Uncovering Hidden Human

CapitalPresented by

Debra Ruh

Introduction• Debra Ruh is CEO of Ruh Global Communications a firm focused on Global

Disability Inclusion, Accessibility and the Implementation of the UN Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

• Debra co-founded #AXSChat the #1 Twitter Chat in Europe and Top #5th Globally. Member of G3ict Expert Panel and Advisory Board.

• Author of 2 books. Influencer onSocial Media with over 110,000followers on Twitter. KLOUT score of82+ and ranked in the top 0.1% ofpeople on social media.

• Mother of a child with Down syndrome.

• Founded TecAccess in 2001 merged with SSB in 2011. TecAccess was a US based multi-million dollar firm focused on ICT Accessibility. Over 80% of the team were technologists with disabilities.

Debra Ruh at the National Association of WomenBusiness Owners Receiving the Trailblazer Award, 2007

Getting on the Same Page

There is no significant difference between the productivity of people with disabilities and people without disabilities,

particularly when assistive technology is used.

Tom Harkin, Deb Dagit at Senate HearingBob English and Rosemary Musachio

People around the world are now discovering what we’ve always known:

The World is Changing•The number of people with disabilities is on the rise due to many factors

• Medical advancements• Technological advances• Aging Societies

•Globalization

An iPhone with Accessibility Features, Photo from AMAC Accessibility Solutions

•Countries are taking major steps to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities.

• UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. (CRPD)

• Reduction of Digital Divide

Corporate Social Responsibilities

Seamless Integration• Integrating persons with disabilities into society, the

workplace, accessibility of products and services, and an organizations social media and other marketing efforts, and is not only a worthy cause, but one that makes financial sense.

• We are the world’s largest minority group. Larger and more loyal than the tweens and teen groups that so many marketers pursue.

• Societies function better when everyone is giving the opportunity to contribute and participate.

• Persons with disabilities are finding their voices on Social Media.

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US StandardsStandards ensure greater access and interoperability. They are important for normative activities, including

for successful employment of persons with disabilities.

•Important Standards:• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)• Section 508, 504 and 503, US Rehabilitation Act of 1973 • W3C WCAG 2.0 A, AA, AAA

•UN Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

Scales of Justice and

Gavel

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What do they have in common?

We All Add Value!• Agatha Christie: Dysgraphia (prevented any understood or

legible written work so all material had to be dictated to a typist/transcriptionist.)

• Sudha Chandran: Amputee

• Michael J. Fox: Parkinson Disease• Sir Richard Branson: Dyslexia• Stevie Wonder: Blind• Robin Williams: Bipolar & ADHD• Will Smith: Dyslexia• Marlee Matlin: Deaf• Beethoven: Deaf • Former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid: Blind• Steven Hawkins: ALS• Albert Einstein: Autism, Asperger

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ICT is Changing the World for ICT is Changing the World for PwDPwD

Technology Trends• “Digital natives”• Mobile technologies• Cloud technology• Availability of internet service

in the community• Technology trends and ICT in

education• Availability of computers• Increasing access to “wired” schools• Educators who have ICT skills and/or

availability of ICT/IT “supports” in schools• BYOT to support student engagement

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“digital natives”, Photo from AMAC Accessibility Solutions

Making the Case for AccessibilityMarket opportunity supports a strong business case for inclusion and

accessibility.

People with disabilities:•Control over $1 Trillion in aggregate income annually•Control over $220 Billion in disposable income annually•Have almost twice the spending power of teens and more than 17x the spending power of “tweens”

Mature consumers:The 50+ population has $2.4 trillion in annual income, which accounts for 42% of all after-tax income in the U.S. Source: Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2015

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Myths about Employment of PwD

• Myth: People with disabilities do not have the talent and skills needed in business

• Fact: People with disabilities have been among the greatest leaders and contributors to business, science, the arts, and society. 11% of this year’s college graduates have disabilities!

• Myth: People with disabilities leave jobs more frequently than workers without disabilities

• Fact: Employees with disabilities in most sectors stay on the job longer, resulting in up to a 6% turnover rate improvement.

• Myth: People with disabilities have a higher than average absentee rate and your worker’s comp claims will increase

• Fact: In fact, people with disabilities who are employed have less overall absenteeism and the number of compensation claims are no different.

Lakeisha Holmes reading Braille.

Photo from AMAC Accessibility Solutions

AMAC employee, Liz working at her desk.

Photo from AMAC Accessibility Solutions

Employee Behavioral Cycle

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Features of anInclusive Workforce

• Policies and Procedures• Accessibility• Universal Design• Inclusion• Accommodations• Training• Retention• Future of Work• Technology

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Liz, AMAC employee working at her accessible computer desk Photo from

AMAC Accessibility Solutions

Future of WorkFuture of Work

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The Ability to access new technology for all. Photo from AMAC Accessibility Solutions

•ICT (Information, Communication and Technology)•Policies•Processes•Accommodations•Assistive technology and tools •Procurement

Anything is PossibleRosemary Musachio was born with Cerbral Palsy (CP)

• Active on social media, Rose writes blogs, presents at conferences and writes for Ohio Newspaper.

• Rose is a Senior Accessibility and Marketing Manager with Ruh Global Communications and is proud to paytaxes and contribute to the workforce.

• Rose uses assistive technology and tests web, hardware, software, eLearning, multi-media, social media and other applications.

• Rose uses instant messaging, email, chat forums, and social networking

Rose using a head pointer

Rose hang gliding

Employers who hire PwDEmployers who hire PwD

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What can I do…Find partners that can help you create a strategic plan for including and retaining employees with disabilities in your workforce.

•Create a Roadmap to create processes for full inclusion:• ICT Accessibility (Internet, Intranet, Applications, Career

Section) • HR Processes (Recruitment, Onboarding through Retention)• Marketing (Internal and External)• Training (New Hire, Team, and Management)

•Review job descriptions, available positions and consider how you could include candidates with disabilities in your hiring efforts.

•Consider internships, apprenticeships and job shadowing.18

In Summary…• Integrating and accommodating employees with

disabilities into an organization’s workplace, marketing efforts, and assuring your products and services are accessible to your customers are critical to your brand and bottom-line.

• People with disabilities have been among the greatest leaders and contributors to business, science, the arts, and society.

• There is no significant difference between the productivity of employees with disabilities and employees without disabilities, particularly in knowledge-related business.

• Societies function better when everyone is giving the opportunity to contribute and participate.

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Debra RuhRuh Global CommunicationsAXSChat Co-FounderG3ict Employ-Ability Chair(804) 986-4500 Email: debra@RuhGlobal.com

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Lets Connect!