Big Apple and Diversity

I had a wonderful day yesterday traveling to New York and meeting with new friends. I had the opportunity to travel and discuss diversity and disability with The New York Times advertising director for recruitment specializing in diversity Mark Szollar. You can tell, Mark is one of those great “connectors” of people and ideas! I met the NY Times Chief Diversity Officer as well. I was blessed to travel with Laura Dehmer of the Albany Colonie Chamber of Commerce, who so kindly introduced us.
We discussed ways to expand the conversation about diversity/inclusion and including disability employment opportunities. We each have other people we want to introduce to one another to expand our reach. Only by growing the conversation, can we advance the employment and education opportunities for all.
As someone in media for 20+ years, what a treat to talk diversity in the media capital of the world. We talked sports, too! I am truly honored.
Our Ability is continuing to look for ways to enhance the conversation about disability employment and education in the United States, and the Times can be a great partner.

Quack

I had the opportunity to speak in front of 300 Aflac sales professionals in Eastern Pennsylvania last week.  What a great time!

I enjoy speaking, but really enjoy connecting with sales people.  It is always fun to share perseverance and achievement with people who believe in themselves.  It was my 10th Aflac talk in the past two years and look forward to many more.  

Special thank you to Matthew Berger for inviting me again! Matt is one of my biggest supporters with Get Off Your Knees / Our Ability.

~Love the Duck!

Aflac testimonial video here…

 

Lt. Brown

http://ow.ly/8EqIX Article on why busine

http://ow.ly/8EqIX Article on why businesses NEED video work in 2012 – your work with Our Ability supports stories about People with Disabilities!

A Lannister always pays his debts…so did Peter Dinklage – great job!

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 RR Martin’s Tyrion Lannister is a great character! Not good, great!
I was referred to Game of Thrones by my friend Anthony. A few years ago he said I would really enjoy two series he read, Terry Pratchett’s Discworld (specifically Sam Vimes and Moist von Lipwig) and Game of Thrones.
Wow – both have been great reads!
As I was picking up Game of Thrones after my full year indulgence with Discworld – I got lost in the story. Winter is coming – indeed!
Anthony knew I would love Tyrion. I didn’t at first; I couldn’t see past the obnoxious attitude. Ha (Look in the mirror much?). But, I saw the truth. I love how Tyrion is always in control, a master in business, uses his differences to his advantage, self-deprecating and has a great love of life!
Last year, when the HBO series was launching I didn’t want to watch. How could they cast Tyrion?
Thankfully, they were casting an actual little person in the role. If it were another disability, Hollywood would have cast an able bodied person to play the part. I digress…
Peter Dinklage became Tyrion for me, like no other book character. I love Martin’s saga – with the multiple characters with bodied challenges. Tyrion’s romp with life is the best of the bunch, and Dinklage plays it magically.
Great job Martin for writing the character, HBO with casting, Dinklage for executing and the Golden Globes for acknowledging.
Now, maybe Hollywood will cast more actual people with disabilities in roles in the future.

Spring, speaking enagagements and travel

I get asked all the time how much do I like to travel? Do I find travel easy or hard?

I look forward to getting out on the road when I am asked to speak about “Get Off Your Knees” “Overcoming Obstacles with a Disability” or “Why Be Normal.” In the next three months, I am traveling from Philadelphia to San Jose to Rochester to San Juan PR! I look forward to each group I will meet.

Travel is always interesting. Each airport is an accommodation challenge. How far is the walk to and from the gate? Are there moving sidewalks?

Are the bathrooms accessible enough for me to use or do I need to bring my step stool on to the airplane.

One of my biggest challenges is Chicago. One airport puts plastic covering on the toilet seats which I try and balance myself on! What a challenge. Some day the airport CSI will find me head first in the toilet because of the plastic.

As I travel in the next three months, I will take pictures and video of the accommodations, sites, people and the overall challenges I face as a traveler with a disability. Hopefully giving engineers and building managers something to think about as they design the airports, restaurants and hotels of the future.

If you have travel updates, photos or videos – please share with us. Just fill out the connect page at ourability.com