Disability in the Public Square | An Our Ability Podcast

Nicole Salzano shares the story of surviving a massive stroke during college swim and dive championships and navigating recovery with aphasia. From rebuilding communication skills to becoming a public speaker, Nicole discusses the challenges, strategies, and persistence that have shaped life after stroke. Nicole also reflects on volunteering at the Adler Aphasia Center, creating transparent social...

John Robinson speaks with Jack Allen, entrepreneur and founder of IT Equality, about building a Salesforce consulting business while navigating disability, parenting, and entrepreneurship. Jack shares the journey into the tech industry, the growth of IT Equality, and the mission to create opportunities for people without traditional technology experience. With a team made up largely of people with...

Inspired by his experience as a father of a son with autism, Michael Lounsbury created Beacon Wayfinding Technologies. It's an AI-powered platform designed to help people navigate complex spaces like airports, theme parks, and museums in ways that meet their individual needs. John Robinson and Michael discuss accessibility, sensory overload, safety, and the challenges of building a business w...

John Robinson sits down with Chris Casteel, co-owner of A New Life Prosthetics and Orthotics, to discuss entrepreneurship, disability advocacy, healthcare and the importance of voting. After experiencing limb loss himself, Chris turned his personal journey into a career helping others access prosthetic care. He discusses his work as a peer visitor and the importance of separating advocacy from bus...

Digital accessibility isn’t just the “right” thing to do-it’s a legal responsibility. On this episode of Disability in the Public Square , John Robinson talks with Pete Bruhn, digital accessibility leader at Onward Accessibility and cofounder of Accessible Web, about why businesses and organizations need to take accessibility seriously. With the ADA Title II digital accessibility deadline approach...

Disability rights belong in every election conversation. In this episode of Disability in the Public Square , John Robinson discusses his thoughts on the candidates, disability employment, healthcare, and representation ahead of the midterm elections. He examines how candidates address disability policy and why decisions about the ADA, Social Security, healthcare, and employment opportunities have...

John Robinson talks with Joe Baumgartner, owner of Joe Safety to discuss entrepreneurship, workplace safety, and running a business for nearly 25 years. Through safety consulting and risk prevention, Joe Safety helps organizations reduce hazards and prevent workplace injuries. Joe discusses the importance of building strong client relationships and why putting people before profits has been centra...

John Robinson talks with LaNorma Shores, founder of Baby Drip LLC, about entrepreneurship, disability, motherhood, and creating more inclusive children’s fashion. LaNorma discusses her vision for a children’s fashion brand that celebrates individuality while offering adaptive and sensory-friendly options. She shares what it took to build Baby Drip over six years, including funding the company hers...

John Robinson talks with entrepreneur, marketing guru, and travel advisor Karen Morales about entrepreneurship, disability, and making travel more accessible. Karen shares her expertise in building a business around helping others experience travel with fewer barriers. They discuss the role of lived experience in helping travelers identify accommodations, the importance of self-advocacy, and the n...

In this episode of Disability in the Public Square , John Robinson talks with entrepreneur, technologist, and C4 Consulting founder Todd Stabelfeldt. Todd shares his journey as a C4 quadriplegic, how he built a successful business in database management, and how adaptive technology has helped him navigate both work and everyday life. From Switch Control and Voice Control to humor and entrepreneurs...

In this episode of Disability in the Public Square , John Robinson sits down with fellow entrepreneur Jim Speer, founder and CEO of Mobility Roadside Assistance. Jim shares how a conversation with a wheelchair user at a VA hospital inspired him to create a new approach to roadside assistance for people with mobility needs. They discuss entrepreneurship, identifying overlooked opportunities, buildi...

AI is transforming how companies find and screen job candidates- but what happens when disability isn’t properly represented in the data? In this episode of Disability in the Public Square , we explore Our Ability’s collaboration with Microsoft, the development of disability-inclusive AI and candidate-matching technology, and why representation in data sets matter. We also discuss the recent lawsu...

Edited Audio - In this episode of Disability in the Public Square , John Robinson reflects on the documentary Get Off Your Knees: The John Robinson Story and the unexpected way it changed his life. What began with a conversation about climbing Mount Jo became a powerful opportunity to reflect on family, disability, perseverance, and achievement. Eighteen years later, John looks back on how the doc...

What happens when you can’t see the words on a page, hear the lyrics in a song, or navigate a website? You’re not missing convenience- you’re missing information. That’s why Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act exists: to require accessible digital information for everyone, including people with disabilities. From websites and PDFs to mobile apps and government systems, accessibility means inform...

John reflects on disability history after re-watching the documentary, Crip Camp . He discusses how Camp Jened gave young people with disabilities the opportunity to make friends, increase their independence, and provide a sense of belonging that helped inspire disability-rights activism, including the fight for equality and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Robinson connects this history to hi...

In this episode of Disability in the Public Square, John speaks with advocate David Pino about disability employment, subminimum wage, and the importance of meaningful opportunities to work and live independently. David shares his experience about working for eight years in a sheltered workshop, where he earned significantly less than minimum wage, and contrasts that experience with his current ca...

What happens when a personal challenge leads to an unexpected entrepreneurial opportunity? This episode highlights Drew Davis, founder of Stacked Hot Sauce, a disability-owned business that grew from a school project into a million dollar brand. We discuss Drew's story of entrepreneurship, perseverance, and building a company that openly embraces its disability identity.  John and Blaise disc...

Recent changes to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act have removed the seven percent workforce benchmark, disability self-identification requirements, and related reporting requirements for federal contractors and subcontractors. In this episode of Disability in the Public Square , John provides context on how the benchmark influenced disability recruitment, workplace disclosure, and employer pr...

This episode of Disability in the Public Square explores entrepreneurship as a potential and often necessary pathway for people with disabilities facing barriers to traditional employment. John discusses what the true unemployment rate is for those with disabilities, and the importance of contracting opportunities for disability-owned businesses. John considers the ways organizations, government a...

In this episode, John shares his experience learning to drive and reflects on how access to adaptive technology shaped his work and daily life. The conversation also explores mobility equipment for wheelchair and scooter users, including vehicle lifts and ramps, driving controls, equipment selection, maintenance, insurance coverage, and potential financial resources. Listeners will also hear about...

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is now overseen by the Health and Human Services Department. Listen to hear John's thoughts regarding this change.

What happens when a program designed to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities becomes permanent? In this episode of Disability in the Public Square , John Robinson takes a closer look at New York’s Preferred Source Program, recognizing the important opportunities it creates while raising questions about accountability, funding, and the future of disability employment. Should...

Today we will tell you the story of Camp Simcha, an adaptive summer camp in Upstate New York. John and Blaise will comment on their experiences with summer camp and why attending is so important.

 John explains why Florida's new state budget may not be enough to meet the growing need for home and community-based support. He explores what shrinking federal support could mean for state and local governments, disability organizations, families, and the people who rely on these essential services. 

Today on Disability in the Public Square , Ann breaks down the Trump administration’s June 2026 legal opinion. John shares his perspective on the opinion and explores its potential implications for disability rights.