John Robinson Testimony
October 20, 2021
Survey | Perspectives of Jobseekers with Disabilities: The Impact of Employer Messaging
November 10, 2021#NDEAM to #NoShave – It’s November 1st 2021
NYS Assembly Disability Committee 2021
National Disability Employment Awareness Month is always Our Ability Inc.’s biggest and busiest month of the year! Makes perfect sense…
What a great month!
Every October, we are proud at Our Ability to get back to our roots in video production. NYSID hosts its annual meeting every October, and we serve as the video producers. NYSID presents eight videos to highlight success at their annual meeting: wonderful stories showing great work by individuals with disabilities. Way to go NYSID!
In October, I taught 10 different individuals with disabilities and how to use our portal- Jobs Ability. I presented to the NYAIL Conference, discussing the importance of eliminating subminimum wage in New York as well as adding an office of the advocate position in the New York State government.
Additionally, I spoke to groups within NY Alliance Employment Council, Albany (NY) High School, Virginia DARS (Voc Rehab), Autism Spectrum Disorders Advisory Board (NY), FTI Net Podcast, Dominion Energy, KeyBank, Yext, Ally Bank, Pfizer and The Riverview School (MA).
Finally, I testified directly to NYS Assembly Committee on Disability Employment. This was the first committee hearing on this topic that I can remember. And I am proud to have represented individuals with disabilities as well as an organization that builds employment. It is essential that we speak up as individuals with disabilities. All too often, the government does not care as it would for other diversity category groups. But in this instance, New York State is making the right decision to focus on disability and disability employment as an opportunity to lift up a wonderful community. While we may not agree on some of the outcomes, we applaud the New York State Assembly for having this committee.
Now at the beginning of November, the true work begins. We take the hopes and dreams of October into the practical work – to build employment for individuals with disabilities for years to come.
