John Robinson's Blog, page 11

Blaise Bryant: Sales Marketing Account Executive | Our Ability

Hi, I am Blaise Bryant. I was born completely blind, grew up in a small town in the Adirondack Mountains, and have both a high school diploma and bachelor’s degree. After graduating from The College of Saint Rose in Albany with my BA in Journalism, I quickly found out that jobs in radio were extremely difficult to find. The added layer of the onion was employers being unwilling to take a chance on me because I only had slightly more experience than eyesight. To use a baseball analogy, I stepped into the batter’s box with two strikes on the scoreboard. This was and continues to be, the unacceptable norm for people with disabilities looking for employment.

Thankfully, I was only without a job for three months which gave me time to somewhat figure out life. My high school friend Kevin graciously offered me a bedroom in his house so I could live in Albany without needing to go back home where the resources were minimal. During this time, I actively searched for jobs with little success. I re-recorded newscasts I taped for the College radio station several times with the result being insanity.

Like most students with disabilities, I utilized vocational rehabilitation services, for example, the New York State Commission for the Blind. My counselor sent me a posting for a Peer Advocate/Youth Transition Coordinator position at the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley across the Hudson River in Troy. My knowledge of Independent Living Centers was zero. This was completely different than my degree and dreams. I applied for the job because hey…something was better than nothing. Long story short I had an eye-opening interview because two of the three interviewers were disabled.

August 18, 2014, was an unforgettable day. Shortly after arriving at The Seeing Eye in Morristown, NJ to be matched with my first guide dog, I accepted the job offer. All I had was my experience as a young person with a disability. Two days later, a black lab named Flash bounded into my lap with kisses on my face as if to say: “The independence and life you want are here with me.” With my left-hand man and a job on the horizon, everything I needed to succeed was in my hands.

I quickly learned my employment journey was sadly typical because of society’s ableist view emphasizing the “dis” of disability. This realization has led me to help people with disabilities foster self-advocacy skills, and employment, obtain homecare, and overall make the world a better place. These experiences and my life story led me to help Our Ability with business engagement Through a person-centered approach. People with disabilities are the most underutilized sector of the workforce; we need to highlight both the importance of employing people with disabilities and the skills they bring to the table. Through Abli.ai, Jobs Ability, and our partnerships, we will bridge the unemployment gap paving the road for true equity.

Why do these attitudinal barriers exist? The ableist view society has is because the systems designed by those to supposedly help people make it nearly impossible to succeed. The result being too many people in the disability community are not working because they have been brainwashed the social service systems will take care of them. For example, I willingly sacrificed $500 less per month to work full-time instead of being employed part-time and receiving Social Security Disability. I was sick of the government dictating how much I could make without being subject to overpayments.

What has gainful employment done for me? I am an engaged homeowner with the resources to pay bills, live a quality life, and the ability to create podcasts to live out my dream of being on the radio. My promise to every single person I interact with here at Our Ability is to collaborate with you so my peers with disabilities can live their definition of the American Dream.

Job Opportunity: Associate Web Developer | Kessler Foundation

East Hanover, NJ

The position’s primary focus will be on providing ongoing application development services for various web-based applications.

Works with Senior Web Application Developer on scoping, designing, and developing feature reach web-based applications. Provides first and second level support for all existing and future applications. Assists in server and database changes and maintenance.

Responsibilities include (but are not limited to) the following:

Creating proprietary applications in accordance with all phases of SDLC (software development life cycle) and HIPAA compliance.Ensuring best security practices are utilized in all applications that process sensitive data.Working with stakeholder’s timelines and work expectations.Assisting in maintaining, supporting, and migrating current or future web applications.Implementing testing tools that monitor the ongoing performance of the organization’s applications.Assisting in creating and maintaining application development policies to ensure that all applications meet the latest technical requirements.Recommending system solutions by comparing advantages and disadvantages of custom development and purchase alternatives.Assisting in database architecture design, server scripting, studies, and establishing connectivity with network systems, search engines, and information servers.Completing applications development by coordinating requirements, schedules, and activities; contributing to team meetings; and troubleshooting development and production problems across multiple environments and operating platforms.Supporting users by developing and maintaining proper documentation and providing training.Ensuring that all web application related helpdesk tickets are resolved in a timely fashion.Participating in planning new IT projects; providing guidance for building the application server or server-side portion of a solution, including advice for server-side integration, interoperability, code maintenance, code re-use, and potential integration with existing systems.

Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology or Computer Science or equivalent experience.Minimum of two years of experience developing high-end user-facing applications.Ability to create support documentation for all new applications.Fluency in multiple programming/scripting languages; ability to quickly learn new languages, APIs, and platforms.In-depth understanding of the software development life cycle (SDLC); expertise in application development tools; Adobe Creative CloudMust have LAMP experienceWorking knowledge of Scrum project management and Agile software methodologies.A self-starter and self-motivated, with a proven track record of working independently on development projects, as well as working as a team player.Strong interpersonal skills and ability/willingness to train and mentor others.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence or persuade others.Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.  Attention to detail and ability to solve complex problems.  Capacity to manage tasks with attention to detail and accuracy.Strong commitment to user support.Willingness and ability to accept after-hours support calls and the dedication to see after-hours calls to resolution.To apply

Forward your résumé (MS Word or PDF) and salary requirements to career@KesslerFoundation.org. Please indicate the position(s) for which you are applying in the subject line.

Internship Opportunity: Pfizer | In-Vivo Pharmacology (6-month opportunity) Pfizer, Cambridge, MA

Why Patients Need You

Pfizer’s purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Research and Development is at the heart of fulfilling Pfizer’s purpose as we work to translate advanced science and technologies into the therapies and vaccines that matter most. Whether you are in the discovery sciences, ensuring drug safety and efficacy or supporting clinical trials, you will apply cutting edge design and process development capabilities to accelerate and bring the best-in-class medicines to patients around the world.

What You Will Achieve

As an Intern in the in-vivo pharmacology team, you will learn and experience the end-to-end process of in-vivo pharmacology from the operations aspect of animal care and welfare, through animal handling and animal techniques, efficacy study conduct to tissue processing and data acquisition.  Here you’ll find that everything we do, every day, is in line with an unwavering commitment to quality. The Internal Medicine Research Unit (IMRU) at our Cambridge, MA site is committed to finding cures for metabolic diseases including Cachexia, Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), Obesity, Diabetes, Renal disease, and Heart failure. Our goal is to build a research team of driven scientists focused on identifying and developing novel therapies to improve metabolic homeostasis in patients afflicted with these diseases.   The aim is to recruit a future scientist who is willing to learn and implement preclinical in vivo support for drug discovery projects and new target validation.

This intern will join Biology teams within IMRU and contribute to in-vivo studies to assess efficacy of novel therapy candidates as well as validate new drug targets.  The successful candidate is expected to learn and execute all aspects of in-vivo experiments in rodent models. A desire to understand the underlying causes of metabolic diseases and basic metabolic pathways involved is essential and we look for a driven scientist motivated to have a deep understanding of the development of the diseases.  It is your hard work and focus that will make Pfizer ready to achieve new milestones and help patients across the globe.

This is a part-time opportunity to start immediately on hire or as soon as possible.  It is ideal for enrolled students, although recent graduates will also be considered.  Since we promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace, and we are also disability-friendly, we highly encourage talent with disabilities to apply.

How You Will Achieve It

Learn all areas of in-vivo pharmacology to support studiesContribute to in vivo experiments to address key mechanistic and pharmacological scientific questions.Quantify/translate experimental results, communicate/ present data and provide recommendations for next steps.Working effectively with peers to support projects and workgroup goals.Candidate is expected to maintain high-quality, detailed experimental records.Stay current on all departmental and corporate training.

Qualifications

Must-Have:

Currently enrolled in college or recent (2022) graduatesWillingness to work with animals including rodent in vivo dosing and handling techniquesSome knowledge of tissue dissection and tissue preparationCandidate is expected to be highly detail-oriented, with excellent verbal and written communication skills.Excellent organization and planning skills, the ability to work in a fast-paced environment independently or as part of a team, strong motivation with a dedicated work ethic.Strong attention to detail and ability to collaborate and work in team environment.

Nice-to-Have:

Biochemistry major or related disciplineRelated experience in animal researchExperience in working with animal tissues and processingExperience in standard mammalian cell cultureThe successful candidate will be an enthusiastic and quick learner who is able to multitask and be comfortable working in a team environment

Physical/Mental Requirements

Must be able to wear standard PPE (lab coat/safety shoes/glasses/etc.)Must not have animal allergies

 

Interested candidates should communicate their interest in the internship role by sending their resume to christine.aurigemma@pfizer.com .

Our Ability Podcast: Disability and the Human Experience: Poetry, Ableism and Stephen Kuusisto

Stephen Kuusisto directs BBI’s Interdisciplinary Programs and Outreach initiative. A University Professor at Syracuse, he is the author of the memoirs Planet of the Blind (a New York Times “Notable Book of the Year”). A graduate of the Iowa Writer’s Workshop and a Fulbright Scholar, he has taught at the University of Iowa, Hobart & William Smith Colleges, and The Ohio State University.
We talk to Steve after years of friendship and discuss ableism, entrepreneurship, and poetry.

Job Opportunities: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation

NEW YORK STATE IS KNOCKING IT OUT OF THE PARKS!

Come work with us, and…

Be a part of the premier park system in the United States – with more than 250 state parks, historic sites, golf courses, swimming pools, beaches, campgrounds, marinas, trails, and museums and nature centers.Work in some of the most beautiful, scenic, and historic places New York State has to offer.Make a tangible impact on your community. Parks are for everyone, and all are welcome here: People of every age, ability, color, or creed belong here – without exceptions – yourself included! People of every kind come visit us in order to have experiences – and at OPRHP, we get to be part of these special times in truly meaningful ways. See how you can make a difference as a part of Team OPRHP!Job Opportunities

State parks and historic sites are staffed by a core of permanent employees who work year-round to maintain these precious resources. During the peak of our operating season (May through September) the permanent staff is supplemented by several thousand seasonal employees who work to ensure that our patrons have a positive and safe experience when visiting our sites.

Employment

New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation has two kinds of permanent (annual) jobs – competitive and non-competitive.

Entry-level positions in competitive jobs (clerical, technical, administrative, professional) are filled through examinations offered by the New York State Department of Civil Service.

Some exams are given annually, others every three to four years while still others are “continuous recruitment.”

Our non-competitive annual jobs are mostly in skilled trades, such as plumbing and carpentry, and in our Park Worker series, which are semi-skilled park maintenance positions. Permanent non-competitive vacancies are normally advertised by the regions, however many of these positions are filled from our seasonal employee ranks

Join Our Team

Our Ability Podcast: Disability and the Human Experience: A Discussion with Judith Heumann

Judith Heumann is a pioneer in the disability community and was called a “Badass” by the Washington Post.  The disability community needs more badasses!  It’s a great honor that we were able to share 30 minutes discussing disability and the human experience.

Judy recently published her autobiography Being Heumann: an Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist is featured in Crip Camp and wrote a self-described children’s book titled Rolling Warrior.  We discuss the books, friendships, and what ableism means in today’s world.

Our Ability Podcast: Disability and the Human Experience: Doug Hamlin and Lynne Nicolson | Part 2

In the second part, we continue to explore aging with a disability.

Doug Hamlin and Lynne Nicolson discuss physical therapy and aging with a disability. Doug Hamlin is an author, former business owner, consultant, and philanthropist. Doug is a quadriplegic from an injury nearly 40 years ago. Lynne is a physiatrist with Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital in Schenectady New York.

Our Ability Podcast: Disability and the Human Experience: Doug Hamlin and Lynne Nicolson | Part 1

In our second episode of disability in the human experience, Doug Hamlin and Lynne Nicolson discuss physical therapy and aging with a disability. Doug Hamlin is an author, former business owner, consultant, and philanthropist. Doug is a quadriplegic from an injury nearly 40 years ago. Lynne is a physiatrist with Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital in Schenectady New York.

This is the first of two parts: part one explores the original injury and some of the thoughts towards rehabilitation. In the second part, we will explore aging with a disability.

Our Ability Podcast: Disability and the Human Experience: NY ABLE and Jenna McClosky

Jenna McClosky the outreach coordinator for New York ABLE. Together we discussed the human experience of disability in relation to financial needs, the New York ABLE account and where we’re going in the next five years

The NY ABLE Program is a tax-advantaged savings program for individuals with disabilities and their families to save for their current or long-term needs while maintaining their ability to benefit from federal benefits programs such as SSI, SSDI, and Medicaid. Our program offers multiple investment options including a checking account and debit card option allowing individuals with disabilities to maintain their independence and have quick and easy access to their own money.

How school staff talk with youth with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families about transfer of rights, guardianship, and alternatives to guardianship

The Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston is working with the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State (SANYS) and Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS). We are doing research to understand how school staff talk with youth with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families about transfer of rights, guardianship, and alternatives to guardianship.

We want to conduct interviews over Zoom with special educators, youth with IDD and their family members in New York and in Massachusetts.

Please see attached flyers for more information.

Youth 18-25

Parents of a Youth with an Intellectual and/or Developmental Disability (IDD)

Transition Professional or Special Educator

If you have questions about the research, please email Daria Domin, at Daria.domin@umb.edu