Keira Maraboli

"I'm rich, and it's all your fault!" - Sophie

People with disabilities often receive benefits from the government to support their income. Due to a lack of opportunities for those with disabilities, many people remain dependent on the government's disability pay, regardless of whether they have a job or not.

321 Coffee is now in all 500+ Food Lion stores across NC!

What makes this even more special is that even more people will see our physical product that stands for disability on the shelves in big-name stores. Having our coffee in Food Lion means that people all across North Carolina will see our staff's names, sketches, and quotes on that packaging.

Nothing quite like the thrill of landing your first big order...

I was on the phone trying to figure out box dimensions when they casually mentioned, "Make sure you have your safety vest when you arrive at midnight." Wait, what? Safety vests? Midnight!? Apparently, there are "secret rules" (or at least they feel top-secret when you're new to this thing) we didn't even know existed.

The Nike Freestyle Spot

One of my first big career opportunities was a TV commercial shoot for Nike, and honestly, I was faking it till I made it, because I didn't really know what I was doing. This isn't an exaggeration. I didn't have the hard experience to be in such a position, but I went on the shoot anyway.

Burnout

Some people leave work and don't think about it for the rest of the night, but that's not how this business works. A friend of mine, Hal Curtis, used to walk past a ball bearing factory every day and say, "One day I want a job where I just make ball bearings."

Coca-Cola

Before we worked on The Coca-Cola Company's ads, they were mostly holding up a mirror, showing the kind of people they wanted drinking Coke, hoping the audience would see themselves in it. But that didn't feel true to the Coca-Cola brand. Coke is supposed to lead culture.

About CaroNova

I've always believed that people are good. That despite how things may seem, humanity becomes more kind and civil over time. And I believe that the big, complicated problems we face, especially in healthcare, are not impossible to solve. But too often, we settle for "good enough."

Palliative Care

Palliative care in the United States is so out of alignment with what patients and families tend to want at the end of life. The current system over-utilizes resources, is one of the top reasons for provider burnout, and often neglects the emotional, financial, and logistical support people need during this time.

Progress in Healthcare

The biggest barrier to progress in healthcare isn't a lack of knowledge but a failure to execute. We already know how to improve outcomes, reduce disparities, lower costs, and increase patient and provider satisfaction in healthcare. Most of the solutions already exist. The problem is that we haven't committed to making them work.

Old Kmart Site

I'm happy to report the old Kmart site no longer looks like a dump. Seriously, if you've driven past Western Blvd and I-440 lately, have you noticed the difference? This is one of the biggest projects CityPlat has ever taken on.

Glenwood South

Have you guys heard about what's coming to Glenwood South in 2028?? The groundbreaking for The Creamery, soon to become the city's tallest residential tower, officially took place this month. Thirty-seven floors of living, dining, and retail right in the heart of Glenwood South, built on the site of the old Pine State Creamery.

Infrastructure Issues

If you've ever worked in commercial real estate, you know this feeling: You clean up the site, finalize the renderings, line up your tenants... and then the water main breaks. Some of you Raleigh folks may have seen in the news that a massive sinkhole shut down Cameron Street in the Village District last week.

A Reality Check for Businesses

Most people don't realize how inaccessible the internet is until they're forced to experience it. I wish everyone had to spend five minutes navigating a typical website with a screen reader. Because here's what would happen: You would get stuck. You wouldn't be able to move forward.

Accessibility Requires Humility

I thought I understood accessibility until I met someone who truly relied on it. The first time I met John Samuel, I quickly realized how much I still had to learn about how screen readers work and what people with disabilities actually experience when navigating digital content.

Ulta Beauty, Pegasystems, & Lenovo

The biggest wins in accessibility happen when organizations stop treating it as a checklist and start treating it as culture. Some of the most meaningful work we've done at Ablr 360 comes from partnering with companies that are all-in on inclusion. The ones who don't treat it like a surface-level commitment or a one-off audit.

Going Viral

Expecting a video to go viral is like walking into a store expecting to buy a winning lottery ticket. Sure, it's nice when it happens. But, you don't need it to.

The 15 Minute Rule

Here's how to enhance the effectiveness of your sales. Refrain from talking about yourself for the first 15 minutes and focus entirely on listening to the prospect.

Visibility

Consumers stick with brands they see regularly and can trust. Nike, Coca-Cola, and Disney aren't household names by accident. They've mastered the art of staying visible.

How the Business Came to Be

I've technically been in "new media" since before that was even a phrase. When I was growing up, my dad had an internet radio show. This was back when you needed a full studio setup just to broadcast anything online.

Video Podcasting

Honest opinion: I don't think conversational podcasting is worth doing without video. Your ability to grow multiplies the second you add a visual component. Not because video is "cooler," but because every social platform now is built around faces.

Short-Form Clips

Nobody starts a podcast hoping that their grandpa is the only one tuning in. If that’s the goal, you could just record a voicemail and call it a day. You start a podcast because you believe you have something worth hearing.

National Disability Independence Day

35 years ago, this law laid the groundwork for change. It told the world: We belong here. And we have every right to live, work, move, and thrive with independence.

Program Promotion

When you find something you're passionate about and a path to pursue it, embrace the opportunity. For Abby, that path was Ablr's Workforce Development Program.

Personal Story From the Founder

When John visited Japan after 31 years, he experienced a city designed with inclusive access in mind.

Blog-Related Stats

New York Dairy's website has experienced significant growth in organic traffic, with over 600 optimized keywords bringing in more than 2,000 monthly visitors. (I was responsible for writing the blog content that helped drive this increase in organic visibility) You can flip through the LinkedIn post for more details.

The Modern-Day Milk Man - New York Dairy

In New York's Hudson Valley, where the terrain is abundant with farmland, there's a modern-day milkman whose passion for his craft is as rich as the dairy products he delivers. Meet Kenny Ramos, a driver for Hudson Valley Fresh and a true embodiment of New York Dairy.

New York Dairy Farmers Tackle the Winter

Winter in New York can be as beautiful as it is brutal. For the state's dairy farmers, it's a season that tests preparation, endurance, and adaptability. Snow-covered barns might make for a postcard view, but behind the scenes, farmers are working around the clock to keep operations running smoothly.

A Practical Guide for Parents of Children with Disabilities

Raising a child with a disability can be one of the most rewarding and most demanding journeys a parent will ever take. Disabilities can look very different from one family to the next. Some children require constant, hands-on care for complex medical or developmental needs. Others may be physically independent...

AI for the Blind

Artificial intelligence is transforming accessibility. For people who are blind or have low vision, AI tools are opening up new ways to learn, work, and live with greater independence.

Accessibility Is for Everyone

When most people think of accessibility, they picture ramps, Braille signs, or wheelchair buttons on doors. But accessibility is much more than that. It's the way we design our world so that everyone can move through it with ease, safety, and confidence.

Creating a Budget for College Expenses: Money Management Tips for Parents

This piece was ghostwritten. It was also published on LINK for Counselors, LINK for Counselors Magazine Spring 2024 Issue (Digital & Print), and CPA Practice Advisor.

Summer is Primetime for Writing College Application Essays

This piece was ghostwritten. It was also published on LINK for Counselors.

Navigating Early Decision and Early Action Deadlines

This piece was ghostwritten. It was also published on LINK for Counselors.

A Temple, Some Dust, and the Naked Truth

I’ve done a lot of things in my life that have pushed me mentally, physically, and emotionally. But nothing rattled and rewired me quite like Burning Man.

Adapting Without Erasing

Arriving in Morehead City, North Carolina, at ten years old felt like stepping onto another planet. Everything was unfamiliar—the language, the culture, the way of life. I didn’t speak a word of English.

The Real F Word

Let’s talk about the F word. I know what you’re thinking, but no, not that F word. I’m talking about FAILURE. It’s funny how that word gets tossed around like it’s the end of the road. But in my experience, failure is rarely the full stop.

January Newsletter

Subject: Colleges Want You to Ask for a Better Price - Preview: You could save thousands of dollars

March Newsletter

Subject: Don’t Miss a Thing This Spring! Help Your Child Stay Organized - Preview: Most important step to take before you accept an admissions offer

September Newsletter

Subject: Stress Free College Planning This School Year - Preview: The new grandparent loophole you need to know

F*ck Rock Bottom

January 21, 2019, was one of the hardest days of my life. It was the day my bankruptcy became public, and everything I'd built quickly started to fall apart. Faced with the weight of it all, I thought it was the end for me. But the truth is, it was just the beginning.

Doing the Work

Writing F*ck Rock Bottom taught me a lot about myself. Every Wednesday morning, I'd go back in time, pulling memories from places I had buried them, and reliving them so I could get them on paper. Some days, I felt like throwing up because digging that deep into yourself is a really tough thing to do alone.

Rewrite Your Story

Let me tell you the story of how I went from being Gaurav Kumar Mahendra Kumar Patel to just being G Patel. When I first moved to America as a kid, a lot of things didn't fit. The culture. The language. Me. And my name? Well, that literally didn't fit.

Countdown to 321 Day

Our 321 Day Conference is one of our biggest events of the year. It is a very high-energy and uplifting event hosted on March 21st to align with World Down Syndrome Awareness Day. Our goal is to celebrate disability inclusion in the workforce and promote education and action of corporate leaders.

3/21 Day is coming up and I want you there!

Last year, we had hundreds of people in the room drinking coffee, rocking their socks, engaging in conversation, and celebrating disability inclusion. Our team 👏felt👏like👏celebrities👏. It means a lot to see this kind of turn out for you. Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and celebrated for who they are.

Happy 3/21 Day Eve!!! 💅💛💙

Because if there was anyone who EMBODIED the spirit of 3/21 nails, it was Big Mike. The first time we ever did this, we went to a nail salon together. I can still picture him sitting there, fully bought in, getting a legit manicure. That’s his legacy. Not only his intentionality with people, but his ability to make others feel included. To make them want to be part of something.

Introducing: The Impact Cannister

I wanted a way to share and celebrate these accomplishments with YOU. The people who helped make this impact. But, let’s be real. A boring impact report would probably cramp the 321 style. 🤣 So hear me out. This is where the impact can come in. We're putting our accomplishments on a coffee can!

This year is BIGGER AND BETTER than ever

When you use your buying power for social good, it leaves a lasting impact. To everyone who has purchased 321 holiday gifts in the past — THANK YOU! You're helping to create meaningful work for people with disabilities, and our team is so grateful for that.

Let the can-filling begin!

LOOK AT ALL THESE CANS!!!! This week, Santa's workshop is in full force and we’re cranking out ALL the custom cans. And let's just say Sophie is taking notes on her favorites 😉 Thank you to everyone who believed in the idea, helped us figure it out, and wanted to be a part of it.

Hard Sell Campaign

Soft Sell Campaign

College Planning

Reminder Email

Event Invitation