of People with Disabilities, Special Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education, Associate Director for Domestic Policy at the White House, and service as a presidential appointee under two different administrations.
As an author, in support of students, job-seekers, and entrepreneurs with disabilities, Ollie has written a comprehensive book that assembles at least 339 national resources all in one place. This FREE book is accessible, can be shared online either as a whole or in chapters, and provides practical information that may be put to use immediately. The book can be found at
https://www.respectability.org/people-with-disabilities-at-work/.