We were lucky to catch up with Debra Ruh recently and have shared our conversation below.

Debra, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.

We need movements like Billion Strong because, too often, our voices as persons with disabilities are ignored or sidelined by corporations and society at large. When our perspectives, needs, and contributions are overlooked, it perpetuates exclusion and reinforces harmful stereotypes.

By convening and supporting each other through movements like Billion Strong, we can amplify our voices and demand the inclusion and representation we deserve. Together, we have the power to challenge societal norms, advocate for change, and create a more inclusive world where everyone’s voice is heard and valued. Through unity and solidarity, we can drive meaningful societal shifts and ensure that no one is left behind.

Billion Strong plays a pivotal role in empowering the 1.3 to 1.7 billion persons with disabilities by fostering a supportive and inclusive community.

Here’s how:

1. Creating Opportunities: Billion Strong will serve as a platform for networking, job opportunities, and entrepreneurship within the disability community. By connecting individuals with disabilities to resources, and engaging with and supporting each other, we can unlock a wealth of talent and potential that might otherwise go untapped.

2. Advocacy and Awareness: Through collective action and advocacy campaigns, Billion Strong can raise awareness about the challenges faced by persons with disabilities and advocate for policy changes and societal shifts to ensure equal rights and opportunities for all.

3. Peer Support and Mentorship: By providing peer support and mentorship programs, Billion Strong can help individuals with disabilities navigate the unique challenges they face and learn from the experiences of others who have walked similar paths.

Supporting each other within the disability community is crucial for several reasons:

1. Strength in Numbers: By banding together, persons with disabilities can amplify their voices and exert collective influence to effect change on a larger scale.

2. Shared Experiences: Persons with disabilities often face similar barriers and challenges in society. By sharing their experiences and insights, individuals within the community can offer valuable support and advice to one another.

3. Combatting Stigma and Discrimination: Supporting each other helps to challenge negative stereotypes and misconceptions about disabilities. By demonstrating solidarity and resilience, the disability community can break down barriers and promote greater acceptance and inclusion.

Partial exclusion hurts society because it deprives us of the diverse perspectives, talents, and contributions of persons with disabilities. When individuals are excluded or marginalized due to their disabilities, society as a whole misses out on the innovations, creativity, and insights that they have to offer. Additionally, partial exclusion perpetuates inequality and undermines the principles of justice and fairness.

We can help address partial exclusion by:

1. Promoting Accessibility: Ensuring that environments, products, and services are accessible to persons with disabilities is essential for reducing barriers to inclusion. This includes physical accessibility, as well as digital accessibility in the context of technology and information.

2. Challenging Attitudes and Assumptions: Education and awareness-raising initiatives can help challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about disabilities, fostering a more inclusive and empathetic society.

3. Advocating for Inclusive Policies: Supporting policies and initiatives that promote inclusion and equal rights for persons with disabilities can help dismantle systemic barriers and create a more equitable society for all.

By coming together, supporting each other, and advocating for change, we can work towards a future where everyone, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to society.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As the founder of Ruh Global IMPACT and Billion Strong, I, Debra Ruh, have dedicated my career to championing the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities. My journey began with a deeply personal motivation: when my daughter, Sara, was diagnosed with Down syndrome, I realized the significant barriers and misconceptions facing individuals with disabilities. This realization spurred me to become an advocate and a voice for change. My late husband was hit by a car when he was a child. That resulted in a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and sadly led to Dementia. In my 50s, I learned that I am neurodiverse, ADHD and Dyslexia. So I am proud to be a member of the community.

Ruh Global IMPACT is a strategic consulting firm that I founded to address the need for greater inclusivity in the corporate world. Our mission is to help organizations integrate accessibility and inclusion into their core business strategies. We offer a range of services, including consulting on accessibility policies, corporate social responsibility initiatives, and inclusive marketing strategies. Our work is about changing perceptions and demonstrating the value that people with disabilities bring to businesses and society.

Billion Strong, on the other hand, is an identity and empowerment organization designed to bring together people with disabilities from around the world. It’s a global movement, a call for people with disabilities to take pride in their identity. We aim to create a platform where individuals can share their stories, connect with others, and find resources to help them thrive.

What sets us apart in this field is our comprehensive approach. We don’t just focus on compliance with regulations like the Americans with Disabilities Act; we strive to go beyond that, promoting a deeper understanding of inclusivity. Our goal is to create environments where people with disabilities are valued for their unique perspectives and talents.

I am most proud of the impact we have made in changing attitudes and practices. Seeing organizations transform their policies and culture to become more inclusive is incredibly rewarding. Our work has not only helped individuals with disabilities but also has shown companies the untapped potential and innovation that inclusivity can bring.

For potential clients, followers, and fans, I want them to know that our work at Ruh Global IMPACT and Billion Strong is driven by a deep commitment to human rights and social justice. We are here to support, educate, and empower. Whether you are an individual seeking a community or an organization looking to become more inclusive, we are here to help pave the way for a more inclusive world.

In conclusion, our brand is about more than just services; it’s about a movement towards a more inclusive and equitable society, and we invite everyone to join us in this important mission.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

As the founder of Ruh Global IMPACT and Billion Strong, I, Debra Ruh, have dedicated my career to championing the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities. My journey began with a deeply personal motivation: when my daughter, Sara, was diagnosed with Down syndrome, I realized the significant barriers and misconceptions facing individuals with disabilities. This realization spurred me to become an advocate and a voice for change. At the time, I didn’t realize that I was surrounded by people with disabilities. My late husband was hit by a car when he was a child, resulting in severe injuries, including a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). He recovered but aged into Dementia. Additionally, I was diagnosed as neurodiverse, living with ADHD and dyslexia. I am proud to be part of this amazing billion-person community.

Ruh Global IMPACT, the strategic consulting firm I founded, addresses the need for greater inclusivity in the corporate world. Our mission is to help organizations integrate accessibility and inclusion into their core business strategies. We offer various services, including consulting on accessibility policies, corporate social responsibility initiatives, and inclusive marketing strategies. Our work aims to change perceptions and demonstrate the value that people with disabilities bring to businesses and society.

Billion Strong is an identity and empowerment organization designed to unite people with disabilities worldwide. It’s a global movement, a call for individuals to take pride in their identity. We create a platform for sharing stories, connecting, and finding resources to thrive.

What sets us apart is our comprehensive approach. We don’t solely focus on compliance with regulations like the Americans with Disabilities Act; we strive for deeper inclusivity. Our goal is to create environments where people with disabilities are valued for their unique perspectives and talents.

I am most proud of the impact we’ve made in changing attitudes and practices. Seeing organizations transform their policies and culture to become more inclusive is incredibly rewarding. Our work not only helps individuals with disabilities but also shows companies the untapped potential and innovation that inclusivity can bring.

For potential clients, followers, and fans, I want them to know that our work is driven by a commitment to human rights and social justice. We are here to support, educate, and empower. Whether you’re seeking community or looking to become more inclusive, we’re here to pave the way for a better world.

I understood that addressing inefficiencies and injustices faced by the disability community required collective action and advocacy. Many corporations focused solely on meeting minimum compliance, overlooking the true value persons with disabilities bring. By convening the community and highlighting unique perspectives, we can drive significant change. Failure to recognize this importance not only hinders progress but also misses opportunities for innovation. Together, advocating for inclusivity and recognition, we can pave the way for a more equitable society where everyone’s contributions are valued. Join us in this vital mission towards inclusivity and equity.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

We are all in a process of unlearning and relearning. As the world evolves, so must we. We cannot afford to sit idly by, waiting for governments or corporations to make the necessary changes. It’s up to us to step up and be the change we want to see.

I had to unlearn the notion that others were inherently smarter or better suited to understand the rules. What I’ve learned is that people are fundamentally the same everywhere. We all crave inclusion, cherish our loved ones, and yearn to make a positive impact.

It’s time to question the narratives fed to us by funders, investors, politicians, and other leaders. Just because they say the world works a certain way doesn’t make it true. As we navigate a critical juncture in human history, where rethinking society and protecting our planet is paramount, it’s clear that many leaders are ill-equipped to support the people effectively.

That’s why we must band together and create a world that works for everyone. We are stronger together, which is why we’ve founded www.Billion-Strong.org. Join us using the hashtag #WeAreBillionStrong.

If you’re dissatisfied with the status quo—if the world isn’t working for you, your family, your friends, or others—it’s time to unite and enact change. Let’s ensure that AI and technology serve all, and let’s build a future where equity and inclusivity reign supreme.

Society can learn crucial lessons from millennia of discrimination and hierarchy based on perceived superiority. Throughout history, humans have unjustly marginalized certain groups due to arbitrary rules or cultural biases. The legacy of these injustices lingers today, perpetuating exclusion and inequality.

Billion Strong offers an opportunity to redefine inclusion and reshape societal norms. By embracing Planet Centered Design, we can prioritize the well-being of all humans and our planet. Yet, despite knowing how to create inclusive designs, society still struggles to prioritize DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility). Instead, many brands resort to tokenistic measures, merely checking boxes without genuine commitment.

However, by uniting and supporting one another, we can address partial inclusion and develop programs, assistive technologies, and tools to empower disenfranchised communities. Initiatives like AI4Good and Tech4Good demonstrate the potential for technology to drive positive change, but true progress requires collective action and investment.

The question becomes: If not now, when? Billion Strong represents a crucial step towards a more inclusive world, but funding is essential to fuel our efforts. Each of us can contribute by supporting causes that strive to improve society. By giving and advocating for change, we can create a future where everyone is valued and included. Let’s seize this opportunity to make the world work for everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ruhglobal.com and www.billion-strong.org
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/debraruh
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debraruh
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Debra/Ruh/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/debraruh
• Youtube: http://youtube.com/debraruhglobal
• Other: Blue Sky, Threads, and a few others.

Image Credits
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