John Robinson's Blog, page 34

The Research Foundation for SUNY Job Posting

The Research Foundation for SUNY is happy to announce that they are now recruiting for a

Chief Information Officer

Learning & Development Manager

 

Interested candidates for any of these positions should submit their resume with the description of the job posting to info@ourability.com.

New York State Weekly Job Posting FEBRUARY 2, 2017

The State of New York is working with Our Ability to build a talented and diverse pool of candidates for various current and upcoming state government positions. Interested candidates for any of these positions should submit their resume with the description of the job posting to info@ourability.com.

Candidates considered for any of these positions will be required to complete financial disclosure form

Children and Family Services, Office of (OCFS)
General Mechanic                Location: MacCormick Secure Center

300 South Road Brooktondale, NY  14817

Tompkins County

 Minimum Qualifications:

Four years of full-time experience in a trade under a skilled journey-level position which would provide training equivalent to that given in an apprenticeship program. Apprentice training in a trade or training gained by the completion of technical courses in a trade at a school or institute may be substituted for the above experience on a year-for-year basis.
$40,172 – $49,041
2/18/2017



More New York State Jobs

The Research Foundation for SUNY Job Posting

The Research Foundation for SUNY is happy to announce that theye are now recruiting for a Benefits & Retirement Coordinator.

Interested candidates for any of these positions should submit their resume with the description of the job posting to info@ourability.com.

New York State Weekly Job Posting JANUARY 19, 2017

The State of New York is working with Our Ability to build a talented and diverse pool of candidates for various current and upcoming state government positions. Interested candidates for any of these positions should submit their resume with the description of the job posting to info@ourability.com.

Candidates considered for any of these positions will be required to complete financial disclosure form

Agency
Position
Position Requirements
Projected Salary
Expiration Date


Arts, Council on the
Arts Team Associate               Location: NYC
 Minimum Qualifications:

• Four (4) year college degree in appropriate field and one year of progressively responsible work experience in a related field

• Clear and effective writing skills, including email communications and speaking skills

• Facility with basic computer programs such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel. A facility with data and database programs is helpful

• Superior organizational skills and exceptional customer skills

• Candidates with a background and/or experience in non-profit arts and cultural organizations are highly desired

• A sense of humor, a willingness to work hard, flexibility and the ability to work in a close collegial environment is essential
$53,339 to $67,827
2/2/2017



More New York State Jobs

GOVERNOR CUOMO PRESENTS THE 20TH PROPOSAL OF 2017 STATE OF THE STATE: COMPLETE THE EMPIRE STATE TRAIL BY 2020

Our Ability is excited to post this important press release. We can’t wait to assist this effort!

“Our Ability is thrilled with the Governor’s announcement today,” Doug Hamlin stated. “It is among our highest priorities to have the most people, of all abilities, enjoy the beauty and history of our great State!”

 

 

Build 350 New Miles of Trail to Create Largest State Multi-use Trail Network in the Nation

750-Mile Trail Network Will Connect Lake Erie to the Capital Region and the New York Harbor to Canada

New Mobile App to Launch, Connecting Travelers with New York Trails and Attractions

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today proposed completing the Hudson River Valley Greenway and Erie Canalway trails by 2020 to create the Empire State Trail, the largest state multi-use trail in the nation. To achieve this, the state will develop 350 miles of new trail in three phases to create a 750-mile pathway for hiking and biking along scenic vistas and through charming, historic communities. The Empire State Trail will span much of the state, from the New York Harbor up through the Adirondack Mountains to the Canadian border – and from the shores of Lake Erie along the historic Erie Canal to the heart of the Capital Region.

“The scenic ‎natural beauty that spans every corner of this state is key to our prosperity, vital to our future and part of who we are as New Yorkers,” Governor Cuomo said. “The Empire State Trail, once completed, will be the nation’s largest state multi-use trail network, providing residents and visitors alike unprecedented access to New York’s outdoor treasures, driving tourism and economic activity to communities across the state and helping to protect our environmental resources for generations to come.”

New York’s existing Hudson River Valley Greenway and the Erie Canalway are two of the most renowned multi-use trailways in the United States, but both trails remain unfinished with a number of gaps across the state. Currently, the Hudson River Valley Greenway is nearly 50 percent complete and crosses the Appalachian Trail, spanning over 260 miles between the Manhattan Battery and Lake George. The trail closely, and in many places parallels State Bike Route 9, which extends the Greenway an additional 130 miles along Lake Champlain to the Canadian border. The Hudson River Valley Greenway generates more than $21 million in economic impact annually from visitors stopping in communities along the trails.

The Erie Canalway is nearly 80 percent complete and runs approximately 360 miles along the storied Erie Canal, connecting Buffalo to Albany. The Governor’s commitment to complete this trail coincides with the bicentennial of the Erie Canal, as construction of the engineering marvel begin in 1817. Each year, approximately 1.5 million people use the Erie Canalway Trail along the historic Erie Canal, resulting in an estimated $253 million in economic activity from visitor spending. The Buffalo-Pendleton segment is the most heavily used part of the Canalway Trail with approximately 350,000 annual users. With this proposal, remaining gaps will be completed, connecting the two trails to establish the New York’s Empire State Trail.

Once the Empire State Trail is complete, the trails will attract more hikers, bikers, and cross country skiers than ever before and provide access to destinations, heritage areas, and historic sites and districts including:

Hudson River Valley Greenway

Battery Park, NYC· Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie· Olana State Historic Site, Hudson· Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, Kinderhook· Schodack Island State Park, Schodack Landing· Saratoga National Battlefield, Stillwater· Fort Ticonderoga, Ticonderoga

Erie Canalway Trail

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Historic Site, Buffalo· Buffalo State Park, Buffalo· The Salt Museum on Onondaga Lake, Liverpool· The Montezuma National Wild Refuge, Seneca Falls· The Great New York State Fair, Syracuse· Oriskany Battlefield State Historic Site, Oriskany· Fort Stanwix National Monument, Rome

This extensive trail network will enhance community connectivity and support healthy lifestyles by providing both urban and rural communities access to endless outdoor recreational opportunities. These long distance destination trails are economic drivers that can generate $1.5 – 5 million in annual economic impact for surrounding communities. Additionally, this trail network is expected to support an estimated 9.6 jobs for every $1 million invested, and every dollar will yield $3 in direct medical benefits for surrounding communities. The trails will also draw tourists from around the world to explore New York’s striking landscapes and rich history, while enjoying local bed and breakfasts, hotels, restaurants, wineries, breweries, farmsteads, and cultural attractions along the way.

Empire State Trail Website and Mobile App Launch

A new trail website and mobile app will launch to further connect New Yorkers and visitors to the state’s great outdoors. Both the website and app will feature a list of greenways, trails with hiking descriptions, and their level of difficulty. The app will allow users to find services and attractions nearby using location services with the option to share the user’s exact location with friends, or first responders, in the case of an emergency. Social sharing options will also be available, to share photos on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. A live tour map, walking and driving directions, are available as well as an elevation reader that lets users know when trails cross hills and mountains.

The trail system will provide travelers access to a number of signature attractions, all of which can be found on the website and mobile app, including Battery Park, Walkway Over the Hudson, Corning Preserve, Lake George, Schenectady Rivers Casino, the Erie Canal Museum, the Buffalo Naval Military Park, local breweries, and other lodging accommodations and family-friendly destinations found along the Empire State Trail.

“Parks, historic sites, and heritage areas are the very fabric of our local communities and the Empire State Trail will further connect these treasured resources with all New Yorkers, neighbors and friends,” said New York State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey. “Governor Cuomo is rejuvenating the state park system and now with the creation of the Empire State Trail we are deepening the connection and sharing many of these wonderful treasures and all it takes is a bike ride or casual stroll.”

“New York’s natural resources are truly world class destinations and through Governor Cuomo’s leadership, the new Empire State Trail will establish important connections to offer residents and visitors even more opportunities to experience all the state has to offer,” said New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos. “I look forward to working with our partners in State Parks, to expand and enhance marketing of all the outdoor adventures one can have throughout the state, and continuing to help communities across the state capitalize on the economic potential of outdoor recreation.”

New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian Stratton said, “Tens of thousands of people already use the Canal trail year-round for hiking, biking, jogging and cross-country skiing. I’m beyond thrilled that Governor Cuomo has proposed completing the trail along the entire length of the Erie Canal. Now, more people will be able to enjoy all this iconic waterway has to offer as we celebrate the canal system’s bicentennial in 2017.”

Media Uncomfortable with Disability

By John Robinson –  January 5, 2017 posted on Huffington Post.

I posted this last week after the horrible events in Chicago. I’m angry enough about the treatment, the bullying of people with disabilities in society. But four days later, still angry – almost outraged – at the coverage. Do you know in four days I have not seen one panelist, a person with a disability represented to talk about this? There have been numerous African-American panelists put in horrible positions to defend, but not one person with a disability?

And today-less than 24 hours after Meryl Streep points out the abhorrent mocking of a person with a disability by Donald Trump which happened last year-you would think there might be a person with a disability discussing this? Not one. Actors, media people, African-American – no PwD.  Shame on you NBC, MSNBC, CNN, ABC and CBS. And, shame on Huffington Post. I’m embarrassed in my former profession.

Our televisions and Internet space will be littered with people talking about disability, but not one will be a person with a disability!  Disgusting

Some people believe racism is the worst thing in America today, I disagree. It’s not racism, it is hate. Racism is only part of the larger problem. But, racism sells advertising, turns on television and fuels social media. What happened in Chicago Tuesday is hatred, pure and simple. Man hating man for being different.

I turned on the TV Thursday morning to hear of an individual with a disability being tortured by four individuals, broadcast live on Facebook, beaten, showered with cigarette ashes, tortured with a knife, cut and bound. The four individuals were shouting anti-Trump references and disparaging the individual because he is white. The four are African-American. There is no doubt there is some racism in this story. But, at its core the abuse happened because it is allowed. Hatred in this country is allowed. We are never asked to look to our enemies, those that are different and see the human inside. Everything in our society is pushing us back towards where we were 100 years ago, when African-Americans were segregated and individuals with disabilities were institutionalized. Or, worse. When 200 years ago, African-Americans were slaves and individuals with disabilities were killed.

There is no punishment that fits. Those four individuals will grow up the rest of their lives hating and resenting people with disabilities. There is just no other way humanly possible to undo that hatred, if it is inside already. There should have been education early that ALL differences should be celebrated. Including disability!

Whether it be a lifetime in jail or community service, those four individuals will forever resent that individual with a disability for their disability. They will always justify in some way their activity as acceptable because of the difference. I know this, because at our core people justify their hatred of others. We cannot live in another person’s shoes. White does not understand what it’s like to be black and vice versa.

If I were God for a day, I’d find a way for those four to learn this lesson. Jail is not good enough. They should be made to live together, pair off and marry each other. Sterilized so they cannot have children of their own and made to raise other children with special needs. Or, not sterilized and the children they are blessed with, and yes I used blessed on purpose for all children are a blessing, are born as individuals with disabilities. Only then will these four people truly understand discrimination.

I cannot play God. Nor, should those four in their beatings.

This is a horrible story in and of itself but it doesn’t truly reflect what’s going on until you look at the media aspect. Watching CNN and NBC Thursday was more than eye-opening to today’s society look at hate. They talked ad nausea about Donald Trump and our new America, but glossed over this hate crime. They approached this as racism. And, they missed an opportunity. I shouldn’t be surprised, the media has missed many opportunities to see the big picture of late.

NBC never talked about the individual with a disability as a person. The only mention was that the person was shaken up and reunited with their parents. Really? CNN had a panel at 6:50 AM this morning and invited an African-American woman presumably there to stick up for African-Americans. What a horrible position CNN put her in. To her credit, she called out these four individuals. But not surprisingly, CNN had no individual with a disability representative on the panel. No parent of a child with a disability or national advocate. Certainly, there is somebody in Chicago that deals with individuals with disabilities who could speak to this daily.

But, this is the America we live in. We would rather look at racism as the major problem because it’s a good story. When the story is pure hatred. Hatred of other people who are different. Cain verses Able. The oldest story there is. I am ashamed today.

Cyberbullying and students with disabilities

Guest Writer, Jenny Holt

According to stopbullying.gov, children and teenagers with disabilities are more likely to be bullied than other students. Due to the popularity of social media, cyberbullying has become a growing problem. Victims of cyberbullying often experience poor self-esteem, depression, and difficulty in school. Learn more about cyberbullying to discover how to recognize the warning signs and what you can do to stop it.

Recognizing Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is a form of harassment that occurs on the internet via email, social media websites, and instant messaging applications. An isolated incident wouldn’t be considered cyberbullying, but multiple occurrences can be classified as harassment. According to cyberbully.org, cyberbullying includes sending unwanted messages and posting derogatory remarks about someone. Students often record incidents of bullying at school and post the video to their social media websites. It’s important for students to report incidents of cyberbullying to prevent future occurrences.

Effects of Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying has serious physical, emotional, and psychological effects on students with disabilities. Harassment causes bullied students to experience anxiety and depression. Students often withdrawal from social activities and spend most of their time alone. Some victims of bullying have committed suicide. Cyberbullying can affect a student’s attendance and performance at school. It’s common for young people to skip classes or drop out of school when they are bullied. Harassment makes it difficult for students to concentrate at school, pass state examinations, and maintain a satisfactory GPA.

Cyberbullying Legislation

Although cyberbullying has become a serious problem in our culture, no federal law exists to protect people from this kind of harassment. Many states have included cyberbullying in their legislation. Although cyberbullying occurs on the internet, teachers and schools can still be held accountable for resolving bullying problems. Schools are required to report, investigate, and correct aggressive behavior. Educational resources make it possible for some students to resolve cyberbullying incidents on their own. Although cyberbullying can have a negative effect on students, many parents don’t think it’s necessary to press criminal charges. Cyberbullying incidents can be resolved by the school system with suspension and detention.

Cyberbullying occurs when someone demonstrates aggressive and demeaning behavior towards another individual. The negative effects of cyberbullying include anxiety, depression, and poor performance at school. There are no federal laws for cyberbullying, but states have the option to include it in their legislation. Although schools can be held accountable for cyberbullying, it’s better for students to learn how to handle harassment on their own.

Alert: Urge Gov. Cuomo to Prioritize the Employment of New Yorkers with Disabilities #PWDConnectJobs

NYAPRS Note: The following comes from our friend, Brad Williams of the NYS Independent Living Council. Please join us in signing this petition today, urging NY Governor Cuomo to build on efforts to realize the goals of his groundbreaking Employment First policy for New Yorkers with disabilities. The petition urges Governor Cuomo to add resources to advance our efforts in this area, by giving the issue a state of the state level of importance and to appoint an “Employment Czar” whose sole job will be to move us forward in this area.

Please click on the following link today to sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/governor-andrew-cuomo-prioritize-the-employment-of-working-aged-new-yorkers-with-disabilities-c3e14a93-cc9c-4d6e-ae5a-694c83664217 .

This petition will be delivered to Governor Cuomo in the coming weeks. Thank you!

Prioritize the Employment of Working-aged New Yorkers with Disabilities

In September 2014, Governor Andrew Cuomo created an Employment First policy which provided a direction for competitive, integrated employment for New Yorkers with disabilities. Two years after he signed Executive Order # 136, the target dates for all the recommendations made by the Employment First Commission in their report have lapsed. Lots of hard work has occurred but the plan advanced at the November MISCC meeting lacks implementation specificity (timelines, responsibility, work priorities).  Read Employment First order here…

We call upon Governor Cuomo to take action on behalf of the 1.1 million working-aged New Yorkers with disabilities and:

Prioritize the employment of New Yorkers with disabilities in his upcoming state of the State address.


Actively support the Employment First policy and make a commitment to its full implementation.


Appoint an “Employment Czar” for people with disabilities with full-time staff to advance priorities identified in the Employment First report via the Executive Budget, including:


Establish a small business tax credit for New Yorkers with disabilities.
Include disability as a minority in the Minority Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) state procurement program.
Hire a 55b/c Statewide Coordinator to oversee greater utilization of the program.
Increase utilization of the Medicaid Buy-In for Working People With Disabilities Program (MBIWPD).
Create a Medicaid service to support benefits advisement.
Develop a policy for regional economic councils to target disability employment and business opportunities.


Fully support integrated, competitive employment – New Yorkers must earn minimum wage or higher for inclusive opportunities which comport with Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) rules.

This petition will be delivered to Governor Andrew Cuomo at gov.cuomo@chamber.state.ny.us

Click on the following link to sign a petition: https://www.change.org/p/governor-andrew-cuomo-prioritize-the-employment-of-working-aged-new-yorkers-with-disabilities-c3e14a93-cc9c-4d6e-ae5a-694c83664217

Please distribute and post to others. Thanks!

Brad Williams  New York State Independent Living Council

Alert: Urge Gov. Cuomo to Prioritize the Employment of New Yorkers with Disabilities

NYAPRS Note: The following comes from our friend, Brad Williams of the NYS Independent Living Council. Please join us in signing this petition today, urging NY Governor Cuomo to build on efforts to realize the goals of his groundbreaking Employment First policy for New Yorkers with disabilities. The petition urges Governor Cuomo to add resources to advance our efforts in this area, by giving the issue a state of the state level of importance and to appoint an “Employment Czar” whose sole job will be to move us forward in this area.

Please click on the following link today to sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/governor-andrew-cuomo-prioritize-the-employment-of-working-aged-new-yorkers-with-disabilities-c3e14a93-cc9c-4d6e-ae5a-694c83664217 .

This petition will be delivered to Governor Cuomo in the coming weeks. Thank you!

Prioritize the Employment of Working-aged New Yorkers with Disabilities

In September 2014, Governor Andrew Cuomo created an Employment First policy which provided a direction for competitive, integrated employment for New Yorkers with disabilities. Two years after he signed Executive Order # 136, the target dates for all the recommendations made by the Employment First Commission in their report have lapsed. Lots of hard work has occurred but the plan advanced at the November MISCC meeting lacks implementation specificity (timelines, responsibility, work priorities). https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/Employment%20First%20Commission%20Updates%20MISCC%2011-2-16.pdf.

We call upon Governor Cuomo to take action on behalf of the 1.1 million working-aged New Yorkers with disabilities and:

Prioritize the employment of New Yorkers with disabilities in his upcoming state of the State address.


Actively support the Employment First policy and make a commitment to its full implementation.


Appoint an “Employment Czar” for people with disabilities with full-time staff to advance priorities identified in the Employment First report via the Executive Budget, including:


Establish a small business tax credit for New Yorkers with disabilities.
Include disability as a minority in the Minority Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) state procurement program.
Hire a 55b/c Statewide Coordinator to oversee greater utilization of the program.
Increase utilization of the Medicaid Buy-In for Working People With Disabilities Program (MBIWPD).
Create a Medicaid service to support benefits advisement.
Develop a policy for regional economic councils to target disability employment and business opportunities.


Fully support integrated, competitive employment – New Yorkers must earn minimum wage or higher for inclusive opportunities which comport with Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) rules.

This petition will be delivered to Governor Andrew Cuomo at gov.cuomo@chamber.state.ny.us

Click on the following link to sign a petition: https://www.change.org/p/governor-andrew-cuomo-prioritize-the-employment-of-working-aged-new-yorkers-with-disabilities-c3e14a93-cc9c-4d6e-ae5a-694c83664217

Please distribute and post to others. Thanks!

Brad Williams  New York State Independent Living Council

#PWDConnectJobs: CBS, Anderson Cooper and DOL’s Andrew Puzder

CBS and Anderson Cooper took to the airwaves last week and did a story on drive-by lawsuits. Both the drive-by lawsuit and the business unaware hurt individuals with disabilities with everything that we need. From accessibility to equal opportunity, we are underserved in both areas. Drive-by lawsuits hurt our reputation and need for accessibility while businesses continue to neglect people with disabilities in general.

I found a 2005 article how Hardee’s was sued for not hiring individual disability. The new Department of Labor nominee Andrew Puzder is the CEO of Hardee’s fast food parent company and has opposed many of the recent advancements made under the present Obama administration. I will agree with Marlee Matlin that the story was informative to some degree, but we need more stories on an accessibility, inequality and where we go under this new administration.

Supporters of disability rights took to Twitter this week to criticize Anderson Cooper’s 60 Minutes report about lawyers who may be exploiting the Americans with Disabilities Act by targeting businesses with frivolous “drive-by-lawsuits.”

Individuals with disabilities complained that the plight of the business owner was the focus of the story:

Follow
Mike Mort @MikeeMort

Dear @60Minutes,#Inaccessibility remains a major issue, far greater an issue than lawyers “taking advantage.” #Ideas4Anderson

5:27 PM – 6 Dec 2016 · New York, USA

1717 Retweets
2020 likes

Follow
Sue Kerr ✔@PghLesbian24

Oh this @60Minutes@andersoncooper#ADA story makes me cringe. I should have to BEG every single business to comply? Thanks, Anderson. #fb

7:48 PM – 4 Dec 2016

Retweets
22 likes

Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin, who is deaf, called Cooper’s piece “informative and enlightening” in one tweet, but she also questioned the broadcast’s balance of coverage on the matter:

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