Author Archives: ourability

About ourability

John Robinson is the subject of a national documentary shown on Public Broadcasting Stations titled Get Off Your Knees: The John Robinson Story and authored an autobiography Get Off Your Knees: A Story of Faith, Courage, and Determination published by Syracuse University Press. John is a 1990 graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

A Day in Syracuse for Entrepreneurs

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Yesterday I had the opportunity to guest lecture a class at the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University on starting Our Ability.  I was able to share how we merge a mission-oriented organization with a business mindset.

The students were very receptive with great questions.  I wish them all luck. They were excited about the venture and shared with friends around the world, after the class ended. What a great class.

The opportunity came from Gary Shaheen of the Burton Blatt Institute.  Gary was part of the group that went to the White House with me in March 2011. I was also able to say hello our clients and friends at Intitute of Veterans and Military Families.

Dumbing Down of America … continues with Rosie O’Donnell and Chelsea Handler

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I’ve worked in media for 20+ year, and know when there is a set up. A tease for ratings. Publicity grab. Rosie did it again.
By now, you may know that Rosie just alienated ALL of the the little people in America. Even the Little People of America released a statement denouncing the comments made by O’Donnell and Chelsea Handler. Oh yes, it is stupid. It’s moments like this that continue to impress upon me the stupidity of television.
After an 11 minute discussion sharing stories about the death of their parents- including real tears – we go to commercial. We come back to a very calculated admission by Rosie – a fear of little people; sex is the first subject. What? How is this the first thought after death. Presumably, because Handler’s ‘Ed McMahon’ on her talk show is a little person (Chuy). Okay, great.
Here comes three minutes of ignorance. Rosie – “Did you do (sex) a little person?”” Handler – “No…That would be child abuse – I would never do that!”
What? Here we go. Google Analytics numbers of sex and little people just went way up – pun intended. Oh, and Handler is now comparing my wife of 18 years to Jerry Sandusky. Ughh.
It gets better. Handler then goes on to say she loves Chuy and hired him because “who else is going to give that guy a job though?” Great. In Hollywood where only half of one percent of all spoken lines in television/film are by someone with a disability, we have two media types propagating employment stereotypes for people with disabilities. Only two months after Oprah Winfrey’s program with Zach Anner. Thank goodness for Peter Dinklage and his Emmy win.
Where does this leave us? My friend Chris Errera felt he needed to respond via You Tube. He is kinder that I am. He thanks them for the open conversation. I say just shut up.
Rosie O’Donnell hurts many people. Stereotypes are reinforced. Rosie and Chelsea Handler will have follow up programs as therapy. They will tell America how insensitive they were. Ask for forgiveness. All of this will come with more attention for their awful programs; unfortunately with increased television ratings. It is at our expense.

Lessons from The Boss

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Well, captain said to John Henry,
“What is that storm I hear?”
John Henry said, “That ain’t no storm
Captain, that’s just my hammer in the air, Lord, Lord
That’s just my hammer in the air” Bruce Springsteen Sessions Version

Driving late at night coming home from a long trip provides me with time to multitask, think and listen to music. Last night returning from Boston, I was reflecting on Our Ability. We are doing all I can expect in the first year in business. Our mission of inspiring and mentoring people to Employment seems to be gaining recognition. We are producing videos on a hired basis, as well as our own stories. It doesn’t always seem like we are growing fast enough.

In small business you are looking for the magic wand to expand faster. John Henry came on and Bruce Springsteen reminded me all I have is a hammer. A voice to keep the mission alive and growing… What’s the storm comin’ – Our Ability. More jobs, education and equality for all including people with disabilities…

My day at Kessler Foundation

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I have fond memories of Kessler.  As a child, my father would drive me to the Kessler Institute near East Orange, New Jersey, every six months to be fitted for prosthesis.  It brings up memories good and bad.  I had to have plaster casts made of my limbs each time, which included sawing off of the cast. I hated the saw – think dentist drill time 10!

My dad would always stop at Howard Johnson’s on the way and we had Pistachio Ice Cream – hah!  I went to my first Yankee game at Yankee Stadium on one trip in September 1978 – yes the same 1978 when the Yankees came back from a 14.5 game deficit in July.  Reggie Jackson and Lou Pinella hit back-to-back HR’s that night against Milwaukee! Take that bad memory.

Today, I love Kessler.  They support Our Ability – yes and I am forever grateful.  They changed my life, yes.  But, it is the wonderful work they are doing today with traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury and various other disability related supportive services including employment.

I was honored to speak to the employees of Kessler Foundation last week.  I had a wonderful time.  Thank you, again and keep up the great work.