Monday, September 27th

Opening Keynote - Jennifer Johnson

Deputy Commissioner, Administration on Disabilities and Director, Office of Disability Service Innovations at the Administration for Community Living (ACL)

Jennifer Johnson is the Deputy Commissioner of the Administration on Disabilities (AOD), Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Director of the Office of Disability Service Innovations in AOD. In this role, Jennifer works with states, communities, and partners in the disability networks to increase the independence, productivity, and community integration of individuals with disabilities. From 2015 – 2019, Jennifer was the Deputy Director of the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in AOD, ACL. Jennifer has held positions in the Arlington County Public School system, at the Council for Exceptional Children and at The George Washington University where she was also an Adjunct Lecturer teaching master’s level coursework in research methodology, special education, and public policy. Jennifer earned her doctorate in special education from the George Washington University.

Wednesday, September 29th

Closing Keynote - John Robinson

President and CEO, Our Ability

John Robinson is Our Ability's President and CEO. Robinson is dedicated to connecting individuals with disabilities towards education and employment through mentoring, workshops, public speaking as well as job placement. In 2018 he was presented with the Chamber Champion Award in recognition of actions that have advanced the mission of the Capital Region (NY) Chamber. In 2014, he was named one of ten national White House Champions of Change for Disability Employment. John Robinson is the subject of "Get Off Your Knees: The John Robinson Story" a public television documentary seen around the United States and other countries. An Autobiography of the same title was published by Syracuse University Press in 2009.

Our Ability is the only disability-owned and operated business dedicated to building employment opportunities through our job platforms, employment webinars, digital profile system and personal empowerment.