Today, we reflect on where we are presently as individuals with disabilities worldwide, and where we can continue to make inclusion improvements around the planet.
My biggest thought today is that we should celebrate the everyday people with disabilities who are trying to become educated, employed, or entrepreneurs to live the lives we want to live.

After a series of webinars conducted by Syracuse University on digital accessibility, we decided to bring this to our podcast audience. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and its moving parts have real ramifications come April 2026. Local, county, city, and state agencies must be aware that their web pages, documents and applications must all be compliant to digital accessibility. Our Ability will create an accessible pathway for agencies, universities, and businesses looking beyond compliance and into the future of accessibility.

Are we living in 1935 Germany? Are we striving for the best 2035 America? People with disabilities are at a crossroads after this November election. 

There is discussion that federal dollars will be eliminated, and that will have a direct and indirect impact on the 40 million individuals with disabilities in the United States. What can we do to discuss? What can we do to build employment? How do we avoid further institutionalization of individuals with disabilities?

Human Resources Professional, Director MNYSC (Metro New York and Southern Connecticut HERC (The Higher Education Recruitment Consortium) Karen Fife talks to John Robinson about disability recruiting and inclusion. Karen is an accomplished and dynamic human resources professional with significant background in strategic staffing, compensation and budget planning, and performance and talent management.

Our Ability has worked with HERC for a number of years to expand employment and the employment conversation within higher education. 

John Robinson discusses ableism in America during an election season, Donald Trump, and the ignorant president—Kamala Harris meeting with the disability community and where we going beyond 2024.

David D'Arcangelo and John Robinson talk about unification through Disability Employment. David is dedicated to assisting organizations in achieving their disability inclusion and diversity objectives. They have a comprehensive range of services including disability consulting, professional writing, content creation, public speaking, and campaign strategy. 

Arc Angel Communications and Our Ability are Disability Owned Business Enterprises. 

John Robinson and Neil talk about disability and accessibility, worldwide. Neil Milliken is the Global Head of Accessibility & Digital Inclusion at Atos, a member of the Atos Scientific Community & Atos Distinguished Expert.

Neil is a leading strategist and community builder with over two decades of experience within the Accessibility and Assistive Technology fields and served as an invited expert for the W3C Cognitive Accessibility Taskforce

Our Ability has a long-standing relationship with Albany Medical Center. Over the years, Albany Med has supported our Journey Along the Erie Canal, a hand cycle trip to support individuals with disabilities in upstate New York. As we have grown our employment outreach throughout New York State, Albany Med has come on board to support our work, most importantly, sourcing candidates. 

Sandra "Sandy" Castilla represents Albany Med, and we have an open and enjoyable conversation.   Castilla is Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer for the Albany Med Health System. 

Castilla joined Albany Medical Center in 2005 as the Associate Director of Compensation and Benefits. She was subsequently promoted to Director of Human Resources, Assistant Vice President of Human Resources, and then Vice President. 

In her role, Castilla oversees benefits, compensation, and human resources management. She leads the team responsible for executing retention and recruitment strategies for clinical departments and non-clinical business departments. 

Along with her extensive experience in the healthcare sector, Castilla has held human resources leadership roles in the finance, manufacturing, and gaming industries. 

Castilla holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from the State University of New York at Potsdam and a master’s degree in Business and Public Management from the State 

Our Ability is proud to talk disability inclusion with friend Victor Calise. As Director of Global Diversity, Accessibility Center of Excellence on the Belonging Team Victor spearheads disability inclusion and accessibility into every aspect of the company from infrastructure to employment, to the shopping experience. 
 
A native New Yorker, Victor is an internationally recognized diversity inclusion champion. An avid athlete, he was a member of the first U.S. national sled hockey team and represented his country at the 1998 Paralympic Games in Nagano, Japan. He is married to his beautiful wife Susan, and they have two daughters.

Linda Zhao is a purpose-driven HR professional with experience in various functional areas such as talent management, operations, diversity & inclusion (EEO) and administration. Linda has strong creative problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills with the ability to prioritize and multi-task.

In our conversation, we talk about Pfizer, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how disability is part of this equation.