Jack Brandt Studios

When her daughter, who has Down Syndrome, reached middle school, Debra Ruh realized just how limited job opportunities are for people with disabilities and decided to start a business that would focus instead on their abilities and increasing their access to employment. Applying her entrepreneurial drive to knowledge and experience gained from a long and successful career in information technology, Debra created TecAccess LLC, which has quickly grown to be an internationally recognized leader in the creation and testing of electronic and information technology accommodations and accessibility for people with disabilities.

A unique and fundamental part of TecAccess´ mission and of its success has been the training and employment of a diverse and skilled professional workforce comprised of individuals with a wide range of physical, sensory, cognitive, and other disabilities. Making up the majority of the TecAccess team, they bring the realism and practicality of their own daily experiences to the challenges of IT accessibility.

To best support and develop their abilities, TecAccess emphasizes flexibility and accommodation in the workplace and in employer-employee relationships. Work arrangements are as diverse and creative as the employees themselves, combining on-site work with "telework" as best meets the needs of the employee and the client.

As a result, the TecAccess workforce, its client base, and its reputation continue to grow. It has developed "Section 508" compliance guidelines used by the federal government and has advised and assisted with IT needs for public and private clients ranging from local nonprofit organizations to major corporations, state and federal agencies, the military, universities, and others. In addition, TecAccess has been asked to speak on Section 508 compliance, IT accessibility, and other technical and disability issues before the European Commission in Brussels and at other professional and public service gatherings all over the world.

TecAccess´ latest innovative initiative, DVETs, supported by a discretionary grant from the Governor´s Office, will provide IT training and guaranteed employment placement for veterans with disabilities, particularly those injured in the line of duty in the recent Middle East conflicts.

Through their business and advocacy activities, Debra and her colleagues strive to stimulate creativity and encourage others to expand opportunities for individuality, freedom, and autonomy. Numerous awards as well as testimonials ranging from Virginia´s senior Senator, John Warner, to federal and state agencies, to local and national business employers and IT providers, to local disability support and advocacy organizations testify to their success in achieving those goals.

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