Disability Inclusion Solutions
Disability Inclusion Solutions (DIS), founded by CEO Andrew Houghton, specializes in the development of programs and services that promote full inclusion for people with disabilities. Andy has used a wheelchair since a 1986 motorcycle accident resulted in paraplegia. For over 20 years, his expert team has offered inclusion solutions that work. With offices in South Florida and production facilities in Southern California, DIS has the capacity to mobilize teams across the country and abroad to meet our clients’ needs.
Inclusion Journey
A Californian at heart, Andy has always loved being outdoors, enjoying sports, and of course, making movies. But in 1986, his true purpose was brought into focus. A motorcycle accident resulted in paraplegia, and he began using a wheelchair. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to build infrastructure that improves the quality of life for people with disabilities.
1986
Andy experiences a life-altering motorcycle accident that leaves him in paraplegia and in need of a wheelchair for mobility.
1990
Andy tries adaptive snow skiing for the first time. Returns to the mountain numerous times learning to tackle black diamond courses.
1993
Andy competes in adaptive sports including water skiing, wheelchair hockey, tennis, mountain biking and jet skiing.
Andy learns firsthand the challenges people with disabilities face while trying to reintegrate into their communities and workplaces. This newfound knowledge fuels him to build a foundation and infrastructure for future programs and services which foster the inclusion of people with disabilities.
1995
Andy founds the Land Meets Sea Sports Camp in California, a place where campers with disabilities get a chance to experience water sports and other recreational adventures.
1996 – 1997
Andy becomes one of the hosts of Planet X, a sports lifestyle show featuring extreme adaptive and non-adaptive sports from across the globe.
He assisted the International Rescue Committee in developing advocacy training, sports, return-to-work, and support group programs for people with disabilities in Bosnia.
In association with the International Medical Corps, he conducts the Wheels of Hope Wheelchair Basketball and Land Mine Awareness Tour, leading a team of seven gold medal Paralympians, including David Kiley on an 11-day, seven-city tour through Bosnia and Croatia.
1999
Travels to Kosovo to explore the needs of the disability community, and the post-conflict disability infrastructure.
1999
Establishes a non-profit organization, No Barriers Media in order to accept philanthropic funding for Roll Models:24/7, a day-in-the-life film about six active individuals living with spinal cord injuries.
2001
Returns to Kosovo on a six-month consultancy on behalf of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation to develop and implement policies and programs that improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.
2003-2011
Appointed by President George W. Bush to the non-partisan Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled Committee.
In 2006, he was reappointed to serve a second term. That same year he was unanimously elected by his peers to serve as Committee Chairperson. He is the first private citizen and the first person with a disability to ever chair the Committee.
In July 2010, Andy was unanimously reelected as Chairperson for an unprecedented third term. Under his leadership, the committee established groundbreaking policies to improve the lives of individuals with significant disabilities. Those initiatives still exist and have become the basis for numerous programs now in place, including the Quality Work Environment Initiative (QWE). Through QWE, nonprofit agencies must continue to evaluate and adopt state-of-the-art practices that enhance productivity and foster employment opportunities.
2004 & 2005
Appointed by Florida Governor Jeb Bush to serve on Florida’s Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) on Inclusive Community Living, Lifelong Transition, and Employment of Persons with Developmental Disabilities. Subsequently appointed to serve on the Florida Rehabilitation Council, where he served as First Vice Chairman.
2011
Andy founded Disability Inclusion Solutions to deliver services and products that promote the inclusion of people with disabilities.
2015
Andy spearheads the Disability Rights on Wheels Tour for Disability:IN in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act. The tour featured a 48-foot interactive traveling museum touring America. The “Museum on Wheels” told the story of the fight for equal rights by people with disabilities in the United States, celebrating the remarkable journey of dedicated activists, advocates and legislators who transformed their status from objects of heartless discrimination, fear and isolation, to full participants of mainstream society.
2016
Andy partners with Bender Consulting Servinces to launch the iDisability™️ Enterprise-Wide eLearning Solution.
2018
Services
Disability Inclusion Solutions: Leading global diversity supplier
We provide inclusive products and services at competitive prices, including multimedia production, eLearning software solutions and Universal Design consultation.
Disability Inclusion Solutions has received the Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE) Certification®️ through the Disability:IN®️ Disability Supplier Diversity Program®️ DSDP®️.
No Barriers Media
Whether shooting on location or in studio, our state-of-the-art equipment and production techniques offer everything you need from pre-production to final edits. We offer high quality, attention-getting results that achieve your specific goals. Our extensive knowledge of accessibility requirements ensure our clients’ products reach the broadest audience using the latest technologies. We offer:
- Commercials, PSAs and Marketing Videos
- Cartoon Animation Videos
- Training Videos
- 3D Animation and Motion Graphics
- Accessible Media and Descriptive Audio
No Barriers Media is a leading diversity supplier source for clients seeking high quality media at competitive prices.
Universal Design
Universal Design creates spaces where everyone is given what they need to succeed. While grounded in the ADA, it offers far more potential for inclusion. Universal Design dares us to look further than differences in physical and cognitive abilities or disabilities to create an environment designed with everyone in mind.
Universal Design accommodates diversity, improves safety, and provides a competitive advantage in talent acquisition. These are measurable benefits that increase ROI.
iDisability
iDisability™️ is a one-stop solution for providing enterprise-wide training on over 35 disability diversity and inclusion topics. Nearly two million business users utilize this innovative eLearning platform developed in partnership with Bender Consulting. Topics include interviewing, accommodating, and communicating with people with disabilities, digital accessibility, developing community partners in the disability community, disability supplier diversity, customer service, understanding the DEI, and more! Designed with the busy professional in mind, these responsive eLearning modules are approximately 15 minutes in length and can be accessed by laptop, tablet or smart phone. iDisability™️ satisfies Section 503 requirements to demonstrate credible action in training and strategic progress to reach the associated labor force utilization goal. It also fulfills an element of scoring with the Disability Equality Index.
Our Media Production Work
ESPN
JAN Return to Work
McKesson Animated
Disability:IN Inclusion Works
On Andy Fed News
AMC Theatre PSA
Mitsubishi Electric Foundation
Animation Motion Graphics Examples
JAN Accommodating an Individual with Multiple Disabilities
Fun Facts
Andy has been skydiving in a formation with the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team.
Andy has put his wheelchair together and taken it apart approximately 58,400 times over 32 years.
Andy has had an American Flag flown over the Pentagon in his honor.
Andy has coached his son, Camden’s baseball and basketball teams.