Debra Ruh
CEO and Founder, Ruh Global IMPACT and Chair, G3ict Employability and Technology Group
Debra Ruh has been in the ICT Accessibility and Disability Inclusion industries for many years. Currently she is the Managing Director of Ruh Global a business focused on inclusion of people with disabilities into all aspects of society. In 2001, she founded TecAccess, the leading provider of accessible Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) for the largest and fastest growing minority group – People with Disabilities, Baby Boomers, and Veterans with Disabilities in the world. TecAccess merged with SSB BART Group (SSB) in April 2011 and Debra took on the role as the Chief Marketing Officer for SSB until December 2012.
She is a proud Mom of two grown children the oldest a daughter born with Down syndrome. Her daughter, Sara inspired Debra to start a business that understood the value of including people with disabilities in the workforce. Today, Sara and Debra speak all over the world about inclusion, diversity, social inclusion, digital divide, Internet, Communications and Technology (ICT) Accessibility, HR Best Practices, Entrepreneurs and Small Business Issues and Women Business Best Practices. Debra Ruh serves as the former Chair of the VABLN and board member and executive officer of the USBLN. She is also on the steering committee, and is chair the Employability and Technology Group, at G3ict, the Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies, a flagship advocacy initiative of UN-GAID, the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development. Additionally, Debra serves on the RI Global Board invited to participate by U.N. Ambassador Gallegos of Ecuador, a global network of people with disabilities, service providers, researchers, government agencies and advocates promoting and implementing the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities. She was selected as the US represented on the Australian Government Expert Reference Group and has served on the group since 2009. As a highly sought after international keynote speaker, Debra speaks all over the world. Her presentations have been enjoyed by members of the European Union; Shafallah Forum 2009 and 2011 in Muscat Oman, Doha, Qatar; Dell and Bloomberg’s 75 Top Female Global Leaders in Shanghai, China, International Forum on Disability Management in Berlin, Germany; for ITU Asia-Pacific Regional Forum on Mainstreaming ICT Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities in Bangkok, Thailand and for Danishkadah (Pakistan) for the Parents-educators self-help organization (SHO). Debra is active on social media and works tirelessly to assure that PwD have a solid voice. Her work has been featured in major mediums including CBS, CNN, PBS, INC, Bloomberg and Business Week Magazines and Fortune Magazine. She also writes blogs for major publications including SSB BART Group, Tumblr; UN’s G3ict and “Think Beyond the Label”. Debra has won many awards, and has been featured in numerous national media campaigns, for her efforts including: Dell Computer’s “Take Your Own Path” 2009, 2010 and 2011 campaign (TV, Radio, Print, Web), American Express Open 2009 campaign, 2009 VMFA Muse Award, Federal Computer Week’s 2008 “Fed Top 100 Award,” ANCOR Foundation’s 2008 Community Builder Award, Dell’s 2008 “Innovative Business” Award, 2007 Enterprising Women Magazine’s Advocacy Award, Northrop Grumman’s 2007 Community Support Award, 2007 Wells Fargo/NAWBO “Trailblazer” Award, 2006 Women in Technology (WIT) Leadership Award, 2005 Rising Star award by the National Association of Women Business Owners, 2005 Social Responsibility Award by the America-China Foundation, 2005 SBA Small Business Person of the Year for Region III, and was picked as one of the “Most Powerful Women in IT” by Virginia Business Magazine. Debra has authored many articles for national publications and is a major supporter for the rights of people and veterans with disabilities. TecAccess and SSB have been featured on CNN, NPR, CBS, ABC, NBC and in Fortune Magazine, Publishers Weekly, US News & World Report, America’s Best, and Washington Technology. Email her: debra@ruhglobal.com and visit her website: www.RuhGlobal.com.
Related blogs of Debra Ruh
30 June 2015
In the concluding part of the blog series on celebrating the 25th anniverary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Debra Ruh makes a compelling case for hiring persons with disabilities, not just to increase business bottom-line, but to also foster positive effects of workplace inclusion. Image: ... Read More
13 May 2015
In the third part of G3ict's Special Series Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the ADA, Debra Ruh explores ways in which an organization can positively influence their reputation in the community by including persons with disabilities in their customer base as well as their workforce. Culture and... Read More
21 April 2015
Training will save an organization a lot of time and effort as well as reduce risks. Disability inclusion should be integrated into all corporate training, writes Debra Ruh. Training (Leadership, Management and Enterprise-wide): All training material should be easily accessible, including the pre... Read More
10 April 2015
The 25th ADA Anniversary falls on July 26, 2015. Debra Ruh, G3ict's Technology and EmployAbility Chair and mother of a daughter with Down syndrome, writes about how the ADA personally shaped the narrative of her family. Debra Ruh and her daughter Sara Ruh. We watched the media surrounding the signi... Read More
03 March 2015
The 25th ADA Anniversary falls on July 26, 2015. Debra Ruh, G3ict's Technology and EmployAbility Chair and mother of a daughter with Down syndrome, writes about how the ADA personally shaped the narrative of her family. We watched the media surrounding the signing of the ADA on television 25 years a... Read More
22 August 2014
Story of Dyslexia, Learning Disabilities and Finding his Greatness – Introducing Dr. Christopher M. Lee. Dr. Lee has been an advocate and pioneer in promoting social entrepreneurship to benefit humankind and further strive for sustainable social change in the field of disabilities. Dr. Christopher L... Read More
08 October 2013
The time has come for persons with disabilities to be vocal, writes Debra Ruh, and social media is the perfect platform to help amplify our voices. I have spent a long time pondering all the lessons and opportunities that I encountered during the past year. How can I seek inspiration from those le... Read More
05 August 2013
Debra Ruh, Managing Partner at Ruh Global, pays tribute to Cynthia Waddell and Stephen Wing, both thought leaders and champions of promoting a disability inclusive society. It is always sad to lose our friends and especially sad when they are Thought Leaders making huge positive changes in the world... Read More