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
I was disturbed with some of the recent disparaging comments women were making about other women in regards to voting based on gender. Especially women my age and older talking down to younger women. I believe that women should always support women. However, we fought hard for our feminist rights. We continue to fight for our rights. We need women to have equal pay, a place at the C suite, a seat in the board room and so much more.
My work is focused on disability inclusion, accessibility and empowering persons with disabilities. According to the World Health Organization there are over 1 billion people with disabilities in the world or 1 in 7 people. Some countries like the United States are higher. According to the Census Bureau, 1 in 5 persons with the United States are living with a disability. One in five American adults have at least one kind of disability, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Released in July 2015. The study, drawn from 2013 data, says 53 million Americans have a disability. “We know disability types and related challenges can vary,” said Elizabeth Courtney-Long, a health scientist with CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. “In order to understand and address their needs, we need to understand their diverse circumstances. This report provides a snapshot into that. 1 The Report can be found here
My son and daughter, Kevin and Sara Ruh who has Down Syndrome
Women and girls with disabilities face even bigger barriers and are the victims of two-fold discrimination: as women and as persons with disabilities. Studies conducted by the United Nations women with disabilities are often invisible “both among those promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, and those promoting gender equality and the advancement of women.” 2
Women with disabilities all over the world are shamed, bullied, raped, murdered and treated as if they do not matter. 3 It is past time for all women to be empowered and to support all genders.
Women with disabilities all over the world are shamed, bullied, raped, murdered and treated as if they do not matter. It is past time for all women to be empowered and to support all genders. I have the honor to work with Rosemary Musachio, a brilliant woman and also the Chief Strategic Officer at Ruh Global Communications. Rosemary happens to have been born with Cerebral Palsy. Rose shared her thoughts on this topic with me recently, this is what she said:
“Steinem’s quote is a generalization, which is often detrimental and even dangerous. Her remark may stereotype younger women in a bad light, not caring about anything except self-gratification. If society acquaints this negative image with women who were born after 1990, they may not receive support from other women. They also may not get opportunities that they deserve.
Being a woman with cerebral palsy, I’ve experienced the repercussions of generalization all of my life. The public still automatically links having a disability with not being a productive member of society or my mind being in a wheelchair. Because of this, I constantly have to fight to prove myself. Now, because of Steinem’s comment, millennial women may have to fight to prove themselves.” – Rosemary Musachio, Chief Strategic Officer at Ruh Global Communications
As an undecided voter, I fought for my feminist right to decide on a candidate based on the issues not based on gender. I am also embarrassed of women my age and older telling younger women they don’t understand the fight for equal rights for women. Once while attending a conference for Women Global Leaders, I was talking with several other attendees. One guest brought up how we should be mentoring the younger generation in business leadership. Maybe we could create a program to help millennial women engage with other women on these issues. Several of the women agreed that they would not want to take part in mentoring millennial women. I recall one woman describing young millennials as spoiled, self centered, socially immature and addicted to their devices. I was shocked and commented, “How can you say that? We have fought so hard for women to have a voice. We still have so much work to do.”
How can we decide this of an entire generation? Younger women are not adding value, contributing to the conversation, understand the past fights and are immature? I am personally hooked on social media and my smart devices. I chatter so much on social media about disability inclusion and accessibility for all, that I sometimes stress myself out. The millennial women that I have met are almost always amazing leaders trying to make a huge impact for our world.
As a woman in my late 50’s I meet and work with millennial women all the time. I see many Millennial women highly engaged in social good, social entrepreneurship and “Be-the-Change” type activities. I have met millennial women, including women with disabilities, all over the world that are sacrificing everything to be included. I believe we did not fight this hard for women’s rights to now decide that millennial women do not care for our rights or past efforts. When I speak to young women, they are proud of those who fought for their rights. They look up to these women and it must have really hurt them to hear these comments. I asked the opinion of my Creative Director, Emily Ha. She is a millennial woman whose opinions I’ve come to value. Here’s what she had to say:
Emily Ha – Chief Creative Officer at Ruh Global Communications
“I am a first generation Burmese-American woman who works in the realm of disability inclusion. I advocate for women with disabilities because we all matter and when I say that I’m talking about millennial women as well. Their viewpoint is very unique and at times overlooked. Giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves is what I try to do.
I appreciate the struggles of so many human rights advocates from the past, more than I can express. That being said, I am wary of being quick to side with any blanket statement, and certainly don’t appreciate being labeled for having an opinion that may be different. Everyone of us is unique, our experiences and lives differ. Saying that all of one type is like this or that is reductive thinking. Aiding a stereotypical societal view, and one I don’t support. Understanding one another and where people are coming from is tough, but step one is to simply listen before casting judgments. Wouldn’t you assume the same respect of a stranger meeting you for the first time?
Young women are still having to fight those that would limit their voices, freedoms, and equalities. Some Baby Boomers and Generation X-ers have unfairly awarded millennial’s such epithets as “entitled, naïve, coddled, uninformed, lazy, ungrateful, and attention-crazed”. Some even consider millennials to be Tech Savvy to a fault.. But is the vilification fair? We’ve evolved past this ignorance, and we need to stand by our progress.
We should also remember that generational clashes are nothing new. Many past generations of emerging adults have sparked angst and disdain in their predecessors. Even the Baby Boomers had once been labeled the “Me Generation”. Perhaps it’s time we break this pattern and embrace what we each might uniquely offer. – Emily Ha, Creative Director at Ruh Global Communications
We have so many issues to resolve in our world including civil rights for persons with disabilities, climate change, religious freedoms, discrimination, violence and many more issues. I believe it is critical to mentor, empower and encourage younger generations. My generation should support all women of all ages, especially women with disabilities to help them continue to find their voices and join these empowering conversations. Otherwise we may accidentally send the wrong message to others. For example, what messages are we giving to men of all ages especially millennial men? I asked my son, Kevin Ruh a millennial to voice his opinions on this matter.
Kevin Ruh – Chief Marketing Officer at Ruh Global Communications
“Following the campaign news can be tedious. It seems fraught with needless drama and pandering for pandering’s sake. It is a time when we form opinions on who we would like to see become the leader of this country for four years into the future. There are times when I have made quick leaps of faith that people will think the same way as me. At times I am correct, at others I’m dead wrong. Listening to every word out of every potential candidates mouth is not only impossible, but maddening. When someone comes out and makes a late statement, a defining principle, then it is time to really pay attention. Some lost my vote early on by spreading bigoted ideals. I simply cannot support a candidate who is so close minded to human and race relations. When someone tells me that my vote is set to one candidate based on sex they lose my confidence, I support a woman’s right to chose for herself as much as I support anyone’s self choices.
We need to stop falling back into archaic ways, stay alert and listen when it really matters, support the change you want. – Kevin Ruh, Chief Marketing Officer, at Ruh Global Communications
Women should support each other but never take away the right for another woman to vote for someone that has a different gender or opinion than us. Let’s not bully other women that is so sad to watch. Instead we should encourage younger women to find their voice, to have a place at the podium, to fight for their right to decide for themselves. Everyone matters including people like me that are older but please also understand that the Millennials are an amazing generation and they have the ability to change the world and help us evolve.
I am a woman that supports other women. I am a woman that will decide who to vote for based on the candidate that I feel will best lead our country. I am a woman that values diversity. I am a woman that believes that women with disabilities add great value to the world. I am a woman that can think for herself. I am an older woman that is PROUD to work with Millennials to help make the world a more empowering place for all women including women with disabilities. Join us in helping assure that everyone has an empowering voice in our societies especially women and girls with disabilities.
Ruh Global Communications, a global leader with corporate inclusion strategies, accessibility advocacy and corporate inclusion industries, announces today it has named Richard J. Streitz Chief Operating Officer.
As COO, Mr. Streitz will have overall responsibility for the company’s growing domestic and international operations, including strategic business development, implementing global growth strategies, and overseeing the company’s recently expanded services in the North American and European regions. He will focus on continuing to build a strong, client-focused organization, while increasing efficiency across all aspects of operations. In addition, he will have day to day responsibilities over finance, marketing, logistics and information technology.
”This re-alignment strengthens our executive management team and greatly adds to our capacity to implement our growth strategy,” said Debra Ruh, CEO of Ruh Global Communications. “Richard’s proven outstanding leadership and deep knowledge of the industry coupled with his international corporate experience will be instrumental in aligning Ruh Global Communications to meet the present and future needs of the company implementing inclusionary corporate strategies worldwide.”
Ruh Global Communications recently expanded its domestic and international operations as part of its strategic growth plan to accommodate a rapidly growing list of customers exploring corporate inclusionary strategies globally. PRESS RELEASE R. Streitz – COO Ruh Global Communications
“The increasing value of corporate inclusionary strategies properly implemented has made accessibility management an essential component to developing corporate level inclusion strategies that strengthen engagement within their respective communities,” added Ruh. “With Richard leading our global operations, I have full confidence that Ruh Global Communications will continue to be a resource and a trusted strategic partner for larger corporations, institutions and governmental agencies worldwide.”
Richard Streitz first worked together with Debra Ruh in 2011 when he was president of an international resort and entertainment development company. Richard worked with Debra’s group to assist in reviewing the company’s inclusion practices through its worldwide strategic planning, project development, corporate branding and international marketing. Recently, Richard served as consulting executive director of corporate strategies for Ruh Global Communications, where he helped develop macro level planning for their new global client services.
Prior to joining Ruh Global Communications, Mr. Streitz was President of S&S Theme Parks and Resorts S.A., a Costa Rican company focused on creating universal designed living, entertainment and recreational built environments. Richard also worked for the prestigious Walt Disney Imagineering group for over a decade where he was actively involved with supervising the design, fabrication and construction efforts for their attractions, theme parks and resorts in Europe, Asia and the USA. Mr. Streitz has served on the Board of many different companies and non-profit organizations where he enjoys sharing his corporate expertise and international experience for a greater common good.
About Ruh Global Communications: Ruh Global Communications are experts in compliance and ICT Accessibility (CRPD, Section 503, 504, and 508 and ADA). We understand the unique needs of businesses and organizations and how to protect them by reducing risks, while at the same time maximizing value and ROI based on crucial accessibility initiatives. Our goal is to ensure that our clients are aware of and prepared for mounting changes in global and national accessibility and disability guidelines and mandates. We possess the inherent capability of realistically evaluating accessibility and compliance technology, as well as disability employment solutions, from the perspective of the target audience – people with disabilities. Ruh Global Communications is privately held and headquartered in Rockville Virginia.
For more information, visit Ruh Global 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
Debra Ruh, CEO of Ruh Global Communications, Founder of TecAccess
I am often asked in my global travels, – “Why does the United States litigate so much?Why do you always sue each other?”Or I get comments that start like this: “You Americans..” That always make me smile and cringe because I figure the person is going to take a shot at my country. I am proud to be an American, but I also believe that the United States can learn a lot from other countries on many subjects, especially on Disability Inclusion, ICT Accessibility and Accessibility of the Built Environment.So why does the United States litigate so much?
Recently, an accessibility expert from Sweden asked me a question during #AXSChat, a tweet-chat held each Tuesday at 3pm on Twitter about #Disability Inclusion and Accessibility.She said, “Debra, do you think the United States would have made as much progress without litigation?”I have been asked that question many times in my travels.
I answered, “Unfortunately, I do not think we would have had the same progress.Our reality is that in the US we create legislation and then pound out our laws by litigating with each other.Then we refer to the legal cases to determine the best way to follow and strengthen our laws.”
Neil Milliken, Head of Accessibility and Digital Inclusion at Atos and co-founder of #AXSChat, sees litigation for accessibility as a possible solution elsewhere.
Neil Milliken
“In the UK disability legislation has since 2010 been part of the broader Equality Act (EQA2010). Whilst there have been a few cases they have predominantly focused on services and employment the law places a duty on organizations and people not to discriminate and to be proactive in doing so.
Although I am not a fan of the sometimes parasitic model of litigation that we see outlined by Debra in the US, I do feel that accessibility in the UK could benefit from a test case much like some of the early class action cases in the US so that case law can help define and refine the understanding of Digital Accessibility and companies can meet what are currently poorly understood and often ignored legal obligations.”
Although the process took many years to achieve, I will never forget the brave leaders who fought for our rights for so long. Staging protests, rallying, speaking to the press, and organizing events all strongly affected the eventual passage of the ADA. One protest stands out to me. It became known as “the Capital Crawl”. Over 1,000 disability rights activists and protesters left their wheelchairs and mobility devices and crawled up the 83 steps of our Capital Building, simply asking for the same rights and equality any other American had.
These amazing leaders fought for the Civil Rights for Persons with Disabilities. As a result, the
Image Credit. Capital Crawl – American with Disabilities Act of 1990, ADA supporters crawling up the steps of the U.S. Capital building on March 12, 1900
American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law by President George Bush on July 26th, 1990. Our family applauded these leaders knowing that they were fighting for all of our rights, including those of our daughter, Sara Ruh who was born in 1987 with Down syndrome.
Would the United States have made as much progress without laws like the ADA or Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 508, 504 and 503?I do not believe we would have made the progress.I also believe that these leaders efforts encouraged other countries to fight and to continue to fight for their rights.Now we have the United Nations Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. (CRPD).I am hopeful the United States will ratify that convention in 2016.
Could we have made as much progress without these laws and litigation?I do not think we would have.Why?Organizations mean well, -but they have many competing interests.For clarification, -I use the word “organizations” as a placeholder for corporations, nonprofits, universities, local, state and federal agencies.
President George Bush signs the ADA into Law on July 26, 1990 – Surrounding him on the South Lawn of the White House are (left to right, sitting) Evan Kemp, Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Justin Dart, Chairman of the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities; (let to right, standing) Rev. Harold Wilke and Swift Parrino, Chairperson, National Council on Disability. Image from the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library. Photo Credit linked in Image.
Most organizations create an annual strategic plan and update it throughout the year.The organization has to determine their strategic focus by considering many moving parts including changing laws, standards, industry changes, business climate, and risks.
Inclusion of individuals with disabilities has become more of a risk in the last few years.A few years ago a colleague mentioned a conversation with a General Counsel of a Fortune 100 firm.The General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer noted that he had accessibility on his risk list for many years but it was way down on his list – maybe on the 15th page of things he was worried about. He noted that recently it has moved up to about page 3.Still not the top three things that kept him up at night, but it had moved up significantly on the things that were adding risk to the firm.What is keeping him up at night? These organizations have a lot of risk to worry about- such as privacy, security, globalization, branding, changing technology, and many other items.
For years, the United States has seen ADA complaints and lawsuits about disability discrimination and inaccessible websites.Most of this litigation is settled out of court.The most famous case was the complain against www.Target.com that turned into a class action lawsuit and was eventually settled out of court.It is interesting to note that www.Target.com is now one of the most accessible websites.
A Handicap Symbol with Target Logo within the wheelchair. Image Credits.
There is a troubling trend happening in the United States with a significant uptick in legal complaints and filings.Recently a law office sent a letter out to many major online retailers threatening them with lawsuits because their websites were not compliant or accessible.The letter told the retailers not to reach out to accessibility consultants.Instead, they were told to contact the law office and they would arrange to get them accessibility help with their websites.
A growing group of lawyers seems to realize that they can make a lot of money filing complaints against businesses. Image Credits – Laptop Image created by Emily Ha
Most of these attorneys are conscientious and want to assure that the websites are accessible to individuals with disabilities. However, a growing group of lawyers seems to realize that they can make a lot of money filing complaints against businesses and universities.Why?Well, most websites are still inaccessible to persons with disabilities.They understand that inaccessible websites can be a gold mine if lawsuits are won or settled on the behalf of the plaintiff.
Lady Justice with money tipping the scale.
Some lawyers actually do not care if the website is ever made accessible.They work with clients with disabilities and go to different websites and see if they are accessible.If they are not accessible, the lawyer files a case and hires an accessibility subject matter expert to validate that the site is not accessible.Then the organization being litigated against agree to pay a settlement.The attorney takes the lion share and then pays out the plaintiff.Those law firms keep accessibility experts on retainers and some are getting a large lump sum for each case. Generally, these cases do not go to trial.The problem is that the websites are not made accessible so individuals with disabilities lose.
This also happens with ADA complaints against small businesses because the business was not physically accessible.I understand the ADA is over 25 years old and it is past time that the Built Environment and Internet, Communications and Technology should be accessible.My complaint is directed to lawyers who make money via litigation but there are no expectations of access.
“ADA Requirements” on a laptop’s screen. Image Credits. Laptop ADA Image created by Emily Ha
Universities are also being targeted because of inaccessible websites, student portals, eLearning and other accessibility issues with their ICT.Individuals with disabilities are attending and graduating from universities in record numbers in the United States.It is critical that all students have full access to every aspect of the educational process.
Dr. Christopher Lee
“It’s true that U.S. higher education institutions face liability for inaccessible web content and technologies much like they did in the 1990s with inaccessible buildings. In fact, at last count, we’ve had over 27 higher education accessibility lawsuits, complaints, and settlements in recent times. However, there is very limited advocacy coming from people with disabilities compared to the ‘Capital Crawl’ movement. The driving force for change has been the National Federation of the Blind and the U.S. Department of Labor and their federal agency counterparts.
What can Universities do to protect themselves from legal complaints while still meeting the needs of the students with disabilities? The first and primary step is to develop and implement an information and communication technology (ICT) accessibility institutional policy and procedure.
There are several resources and good examples to draw upon. One helpful resource is the summary web page that has been published by The University of Washington. What we’ve seen is that ensuring compliance, securing the resources and maintaining procedures as technology shifts are usually the primary challenges institutions face.” -Dr. Christopher Lee, Department Head of AMAC Accessibility Solutions and Research Center
Some lawyers are adding a lot of value to these conversations.One of the best recognized attorneys in my opinion is Lainey Feingold.Lainey has become a champion to many in the community of persons with disabilities.
I visited her website, and gathered this information.
Lainey Feingold is a disability rights lawyer who works primarily with the blind and visually impaired community on technology and information access issues. She is nationally recognized for negotiating landmark accessibility agreements and for pioneering the collaborative advocacy and dispute resolution method known as Structured Negotiations.
Structured Negotiation is a collaborative and solution-driven dispute resolution method conducted without litigation. The goal is to help the organization become accessible so that the community of persons with disabilities and many other parts of the population, including aging citizens and non-native speakers, can have access to the content of your website with no ulterior motive.
Structured Negotiation appears to be a win win for everyone because the goal is to reduce the digital divide and provide access to everyone.
What do you think?Are we moving equal rights to technology, employment, transportation, housing and other parts of society forward by litigating in the US?
Join Neil Milliken, Antonio Santos and me on our weekly Twitter Chat. Just search the hashtag #AXSChat at 3pmEST and join the conversation. We chat about disability inclusion, empowerment, employability and accessibility.
Growing up with spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic neuromuscular disease that affects all muscles of the body, can bring social challenges for anyone. For Alice Wong, the challenges made her angry. Rather than the anger becoming a negative impact on her adult life, she has been able to utilize it to fight for her rights and those of others with disabilities.
Alice Wong
As she wrote in her essay Hey, Angry Girl, Alice faced a lot of attitudinal barriers while she was growing up in Indianapolis, Indiana. Besides the usual stares and naïve questions from people, she also faced barriers in her education. For instance, to complete her second year drama class, one of the requirements was to do a skit that required physical action. The professor insisted it had to be done standing up, which Alice couldn’t do. So she had to forego it.
Attending the University of California, Alice discovered ways to break down barriers that she had encountered during her youth and still was facing. Works of disability activists and researchers such as Paul Longmore, Irving Zola, Erving Goffman, and others inspired Alice to express her ideas and voice her frustration through writing and research. Her writings have helped people with disabilities to live as independent as possible.
Direct Course Online
For instance, Alice is the Staff Research Associate for the Community Policy Living Center at the University of California where she authors curricula for the College of Personal Assistance and Caregiving and producing reports on Olmstead-related legislation and lawsuits. In fact, Alice is the co-author of several online courses on personal assistance care, which can be found at Direct Course Online. She’s also the founder of the Facebook group “Self-Directed Care Discussion Group”, where members can voice their concerns and ask questions about personal assistance issues.
National Council on Disability Image from: https://www.facebook.com/NCDgov/
Besides personal care assistance, Alice also has motivated other persons with disabilities to make their voices heard. She has launched the Disability Visibility Project, a blog-like platform so persons with disabilities can write about their challenges and successes. These stories make our voices heard, act as a historical resource, and illustrate their diversity. As with the Facebook personal assistance group, she also utilizes Twitter to encourage them to discuss issues that concerns the disability community. Hopefully, agency or government officials notice these discussions and act upon what needs to be done to ensure our basic rights as humans.
President Obama Appoints Alice Wong to National Council on Disability. Image from: www.ucsf.edu
Alice also promotes social media accessibility as a council member of the National Council of Disability (NCD). In 2014, she co-moderated a series of online dialogues to discuss how social media platforms can become more accessible, such as users adding text alternatives to images and including correct captions for videos. “{O}ne of my advocacy efforts is through community-building efforts on social media such as Facebook and Twitter,” Alice says. “I’ve come across some amazing people with disabilities all over the world and we share our experiences that seem to be universal.”
As an avid advocate for persons with disabilities, Alice offers three bits of advice. First, don’t consider yourself the problem. Society creates most of the barriers that you need to overcome. Second, reach out to other persons with disabilities who have experienced similar situations that you do for guidance and mentoring. Third, share your struggles and successes with others who may need help.
Alice turned her anger as a little girl into something positive as a woman—her passion and desire to help others with disabilities.
Con una cadenita de la princesa Elsa colgando de su cuello, Sara Ruh, voz oficial de Ruh Global Communications, asocia mi nombre con la princesa de Disney. Su sonrisa por la relación es evidente, tanto así que su madre se ve motivada a indicar que es su personaje favorito de Frozen, la película infantil que ha logrado captar la atención de miles de niños alrededor del mundo, y que a propósito, me hizo entrar en sintonía con ella.
La princesa es el ejemplo animado de Sara. Elsa se caracteriza por ser una princesa serena, majestuosa y reservada, sin embargo, vive presa del miedo por un secreto que guarda desde que nació: posee el poder de crear hielo y nieve. Es una habilidad muy bella, pero también peligrosa.
Y es lo que probablemente le ocurra a Sara, una joven de 28 años quien se ha visto motivada a cumplir grandes sueños como: representar mundialmente a las personas con síndrome de Down y discapacidades físicas y cognitivas. Desde temprana edad surgió el interés por mostrar el lado amable de un síndrome o discapacidad, y efectivamente como le pasa a la princesa de Disney; si no actúa con su poder de inclusión social, puede tornarse indeseada en lo referente a no cumplir sus propósitos por un mundo más incluyente.
“Urge recobrar un espíritu contemplativo, que nos permita redescubrir cada día que somos depositarios de un bien que humaniza, que ayuda a llevar una vida nueva. No hay nada mejor para transmitir a los demás”, dice el Papa Francisco.
Egipto, Canadá, Alemania, Estados Unidos y Colombia son algunos de los países por los cuales ha atravesado la voz oficial de Ruh Global Communications, para transmitir el mensaje incluyente.
Debido a su síndrome de Down, Sara en algunas ocasiones no logra expresar sus ideas a cabalidad, por lo cual, cuenta con una aliada estratégica en su vida: Debra Ruh, su madre, quien además de ser su compañera fiel de viajes es también veladora de los estatutos gubernamentales que favorecen a las personas con algún tipo de discapacidad cognitiva o física.
Es apasionada por los medios de comunicación entre los cuales están: Twitter, Linked-In, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, entre otros, los cuales le permiten vociferar el mensaje de inclusión al mundo.
Cambiar la cultura de voces silenciosas
Barranquilla se unió a la difusión mundial que hace Ruh Global Communications para promover la inclusión a nivel tecnológico, educativo y empresarial. Para ello, la Universidad del Norte sirvió como escenario promotor de esta labor con el evento: Diálogos de Desarrollo – “Inclusión social, empleo y accesibilidad TIC para personas con discapacidad”, permitiendo entrelazar las voces de personas en la conferencia en la que tanto invitados especiales (Sara y Debra Ruh) como público compartieron concepciones, opiniones y preguntas.
Este tipo de eventos es importante que se trabajen fuertemente en la ciudad, en vista de que, más que modificaciones arquitectónicas para las personas con discapacidades, debe haber un cambio en la mentalidad que permita una sociedad incluyente; teniendo en cuenta que: eliminar barreras mentales es más difícil que quitar escaleras.
“Ella es linda, hace mi vida más bonita”, Debra Ruh
La familia Ruh considera la presencia de Dios como la base sólida que permite ejecutar su trabajo. Debra nunca ha considerado el síndrome de su hija como un problema en su vida, sino como la posibilidad de generar cambio en la sociedad excluyente.
En un principio la posibilidad de sacar a flote el proyecto de cambiar la mentalidad mundial frente a la exclusión era un reto bastante fuerte, tanto así que, el resultado tardaba por verse; falta de recursos económicos, solidificar la organización, entre otros aspectos, intentaban derrocar la idea de cambio; sin embargo, la fe, entrega a Dios y el arduo trabajo, hizo que la familia Ruh desarrollara el proyecto que ha cambiado la calidad de vida de muchas personas alrededor del mundo.
Todo empezó con un sueño…
Un sueño que toda la gente no importando su nivel de habilidad puede disfrutar:
Ir a la escuela, trabajar y socializarse es el contexto en el que se desarrolla la humanidad, y por el cual Ruh Global Communications lucha día tras día.
Photo by Josefina Villarreal “Debra Ruh with her daughter Sara & Maria Medina, representative of Eleven of Spain Foundation.”
Last Sunday an Australian model with down syndrome conquered the catwalks of Fashion Week in New York. This 18 year old wants to change the image of the disabled in the beauty sector codes as marked as that of fashion. Likewise, there are other examples of people who have a disability and who have managed to realize their dreams as anyone. In this context, the University of North today makes the eighth edition of ‘Development Dialogues’, a conference where experts will discuss social inclusion, employment and accessibility for people with disabilities.
To this will be present, the US consultancy Debra Ruh and her daughter who suffers from Down syndrome, Sarah Ruh, which together have traveled the world defending the rights of people with physical and cognitive disabilities. “The event is to show that it is possible for people with disabilities to work, this is what makes them part of society,” he said Debra Ruh. Another issue to be discussed at the conference is accessibility, which according to Maria Medina, Ilunion Eleven representative of Spain Foundation, is a right of every human being to access any setting or service. “It’s important to have accessibility in the city, at universities, it is necessary for anyone to move autonomously condition,” he added.
For experts on the subject, aim of this conference is that families and businesses remove the barrier to see that people with disabilities can labor as a human being. The event begins today at 4:30 pm and will be in the auditorium of the Uninorte.
I just landed my dream job of doing social media marketing. A few reasons why this line of work have lured me. My dad was a public relations guy. He used to market politicians and local celebrities by writing to newspapers and organizing events for them. I acquainted clout and glamour to that.
I also had dreamed of becoming an advertising executive. I would use my creative writing juices to develop media ads that would grab the public’s attention and hearts. I figured this would be the most lucrative path to utilize my writing skills.
My career took a different road, however. Since the computer had become my bridge to the rest of the world, I discovered the field of electronic and information technology (E&IT) accessibility; how I could help other persons with disabilities and myself access the Internet, web applications, and software more effectively. My keen sense of observation has contributed to my success as an E&IT Accessibility Analyst.
Yet, examining webpages and software screens for issues does not involve creativity or interactions with the public. While I still wanted to help other persons with disabilities, I wanted to do it on a social and cultural level, not on a technical one. Someone “up there” must have heard my desire and dropped a position in my lap as a Marketing Strategist for Ruh Global Communications, a company who helps persons with disabilities become more recognized in society.
Now I can help persons with disabilities make their voices heard loudly. I can proclaim their accomplishments and vent their complaints through social and media networks. By broadcasting their ideas and principles, I, along with the rest of the Ruh Global team, is making the rest of the world more aware of what we can do and what we face. With social media marketing, we can help change government regulations, business policies, and public views much more rapidly and effectively than we were able to twenty-five years ago when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was ratified.
For instance, if a person with cerebral palsy was barred from a restaurant because someone else had to feed him, the incident may have received little media coverage a quarter of a century ago. Today if that person tweets and Facebook post his story, it would go viral. People would retweet it and share it on other social networks. News outlets would spot it and do reports on the discrimination incident. Consequently, the restaurant would feel the pressure from the public, apologize to the patron with the disability, and change its policy.
On a personal level, doing social media marketing allows me to learn constantly about new assistive technologies, programs, policies, and stories about other persons with disabilities. Because I don’t get out much due to transportation issues, my involvement with social media allows me to interact with the rest of the world, meeting new people and keeping in contact with individuals I already know. Other persons who can’t venture out of their homes much due to a disability take advantage for the same reasons.
Thanks to social media, persons with disabilities have a giant outlet to express themselves to become heard and get action. Thanks to social media marketing and Ruh Global Communications, I am helping them connect to businesses and governments to build a more accessible, open-minded world.
