John Robinson

November 21, 2013

Chamber, Our Ability and Spilled Coffee

Today I had the opportunity to work with the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce. They are in the midst of the membership drive, and I was invited to come give my two cents. I shared table space with people from banking to dry cleaning. We produce videos and human resource seminars! Not a normal connection…but here comes the connectivity. While sitting there, I realize that I have made most of my connections locally with Our Ability
December 20, 2013

Comments from BOCES Students in Watertown

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak to transition students in Watertown.  I drove from a snow storm in Pennsylvania to Lake Effect snow in Upstate New York. Unlike the cold snow, I received a very warm welcome!  I want to thank Charlie Merrick and Susan Ambrose for inviting me. Here are some of the comments: The speaker made me accept myself for who I am and that it’s okay to be different. Very inspirational.
January 28, 2014

Strong words, but any follow up Mr. President?

While America is looking at another deep-freeze in our weather, we are starting to see the “spring” of economic opportunity for people with disabilities. But, like the returning polar vortex we should be aware that we could easily fall back into the deep freeze of economic repression without action. In the State of the Union speech, we will hear talk of economic opportunity for the long-term unemployed. We will listen for the minimum wage increase
April 2, 2014

Power of Positive People in Ability

Last week, I was invited to Direct Employers #DEAM14 national conference in Washington DC. I was invited to be the keynote speaker at the end of their three-day conference. Most of the conference was dedicated towards Section 503 – how federal contractors need to include recruiting people with disabilities and create an open employment environment for those to disclose their different-ability in 2014 and beyond. As I was preparing for my talk I had the