Rockville, Virginia — Ruh Global Communications, a global leader with corporate inclusion strategies, accessibility advocacy and corporate inclusion industries, announces today it has named Rosemary Musachio Chief Accessibility Officer.
Rosemary Musachio, Chief Accessibility Officer
Ruh Global Communications, an international leader in strategic disability inclusion and accessibly policies, programs and marketing, announced that it has named Rosemary Musachio as Chief Accessibility Officer (CAO). With over fifteen years in the arena of electronic and Information technology (E&IT) accessibility, Miss Musachio will manage internal and external accessibility projects. She will ensure that accessibility best practices will be followed within the company and help clients meet their accessibility needs, including website and product accessibility. Additionally, she will consult on accessibility and inclusion issues that clients face from the employee to the customer level. Prior to this new position, Miss Musachio was the company’s Chief Strategy Officer.
“Every business needs to include accessibility in its fabric to become stronger. Otherwise, it will rip and create big gaps,” Miss Musachio explains. “Making every aspect of a company accessible and inclusive increases productivity, embraces diversity with common goals, and promotes more of a positive image to the public. Since I have cerebral palsy, I bring a personal perspective to my role as CAO. I know what a company needs to do for employees with disabilities to feel accepted and purposeful, and what a business must do to serve customers with disabilities with consideration and respect.”
“Honored to promote Rosemary Musachio as our Chief Accessibility Officer (CAO). She has been in the ICT Accessibility field for over 16 years. She has worked with national and multi-national corporations, non-profits, agencies and organizations all over the world,” says Debra Ruh, Ruh Global Communications, CEO. “Rosemary represents everything we want to achieve in the field. She is a talented technologist, college graduate, tester, user of Assistive Technology (AT), published author, poet, person with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and undisputed global expert in ICT accessibility. This woman is changing the world with her talents and we are extremely proud of her.”
About Rosemary Musachio
Since 2001, Rosemary Musachio has been well versed in the accessibility realm. She has been an accessibility analyst and training manager. She has worked with a number of major cooperate clients on accessibility projects and has written numerous blogs on the topic. Before Rosemary entered the accessibility industry, she was a local monthly columnist and freelance writer. She also edited and published resource newsletters for persons with disabilities.
About Ruh Global Communications:
Founded in March 2013, Ruh Global Communications is a strategic digital marketing firm that helps businesses and government entities include persons with disabilities within every level of an infrastructure, from interviewing and hiring to job training and retention. We help countries implement of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). We also work with national and multi-national firms to help them include persons with disabilities in their workforce and developing accessibility and social media programs, providing outreach and training, and helping companies procure assistive technology. Ruh Global has presented at conferences throughout the world about accessibility and disability inclusion.
For further information, please visit us at www.ruhglobal.com , and follow us on Twitter: @RuhGlobal or @DebraRuh. or call: +1 (804) 986-4500
Press Contact:
Debra Ruh, CEO Ruh Global Communications 18122 Vontay Rd. Rockville, VA 23146, USA (804) 986-4500 Debra@RuhGlobal.com www.RuhGlobal.com
Accessibility isn’t a topic that just affects some of us. As no less of an innovator than Google puts it, “the accessibility problems of today are the mainstream breakthroughs of tomorrow.”
We at Buffer are delighted to have Neil Milliken (@neilmilliken), Debra Ruh (@debraruh), Antonio Santos (@akwyz) of AXSChat (@axschat) joining us on Bufferchat today to discuss Supporting Accessibility on Social Media.
Debra Ruh, Neil Milliken, and Antonio Santos, #AXSChat founders#AXSCHAT Logo.
AXSChat is an open online community dedicated to creating an inclusive world with the belief that accessibility is for everyone. The community works to spread knowledge through weekly video interviews and Twitter chats about the work people are doing to enable greater access and inclusion.
It’s a lively chat and community, and we’re grateful for the knowledge and experience. In honor of their Bufferchat today, the minds behind AXSChat shared some of their favorite quotes about accessibility with us.
14 Quotes That Celebrate a More Accessible World
“I wish for a world that views disability, mental or physical, not as a hindrance but as unique attributes that can be seen as powerful assets if given the right opportunities”― Oliver Sacks
“We should celebrate neurodiversity – the world would be poorer and life duller if we were all the same.”―Neil Milliken
“Let’s stop ‘tolerating’ or ‘accepting’ difference, as if we’re so much better for not being different in the first place. Instead, let’s celebrate difference, because in this world it takes a lot of guts to be different.”― Kate Bornstein
“The only disability is when people cannot see human potential.”― Debra Ruh
“If disabled people were truly heard, an explosion of knowledge of the human body and psyche would take place.”― Susan Wendell
“Focus not on the differences of people with disabilities but the talent of the individual.”― Neil Milliken
“When speaking of disabilities, the blind and their needs are most often used as an example. It is deceivingly simplistic since accessibility is something most of the population can benefit from.” ― Marcus Österberg
“Accessibility allows us to tap into everyone’s potential.” ― Debra Ruh
“The one argument for accessibility that doesn’t get made nearly often enough is how extraordinarily better it makes some people’s lives. How many opportunities do we have to dramatically improve people’s lives just by doing our job a little better?” ― Steve Krug
“The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.” – Tim Berners-Lee
“Accessibility is not a feature, is a social trend.” ― Antonio Santos
“It is a waste of time to be angry about my disability. One has to get on with life and I haven’t done badly. People won’t have time for you if you are always angry or complaining.” Steven Hawking
“Who said we want to conform to the norm? Celebrate & embrace our differences.” ― Neil Milliken
“We need to make every single thing accessible to every single person with a disability.”― Stevie Wonder
Got a favorite quote we missed? We’d love to hear it in the comments!
AI Business Excellence Banner: Ruh Global Communications ‘Digital Marketing Firm of the Year – VA’
Rockville, VA.—Ruh Global Communications, an international leader in strategic disability inclusion and accessible policies, programs and marketing, has won the Acquisition International Business (AI) Excellence Awards for 2016 as the Strategic Digital Marketing Firm of the Year. These awards recognize and honor outstanding achievements of companies and their executives through a variety of industries that have succeeded despite the high level of corporate competition.
Ruh Global Logo
Ruh Global is one of the award-winning companies that have consistently shown creativity, innovation, and perseverance in building a solid business even though recent economic times have been tough.
Recipients of the AI Business Awards were determined by the number of votes cast by AI subscription members, submission of supporting evidence, and AI in-house research.
Debra Ruh – CEO
“Ruh Global Communications is humbled to win this award. Our global efforts teach countries, agencies, and corporations to include effectively, the community of persons with disabilities into the workforce and respective cultures. As social entrepreneurs, we focus on our efforts to make a positive difference in the world. We are honored to be acknowledged for our efforts,” says Debra Ruh – CEO at Ruh Global Communications.
About Ruh Global Communications
Founded in March 2013, Ruh Global Communications is a strategic digital marketing firm that helps businesses and government entities include persons with disabilities within every level of an infrastructure, from interviewing and hiring to job training and retention. We help countries implement of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). We also work with national and multi-national firms to help them include persons with disabilities in their workforce and developing accessibility and social media programs, providing outreach and training, and helping companies procure assistive technology. Ruh Global has presented at conferences throughout the world about accessibility and disability inclusion. For further information, please visit us at RuhGlobal.com , and follow us on Twitter: @RuhGlobal or @DebraRuh.
About Acquisition International
Founded in 2011, Acquisition International, Acquisition International (AI) is a publication that focuses on global corporate news, events, and opinion. The world-known publication has 108,000 subscribers in over 70 companies. AI also maintains an active website with the latest news in the global business world, including the Deal Diary that features 100 daily deals from companies of various industry sections. For further information, visit Acquisition-intl.com.
Author: Rosemary Musachio, Chief Strategic Officer at Ruh Global Communications
Communication between the police and individuals with hearing and/or speech impairments is vital. Miscommunication can cause wrongful arrests or releases, unnecessary agitation or force, or further risk of injury or even death. For instance, If someone with a hearing impairment is stopped by the police, they may be unable to convey the reason for it while the person may not be able to respond to their questions.
Police departments have handled these situations in different ways. Some have deaf individuals write down what they want to say. However, because the syntax of American Sign Language (ASL) is different from that of English, police may have difficulty reading what the deaf person has written. Other police departments call upon live sign language interpreters to come and assist with communication needs. Yet, the interpreter may take an hour or longer arriving at the location.
The Cleveland Police has implemented a more reliable solution to communicate with persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. With the help from a portion of a $350,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women, the department purchased an ipad for each district that includes an ipad video interpreter application called ZVRS. To communicate with a crime victim, suspect, or witness who is deaf, a police office would launch the ZVRS app to access a live video interpreter who uses ASL. Cleveland police officers have received training to use the app.
The Houston Police Department also uses Video Remote Interpreters (VRI) to communicate with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. When a deaf individual visits a police station or division, the police officer dials an interpreter. Within minutes, the ASL expert would appear on screen. As the officer talks to the interpreter, the deaf person looks into the monitor to see the interpreter and signs what is being said in real time. In return, the deaf person comments or answers by signing to the camera, while the interpreter voices what they are signing through the speakers on the monitor and police assistance is provided or a report can be made. This service can be utilized 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
Many other police departments such as the New York Police Department are planning to get similar assistance technology (AT) to improve relations with the deaf community, saving time and improving clarity. Better communications makes all parties safer and lesser frustrated.
Universal accessibility in the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) sector holds unparalleled promise and opportunity for people with disabilities never before seen in our history.
Many people are surprised to learn just how much of the world’s population is affected by a disability, and how valuable accessible design of ICT is to the global marketplace. It is also important to note that disabilities are a normal part of life. Persons with disabilities are not broken, they just might navigate the world in a different way. We all can add value when given the opportunity to tap into our unique innate abilities. Accessible ICT is an important part of that equalizing equation.
A Technological World
To understand the impact one has to look no further than the World Health Organization which indicates that people with disabilities are the world’s largest and fastest growing minority group. With the population of the United States aging and the likelihood of developing a disability or other mobility limitation increasing with age, the growth in the number of people with disabilities can be expected to rise dramatically. Also impacting this formula is the growing population of veterans with disabilities.
This is an exciting time, of great promise and opportunity for people of all abilities. This is a new era for global citizens, one where emerging new technologies and mobile computing devices are serving as enablers for people of all ages and all levels of education. Designing and delivering ICT to be fully accessible ensures all individuals can enjoy the benefits and advantages of technology to enrich their lives and fulfill their dreams.
An inclusive, accessible and universal design approach to technology is critical to both public and private industry wishing to anticipate future needs of this growing population. By recognizing the importance of the protection and promotion of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities through assistive technology and accessible ICT, the world continues to strengthen policies, strategies, and programs along with an increase in awareness of the public at large of the importance of the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities, accessible ICT and assistive technology.
My daughter, Sara Ruh, using different Apple Products simultaneously. Sara has Down Syndrome and loves the Accessibility Features that Apple’s Products offer
Experts report that the most obvious and cost effective solutions are often ignored or overlooked, a mistake that organizations and governmental bodies can no longer make when serving all citizens in equal fashion. Making technology usable for all has become imperative for unleashing the potential of all persons and is critical for any public and private institution that hopes to fully participate and remain relevant in the 21st century.
Providing accessible ICT products and services also benefits the growing population affected by age-related impairments, in addition to people with disabilities. It is unwise to ignore the sheer numbers, influence and wealth of these individuals. In the US, baby boomers control $30 trillion according to Accenture.1 There are over 78 million Baby Boomers in the United States. Baby Boomers are Americans born between the years 1946 and 1964.
It is important to note that this is not a USA phenomenon. Throughout the world all populations are seeing burgeoning numbers of “elders”, defined as persons aged 65 years and older. “In many countries, including Japan, the United States, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, those aged over 65 are at, or approaching 15% of the population. People are living longer and are generally healthier at advanced ages than were previous cohorts, thus “old age” disabilities of the 20th century will be put off to older ages during the 21st century.”2
Here are a few recent reports about this trend.
Seniors using Technology
National Institutes of Health cosponsored a report in 2012 that estimates that 2.9 million Americans are living with low vision. The report projects the number to increase 72 percent by 2030 when the last of the baby boomers turn 65. The report also found that many people with low vision are 65 years old or older.3
A report from Clarity® and The EAR Foundation and from that half of the nearly 76 million boomers in the US are experiencing some degree of hearing loss. The Baby Boomer Hearing Loss Study indicate that hearing loss is more prevalent than previously estimated by the National Health Interview Survey. Hearing Loss affects over 38 million people between the ages of 40 and 59. Earlier estimates from the National Health Interview Survey by the National Center for Health Statistics indicated 16 million people, or 20 percent, in a comparable age group were suffering from hearing loss.’4
“Global aging ranks as the most profound demographic trend of our times. It is slowing (or even reversing) population growth, reshaping families, reshuffling consumer markets, force feeding the demand for health care, weighing on public budgets, depressing household savings, accelerating international migration, and revolutionizing the culture.”
According to W3C, Older Web users are an increasing market segment and an important target group for many businesses, governments, and other organizations.
Older adults can experience age-related impairments that can affect how they use the Web, such as declining:
• vision – including reduced contrast sensitivity, color perception, and near-focus, making it difficult to read web pages
• physical ability – including reduced dexterity and fine motor control, making it difficult to use a mouse and click small targets
• hearing – including difficulty hearing higher-pitched sounds and separating sounds, making it difficult to hear podcasts and other audio, especially when there is background music
• cognitive ability – including reduced short-term memory, difficulty concentrating, and being easily distracted, making it difficult to follow navigation and complete online tasks
These issues overlap with the accessibility needs of people with disabilities. Thus, websites and tools that are accessible to people with disabilities are more accessible to older users as well.
Demand for accessible technology and services will continue to rise as well as the public’s understanding of, and requirement for, technology that is usable by every citizen.
So how do we do it? The goal is to design built environments and ICT (apps, curriculum, eLearning, hardware, multimedia, mobile, social media, software, and websites) in a way that benefits all users. Person centered design and ICT Accessibility go hand in hand. These design approaches can result in services and products that are easier for everyone to use, including persons with disabilities.
Richard Steitz – Chief Operations Officer
“It is critical at this time for the giant tech companies to start seriously examining the issue of accessible ICT. Not by thinking they must spend millions of R&D dollars to enter into this market space, but rather by leveraging the vast amount of existing technology in their current inventories. By being clever in cross utilizing and repurposing the existing technology in new and unique ways we can see products and systems hit market at a faster rate. This not only benefits the growing portion of the population in desperate need of this technology but also provides the tech companies new product lines across broader markets while saving development dollars. These companies would also harbor the societal befits by being proactive in helping innovate sustainable solutions for the vast growing PWD global community. – Richard J. Streitz, Ruh Global Communications, COO”
Think about what you can do to better reach people with disabilities, and find creative ways to make it happen through accessible technology. Move beyond general steps to protect and promote the rights of people with disabilities, ensure that accessibility is addressed in all policies and programs, promote training on the human rights of persons with disabilities, stop any practice that breach the rights of people with disabilities, and involve people with disabilities in the development of legislation and policies.
Learn more about our work at www.RuhGlobal.com or follow us on Social Media @debraruh and @ruhglobal on most channels.
#AXSChat: Join Neil Milliken, Antonio Santos and myself for a weekly Twitter Chat on Disability Inclusion, ICT Accessibility, Built Environment, CRPD, Empowerment and Employment. Just search the hashtag #AXSChat at 3pmEST and join the conversation. Learn more about AXSChat
