John Robinson

Our Ability is neutral politically. I try to be neutral politically. There are conservatives and liberals alike with disabilities, or who have children or family members with disabilities. Disability does NOT discriminate.

It sounds like one of our political leaders in the United States does, or did. When you...

Bullying in schools is a major topic of discussion right now. Bullying children with disabilities is especially prevalent. At Our Ability, we are helping by answering questions about bullying in school speeches and creating a PSA we are producing for television.

At every speech I give, a child...

I've worked in media for 20+ years, and know when there is a set up. A tease for ratings. Publicity grab. Rosie did it again.

Lacey Tompkins came to us from an impromptu meeting with Dave Kerpen at Likeable Media in New York. I read Dave's book this past summer as I was building the marketing plan for Our Ability.

Dave mentioned an intern Likeable had and introduced us...

I am not sure if there is a cooler character in novels, today. I know there isn't one I enjoy following the trials and tribulations more in reading. George R.R. Martin's Tyrion Lannister is a great character! Not good, great!

I was referred to Game of Thrones by...

Lieutenant Ian James Brown exemplifies perseverance. As a person with a physical disability, he has overcome an amazing physical challenge in a very short period of time.

His military training has helped in his recovery, attitude and his future goals in a medical career. Our Ability had the opportunity...

So much for celebrating difference, it's the circus all over again! History repeats itself. You would think I would've learned. It's my fault for believing in something better. "Step right up and see the bearded lady, lizard skinned boy..." Enough already!

Recently, I wrote a blog mentioning Zach Anner's new...

I am a big fan of The Good Wife! I love Alicia, Will and the gang. I especially like Michael J. Fox, using his disability in his character -- we need more of this! But, it reminds me of the opportunities we are missing.

Recently, we see on OWN a...

November comes as National Disability Employment Awareness Month goes, but our work truly begins now! From South Dakota to Ocean City, Md., I have in the last five weeks, spoken about the need for more employment options for all in America.

Unemployment for people with disabilities hit 18 percent in September, about twice the national unemployment rate. We all have work to do.

Whether you are a business owner looking to add staff (did you know about tax benefits from hiring veterans and people with disabilities?), a school looking to educate, or an individual who wants to start her own business, we all can benefit from adding people who want a career -- an identity. Isn't it always our first question when we meet someone new, "What do you do?"

Let's all help people with disabilities find meaningful employment. At Our Ability, our way is twofold. First, we produce web videos about people we know who can serve as role models in and around employment, education and entrepreneur settings. Second, we work with businesses and universities to support employment. Our work takes us into human resources and organizational development.

Over the next few months Our Ability -- with the help of the Huffington Post -- will be posting stories of people with disabilities. We will post profiles of people succeeding in their quest to live the life they desire. These stories are examples of what we all can accomplish by working together to support employment and education for all.

Our Ability needs your help. Please share these stories with others, let us know about employment opportunities and connect Our Ability with great stories we should know about. As the conversation grows, help us raise the level of awareness in and around employment for people with disabilities.
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This past Sunday morning our priest in my church was reminding us how full and open places of worship were in the days following Sept. 11, 2001. He mentioned that we were all looking for spiritual help, guidance and community. He called upon all of us to bring people back...

This week the Pew Research Center came out with its study showing, not surprisingly, that the wealth gap of minorities is growing at an alarming pace. According to the study, the median wealth of white households in 2009 was $113,149, compared with $6,325 for Hispanics and $5,677 for African-Americans. You...

"You can start a company and suddenly help bring the whole world together..."

Sixty-five minutes into a sixty-six minute twitter session at the White House, Pres. Obama mentioned exactly what I wanted to hear. You can change the world with an entrepreneurial idea and perseverance. It made me think...

I had the chance to speak with intellectually-challenged students from all around northern New York state this week. It was an absolutely wonderful experience! We spent the better part of four hours sharing stories about overcoming obstacles. I can't tell you how much inspiration I receive from developmentally disabled individuals...

"If Alex could have cartwheeled down the hallway after connecting with you, he would have," Terri Morse of Essex County (NY) Social Worker reported on the telephone. Alex made contact with me via email immediately after watching the video.

"He needs to see positive role models. He has a new...

When I was 16 years old, I had no person with a physical disability that I could look up to as a mentor. My heroes were Bob Costas, Dick Stockton and other Syracuse University broadcasters. All able bodied.

I craved someone with a physical disability that I could emulate....

During the State of the Union address, I was lying on the living room floor listening to the president talk about the entrepreneurial spirit and the future of the United States of America. I got chills down my spine thinking about how important that statement is to our future.
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Happy holidays! Like many, the holidays are a time for me to reflect on the past year and to look forward to the new opportunities ahead. Over the past year, I spoke to church groups, high schools and businesses from Seattle, Washington to Charlotte, North Carolina. I'm so impressed by...

I spent the better part of last month speaking to businesses, disability groups, community groups, high school and university students from New York to Seattle. What a great journey!

In my speeches I mention some of the adaptive equipment I have used in my life. Adaptive equipment that I have...

On July 26, 2010, I was on the capitol steps in Sacramento, California celebrating with 250 people the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It was a grand sight seeing so many people, most of who were born after the birth date in 1990, celebrating the advancement of...

On Memorial Day, my six-year-old son Owen and I were watching the evening news together. We were watching Vice President Joe Biden speak at Arlington National Cemetery commemorating one of our nation's most important holidays. Owen turned to me and said "Dad, why isn't the president speaking?"

My initial reaction...