Delivering the Keynote at the Kennedy Krieger Neurodiversity at Work Conference

Last week, John and I had the honor of delivering the keynote address at the 2025 Tapping Into Talent: Innovation and Opportunity Conference in Baltimore. Hosted by the Kennedy Krieger Institute, this incredible event brought together over 500 people—direct service providers, administrators, policy leaders, and changemakers—who are all committed to building more inclusive, more innovative workplaces.

It was a wonderfully warm and energetic group committed to inclusive employment.

Delivering the Keynote Address

We kicked off our keynote by speaking about something deeply personal: the possibilities that live within each of us and in everyone we meet. We told the story of how John and I started John’s Crazy Socks, and built it into the world’s largest sock store, driven by John’s vision and commitment to his dream.

When John was finishing high school and couldn’t find meaningful work, he looked at me and said, “Dad, let’s go into business together.” That’s how it all began: with love, with socks, and with a mission to spread happiness and show what people with differing abilities can do.

As we stood on that stage, we wanted every person in that room to share the belief we’ve carried since Day One: that hiring people with differing abilities is not charity; it’s good business. It’s smart. It leads to better workplaces. It sparks innovation. And most of all, it changes lives.

We shared stories from our journey, stories of pride and perseverance, of the joy a paycheck can bring, of how a job gives purpose and belonging. Because this work isn’t just about creating opportunities, it’s about dignity.

We closed our talk by thanking the audience. The people who attended this conference are the ones out there doing the work: coaching job seekers, writing policy, advocating for equity, and opening doors. They are the heroes helping others rise. We need them. And we need them to keep going.

John Meets with his Fans

After the keynote, John was surrounded by new friends. There were hugs, selfies, and moments we won’t soon forget.

One woman came up, tears in her eyes, and said, “Thank you for putting into words what I’ve always felt.”

Another man told us, “I needed to hear this today. Thank you for the inspiration.”

Moments like that remind us why we speak, why we share, why we keep showing up.

About the Conference

The Tapping Into Talent: Innovation and Opportunity Conference is a national gathering led by Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Neurodiversity at Work initiative. This year’s theme focused on unlocking untapped talent and creating accessible workplaces that drive both innovation and opportunity. Attendees could earn continuing education credits while engaging with leading voices in workforce inclusion.

What stood out most? This wasn’t just another conference. It was a movement. A community. A call to action. We were honored to be part of it.

A Final Word from John

After our talk, someone asked John how he felt about being part of such an important event. He grinned, gave his signature thumbs up, and said:

“I loved it. I got to meet amazing people. And I got to spread happiness.”

Mission accomplished.

Thank you, Baltimore. Thank you, Kennedy Krieger. Let’s keep building a world where everyone belongs.