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What We Saw in Baltimore: Possibility, Purpose, and the Power of Inclusion
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,…
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Why John Never Misses an Election and Why That Matters
This week, my son John and I went to vote early in our local elections. Voting together has long become a ritual for us. Before he was old enough to vote, I would take him into the old voting machines with me. Now, we vote side-by-side. We look forward to it, not just because we…
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John and Mark X. Cronin Inspire the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs at LIU – C.W. Post
Each fall, John and Mark X. Cronin return to the entrepreneurship and business studies program at Long Island University’s C.W. Post campus to share not just a business success story, but their vision of leading a business with impact. Invited by Professor Jim Freeley, the father-son founders of John’s Crazy Socks led an engaging and…
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What’s the Plan? Who Will Protect Students with Disabilities if the Office of Special Education Programs Is Shut Down?
At John’s Crazy Socks and Abilities Rising, we believe in the power of inclusion and know from experience that people with disabilities can do amazing things when given the right support. That support starts early. For millions of students with disabilities, it starts with the protections, services, and oversight provided under the Individuals with Disabilities…
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Inclusive Hiring Must Happen at Every Level, Not Just in the C-Suite
Last week, news broke that Walmart is facing a discrimination lawsuit after two employees with intellectual disabilities were harassed and denied support at a store in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. According to the EEOC’s suit, supervisors at the store mocked and insulted the employees, refused to accommodate a job coach, and ignored their basic workplace rights.…
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NDEAM Spotlight on Spectrum Designs: Where Inclusion Drives Innovation
We love shining a light on organizations that are lighting the way with inclusive hiring, particularly during National Disability Employment Month (NDEAM). Ask yourself, what happens when you build a business with inclusion at its core? You get Spectrum Designs. They are a New York-based nonprofit apparel company that can put a label on anything…
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How AI Can Help People with Differing Abilities Find a Job They Love
Looking for a job is hard. You send out applications and may not even hear back. You knock on doors, and not everyone is even courteous. This difficulty in the job search is a reality for everyone, and it is even a greater challenge for people with differing abilities. Applications, interviews, and resumes can feel…
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John and Mark X. Cronin Named to MSN’s “Top 10 Keynote Speakers to Follow in 2025”
John and Mark X. Cronin, the inspirational father-son duo behind John’s Crazy Socks and Abilities Rising, have been named to MSN’s prestigious list of the “Top 10 Keynote Speakers You Need to Follow in 2025.” This national recognition places John and Mark alongside world-renowned voices in business innovation, leadership, and social change and highlights the…
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80 Years of Progress: The History of National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) invites us to celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities and renew our commitment to creating inclusive workplaces. Many celebrate NDEAM, but it is no overnight sensation. It developed out of decades of advocacy, policy reform, and a growing understanding that hiring people with disabilities is good…
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I Literally Wrote the Book on Being a Great Podcast Guest
By Mark X. Cronin It started with a sock and a dream and grew into over 300 podcast appearances and now, a chapter in a book that teaches others how to do the same. John and I have always believed in the power of storytelling. It’s how we connect, how we inspire, and how we…
