John Robinson of Our Ability.
A campus-wide summit will be focused on advancing disability inclusion, improving student retention outcomes and strengthening regional workforce participation.
The full-day session on Thursday, April 16 in the Williams Center, will bring together student success professionals, employers, workforce leaders, and students to create an integrated pathway from access to retention to career outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
There will be four segments:
- A professional development presentation by John Robinson of Our Ability to Student Affairs, and Retention and Academic Success staff.
- An employer workshop consisting of Mr. Robinson and representatives from People Inc and The Resource Center, discussing topics such as:
NYS Employment First initiative: hiring people with disabilities as a workforce solution.
Services available to businesses to identify strong talent matches.
Why disability inclusion improves retention and workplace culture.
Addressing workforce shortages through entry-level talent pipelines. - "Low Pressure Career Chats" between students and employers, which will consist of small‑group, round‑robin conversations. Students are invited into a low‑pressure, supportive environment designed to help them practice talking about career interests, jobs, and internships.
- A workshop for students by Robinson on the theme of Disability, Advocacy, and Career Success.
The Professional Development session will begin at 10 a.m., the employer workshop 1 to 2:30 p.m., the student networking session from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m., and the student workshop from 4 to 5 p.m.
Robinson is a global thought leader on empowering individuals with disabilities. As the founder of Our Ability, Mr. Robinson built a generative AI technology company that creates employment, entrepreneurship, and accessibility opportunities for people with disabilities worldwide.
Over the past 15 years, Robinson has collaborated with organizations such as Microsoft and Syracuse University to develop artificial intelligence pathways that expand employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Our Ability’s proprietary large language models help businesses and job seekers find common ground. In addition, Robinson works with the State University of New York to advance career pathways and digital accessibility initiatives across campuses statewide.
In 2024, Robinson was named a Professor of Practice at Syracuse University for his leadership in digital accessibility. The Zero Project recognized Our Ability in 2023 as an “Innovative Solution.” In 2018, Robinson received the Chamber Champion Award for advancing the mission of the Capital Region (NY) Chamber. Earlier, in 2014, he was honored as one of ten national White House Champions of Change for Disability Employment.
Robinson’s story has been featured in the public television documentary, “Get Off Your Knees: The John Robinson Story,” which aired across the United States and internationally. His autobiography of the same title was published by Syracuse University Press in 2009.
The event is presented by a collaboration between the Career Development Office, Disability Support Services and Our Ability.
