IF YOU GO

What: John Robinson Speech

Where: 434 Newhouse III

When: Friday, 4 p.m.

How much: Free

John Robinson stands 3 feet 8 inches tall. He was born a congenital amputee and has no extension of his arms or legs. But Robinson hasn’t let his physical disability limit him.

He graduated from Syracuse University in 1990, has had a long career in television and has encouraged others to appreciate and seize life’s opportunities.

Robinson will speak about his journey Friday at 4 p.m. in room 434 of Newhouse III. He will also promote his recently released book, ‘Get Off Your Knees: A Story of Faith, Courage, and Determination,’ published by Syracuse University Press.

Robinson is an alumnus of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. He went on to work for NBC affiliates in upstate New York and is now the director of corporate support for WMHT, the public broadcasting television and radio station in Albany. He has been married for more than 15 years and has three children.

Robinson’s success did not come easy, however. He first learned how to dress himself while away at college, not an easy task for someone with no hands.

Mona Hamlin, marketing research analyst at the SU Press, organized the lecture that she said will encourage SU students and their families.

‘Robinson is an inspiration to all and will speak about the obstacles he has faced in his life,’ Hamlin said.

Although Robinson was born healthy, the sight of his disfigured limbs devastated his parents. They never thought he would be able to live an ordinary life. With determination and hard-headedness, the young Robinson defied odds and expectations. He learned to walk, first on his feet, later with prosthetics.

But Robinson hated the prosthetics and stopped using them in early high school. It was then that doctors told him that if he wanted to commit to a life at a ‘normal’ height atop artificial legs, doctors would need to cut his feet off to make the limbs fit properly.

Robinson decided not to go through with the surgery, finding it too high of a price to pay to be considered ‘normal.’

Alice Pfeiffer, director of SU Press, said Robinson’s life story is not to be missed.

‘He is a wonderful and incredible, serene person to meet,’ Pfeiffer said. ‘And anyone would come away with something from his lecture.’

algree03@syr.edu

Published on October 21, 2009 at 12:00 pm