Today we’d like to introduce you to Debra Ruh

Debra, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?

I started my career in banking, where I worked diligently and eventually rose to the position of Vice President. However, my journey took a significant turn when my daughter, Sara Ruh, was born with Down syndrome. Her arrival inspired me to give back to the community and advocate for people with disabilities.

Driven by this newfound purpose, I founded TecAccess, a company dedicated to making technology accessible to all. Building on this foundation, I then established Ruh Global IMPACT to further advocate for disability inclusion and accessibility on a global scale.

My journey of advocacy and inclusion culminated in my soul’s great work: Billion Strong. This global nonprofit organization aims to unite the disability community, fostering pride in their lived experiences and promoting true inclusion. Billion Strong is not just a project but a movement, striving to change societal perceptions and empower individuals with disabilities worldwide.

At Billion Strong, we focus on several key initiatives:

Community Building: We aim to create a strong, unified community of people with disabilities, providing a platform for them to connect, share experiences, and support one another. This sense of community is crucial in fostering pride and self-advocacy.

Global Advocacy: We work with governments, corporations, and other organizations to promote policies and practices that support disability inclusion. This includes advocating for accessible infrastructure, inclusive education, and equal employment opportunities.

Education and Awareness: We strive to change societal perceptions of disabilities by raising awareness and educating the public about the value and contributions of people with disabilities. This involves media campaigns, public speaking engagements, and collaborations with influencers and thought leaders.

Empowerment Programs: We develop and support programs that empower individuals with disabilities to lead fulfilling lives. This includes providing resources for skills development, entrepreneurship, and leadership training.

Partnerships: We actively seek partnerships with organizations that share our vision of inclusion. By collaborating with entities like Indeed and others, we aim to expand job opportunities and create more inclusive workplaces globally.

Through these efforts, Billion Strong is making significant strides toward a more inclusive world where people with disabilities are recognized, valued, and given equal opportunities to thrive.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

I started my career in banking, where I worked diligently and eventually rose to the position of Vice President. However, my journey took a significant turn when my daughter, Sara Ruh, was born with Down syndrome. Her arrival inspired me to give back to the community and advocate for people with disabilities.

During this challenging time, my female manager was very unsupportive. Despite not taking much time off, I faced constant difficulties and a lack of understanding from her. This experience profoundly impacted me and reinforced my commitment to supporting mothers, especially those who face similar challenges in balancing their careers and family responsibilities.

Driven by this newfound purpose, I founded TecAccess, a company dedicated to making technology accessible to all. Building on this foundation, I then established Ruh Global IMPACT to further advocate for disability inclusion and accessibility on a global scale.

My journey of advocacy and inclusion culminated in my soul’s great work: Billion Strong. This global nonprofit organization aims to unite the disability community, fostering pride in their lived experiences and promoting true inclusion. Billion Strong is not just a project but a movement, striving to change societal perceptions and empower individuals with disabilities worldwide.

However, taking on a global movement has not been without its challenges. Securing funding has been a constant struggle, and when I shifted my focus to Billion Strong, my for-profit social enterprise Think Tank suffered. Additionally, societal backlash against movements perceived as “WOKE” and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives made it even more difficult to fund a global movement aimed at uniting 1.7 billion people with disabilities. It seems that some factions prefer we do not gather, but we persist, using the hashtag #WeAreBillionStrong to convene and connect our community.

The journey has been arduous, and along the way, I faced personal hardships, including the loss of my husband to dementia. Despite these challenges, my soul remains committed to this goal. I believe with all my heart that the world needs this global movement of pride and empowerment. We aim to create a space where people with disabilities can convene, be discoverable, and be included in ways society has never included us before.

Moreover, I see the potential of AI as a transformative tool that can help us achieve true inclusion. AI can address many of the barriers faced by the disability community, offering new ways to enhance accessibility and create opportunities for everyone.

At Billion Strong, we focus on several key initiatives:

Community Building: We aim to create a strong, unified community of people with disabilities, providing a platform for them to connect, share experiences, and support one another. This sense of community is crucial in fostering pride and self-advocacy.

Global Advocacy: We work with governments, corporations, and other organizations to promote policies and practices that support disability inclusion. This includes advocating for accessible infrastructure, inclusive education, and equal employment opportunities.

Education and Awareness: We strive to change societal perceptions of disabilities by raising awareness and educating the public about the value and contributions of people with disabilities. This involves media campaigns, public speaking engagements, and collaborations with influencers and thought leaders.

Empowerment Programs: We develop and support programs that empower individuals with disabilities to lead fulfilling lives. This includes providing resources for skills development, entrepreneurship, and leadership training.

Partnerships: We actively seek partnerships with organizations that share our vision of inclusion. By collaborating with entities like Indeed and others, we aim to expand job opportunities and create more inclusive workplaces globally.

Through these efforts, Billion Strong is making significant strides toward a more inclusive world where people with disabilities are recognized, valued, and given equal opportunities to thrive.

In addition to my work with Billion Strong, I am also an author of three books: Inclusion Branding, Tapping into Hidden Human Capital, and Find Your Voice Using Social Media. These works encapsulate my insights and experiences in promoting inclusion and leveraging the potential of social media to amplify diverse voices.

We’ve been impressed with BIllion Strong, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Billion Strong is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to uniting the disability community, fostering pride in our lived experiences, and promoting true inclusion. Our mission is to change societal perceptions and empower individuals with disabilities worldwide. With over 1.7 billion people with disabilities globally, our movement seeks to create a strong, unified community where everyone is recognized, valued, and given equal opportunities to thrive.

At Billion Strong, we focus on building a supportive network, advocating for inclusive policies, raising awareness, and developing empowerment programs. We believe in the potential of AI and other technologies to break down barriers and enhance accessibility, creating a more inclusive world for all.

Our Asks

To achieve our ambitious goals, we need the support of the global community. Here’s how you can help:

Join Us: Visit www.Billion-Strong.org and become a part of our movement. Sign up, get involved, and help us spread the word about Billion Strong.

Use Our Hashtags: Amplify our message on social media by using our hashtags #WeAreBillionStrong and #BillionStrong. By doing so, you help us convene and become discoverable, making our community stronger and more visible.

Support Our Funding Efforts: Every dollar counts in our mission to create a more inclusive world. Your donations will support our advocacy, community building, and empowerment programs. Please consider making a contribution to help us continue our work.

Engage and Share: Follow us on social media, share our posts, and engage with our content. Your involvement helps us reach a wider audience and build a global network of supporters.

Together, we can make a difference and ensure that people with disabilities are recognized, valued, and included in all aspects of society. Thank you for your support and for being a part of Billion Strong.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?

Of course, Human Potential at Work (My show for over 11 years) and AXSChat (www.AXSChat.com) (I host with two other men – Neil Milliken and Antoonio Santos, we are ten years old and Amazon and MyClear Text sponsor the show) are invaluable resources for disability inclusion and accessibility. However, this is also why we are building Billion Strong to be a vital resource for the global disability community.

We actively use hashtags such as #WeAreBillionStrong, #BillionStrong, #RuhGlobal, and #AXSChat to stay connected and learn about what our community is working on. These hashtags allow us to gather insights, share valuable information, and support one another in our efforts toward inclusion.

In addition to these resources, we cherish and follow many newsletters and articles on disability inclusion, accessibility, and DEI/DEIA, especially those written by reporters with disabilities. These sources provide us with diverse perspectives and keep us informed about the latest developments and best practices in the field.

We also stay educated by following the work of our partners and advisors, whose expertise and insights are invaluable to our mission. This is one of the many reasons Billion Strong is convening the global disability community: to ensure that everyone has access to quality information on inclusion and to amplify and build up everyone’s voices.

By bringing together resources, sharing knowledge, and supporting one another, we aim to create a more inclusive world where everyone is recognized, valued, and given the opportunity to thrive.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.Billion-Strong.org www.RuhGlobal.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/debraruh
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debraruh
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/debraruh
• Youtube: http://youtube.com/debraruhglobal