Born with Cerebral Palsy, Jonathan Kaufman’s disability has been a profound part of his personal, academic and professional life. Whether hiking in the Ecuadorian highlands with his family, skiing down a mountain, repelling down the side of a cliff in the Middle East, to the simplicity of tying his own shoes one handed, he has pushed the idea that anything is possible if given the will. Jonathan believes that our goal is to make impediments into inconveniences, to see disabilities as challenges. Acting upon this philosophy, Jonathan’s focus has been to give people with disabilities the tools to interact with the world around them and provide a greater level of independence.

Understanding his mission, Jonathan focused his college career at Sarah Lawrence College and Oxford University on studying disability lifestyle, work, and policy issues. He continued his graduate work by immersing himself in the many nuances of disability and aging studies at the University of Chicago and Columbia University.

Jonathan saw that these issues have an effect not just on people with disabilities but on all of society. With 56 million Americans with disabilities and a global aging population, society must become aware of the many concerns facing a growing disability community.

While a graduate student Jonathan began consulting for a variety of institutions from Steven Spielberg’s Starbright Project, the McDonald’s Corporation, to the Federal Communications Commission.

Beginning in 2000, Kaufman founded DisabilityWorks, inc., a strategy/consulting firm that helps corporations, government agencies and educational institutions develop strategies and initiatives that add value to those institutions and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.

Along with running DisabilityWorks, inc., Jonathan Kaufman helped to spearhead the Graduate Program in Disability Studies at the City University of New York (Graduate Center), where he holds a teaching position as Adjunct Professor of Disability Studies, and Fellow at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Institute for Workers Education. As of the summer of 2005 Jonathan helped to launch The Adaptations Program, the first initiative of its kind in the United States that serves young adults in their 20s and 30s with learning disabilities and those on the autistic spectrum to provide social skills and job development strategies. He functioned as its Co-Director until the summer of 2008.

Jonathan believes that the future of people with disabilities has never been brighter. His ultimate goal is to push people with disabilities to their fullest potential and uncover their true ABILITY!

He continues to be a sought after guest on television & radio discussing a variety of disability and aging issues that impact business, government, and personal lifestyle. He is a dynamic speaker at such diverse events as the United Nations Social and Economic Development Forum, to AARP’s Diversity & Aging in the 21st Century Conference. He has also served as the Commencement speaker for Columbia University’s School of Occupational Therapy. Through Jonathan’s writing and consulting his continued expertise in the field are pioneering innovative ideas helping to guide companies like Wal-Mart and TMP Worldwide to new heights. He also works with TecAccess as a lead consultant on access and business strategies. As an advisor to Diversity Best Practices on a variety of disability and aging matters his work is proving invaluable for Fortune 500 and 1000 companies. He continues to work in the Federal sector with government agencies such as the IRS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Going from domestic to international politics Jonathan advises such global agencies as The International Federation on Aging (IFA) and AARP’s Office of International Affairs providing greater insight into the issues that people with disabilities face around the world and offer strategies to create new opportunities. Most recently his work has taken him into the entertainment field serving as a technical consultant for the films “Adam” and “Temple Grandin.”

In a global economy and shifting demographics disability and aging issues are critical to creating an inclusive society. DisabilityWorks, inc. is here to provide companies & other institutions innovative strategies and tools that will enhance the economic, social and political environments that will impact all of us.