Javier Robles

Mr. Robles, a graduate of Seton Hall Law School, is the Deputy Director of the NJ Division of Disability Services (DDS). DDS is a $370 million dollar Division situated in the New Jersey Department of Human Services. The Divisions provides services to over 19 thousand people with disabilities on a monthly basis.

After an unfortunate accident at the age of 16, Javier became a C5 quadriplegic. After his accident, there were plenty of people, including medical professionals, who said, that he would never regain any movement and strength, he would never have children and would be collecting Social Security for longtime. Javier rejected the negative stereotypes and went on to finish his education and eventually attended and graduated from Seten Hall Law School. While he is still in a wheelchair, however, 25 years later, he has come a long way. He works a full-time job and drives himself to work every day 100 miles round-trip.  He met a beautiful woman in college and have been with her ever since and have two beautiful children.

Currently, he is the Project Officer for the NJ Medicaid Infrastructure Grant which seeks to change employment outcomes for people with disabilities. He also oversees the Personal Assistance Services Program (PASP), the NJ Modular Ramp and Low-Riser Step Program, and the Personal Preference Program. He was recently appointed to the Governors Blue Ribbon Panel on Immigration and is President of ThisAbled LLC. ( www.thisabled.com ) a online corporation by and for people with disabilities.

He is the Past Chair of the Drug and Alcohol Advisory Council for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Disabled and a Member of the Governor’s Working Group on Latino Issues. He serves on the NJIT EmployMe! Business Advisory Council. Mr. Robles was an organizer of New Jersey’s first Latino Health Conference and the Latinos with Disabilities Employment Conference and this year is Chair of the Governors Conference on Employment of People with Disabilities planning group. He was also Chair of the committee which planned the African Americans with Disabilities Employment Conference. Moreover, he is a delegate and founding member for the Latino Leadership Alliance of NJ a Statewide umbrella Organization for Hispanic agencies and business and a Board Member of Canine Companions for Independence.

Mr. Robles has received numerous awards including, Minorities with Disabilities Advocacy award, the Ramon Ramos Medal of Courage, Commite Noviembre Award, President of the Year, Angel Award and has been the North East Ambassador for Canine Companions for Independence. He has been published in Seleciones, an article about “living with a disability”.

Javier have been fortunate enough to hire people with disabilities in numerous jobs he held including the present one. He strongly believes that businesses would do well to employ people with disabilities. People with disabilities are challenged every day to come up with new ways to make their lives better. How do they do this? Many, have figured out how to survive month-to-month on a Social Security check that barely covers two weeks worth of groceries. On top of that many have to pay for clothing, electricity, gas, and transportation just to name a few things. On top of this many of these individuals go to school, volunteer, or study for trade. How in the world do they do it? These are the kind of employees businesses should be looking for. Imagine the bottom line at your business when you put a survivor to work as opposed to someone would just need to job. People with disabilities as employees make sense for many reasons.

He has been featured in The Star Ledger, The Home News Tribune, Despierta America, The Roccio Show, Images/Imagines, Sally Jesse Raphael, We The People, and Survival After SCI. Originally from Newark, Mr. Robles now resides in New Jersey with his wife, daughter, and son.

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