Debra Ruh

#CEO @RuhGlobal Founder @billionstrong1 #WeAreBillionStrong #DisabilityInclusion #Accessibility #Identity #AI4Good #SDGs #SmartCities Host #AXSChat &HPAW

[Debra Ruh @debraruh]

Proud to be featured on @ZeroProjectorg. We talk about the numbers and the need to our community to convene. Please check it out, share and comment.

🙏https://t.co/P0nLK8tVdm

#WeAreBillionStrong #AXSChat #ZeroCon24 #ZeroCon join our free movement https://t.co/oFGR9OFDcQ #disabilities #Disability #disabilityconfident #accessibility #AI #AI4Good #SDGs

[Puneet Singh Singhal @puneetsinghal22]

Thanks, Anica, Delhi houses and @htTweets for giving space to the story of my village.

@delhi_dehaat will be little happy today. :)

#DilliDehatProject #DilliDehat

[Puneet Singh Singhal @puneetsinghal22]

Delighted to make it to the @ForbesAsia 30 Under 30 Asia: Class of 2026 in the Social Impact category.

#ForbesUnder30 #ForbesU30Asia

https://t.co/2TOpg6C4xQ

thanks to @WeAreFamilyFdtn, @Pollinationproj, @PeaceFirstOrg, @UNYouthAffairs, @MFGlobalCitizen, @FXBGlobal

[Puneet Singh Singhal @puneetsinghal22]

I was honored to attend the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2026 (14–16 April) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York as a member of the United Nations Youth Office Youth Reference Group. @UNYouthAffairs

During the Forum, I contributed to important conversations on youth mental health, inclusion, and sustainable development. I participated in the side event “From Evidence to Action: What Works to Advance Youth Health and Mental Health,” organized by @UNICEF Evaluation, the @UNFPA Independent Evaluation Office, and other UN partners.

I also had the opportunity to serve as a panelist in the session “Youth Mental Health and Well-Being as a Foundation for Sustainable Development,” where I spoke about how young people are navigating interconnected challenges shaped by exclusion, climate stress, disability, and inequality.

Drawing from my work with the Global Network of Young Persons with Disabilities (@gnypwd ) and Green Disability @DisabilityGreen , I emphasized that climate resilience and sustainability cannot be achieved without accessibility and disability inclusion. I reiterated something central to my work: there is no climate justice without disability justice.

I was also grateful to speak at the SDG Media Zone on the growing youth employment crisis, alongside Lindsey Madison, in a session moderated by Bora Kamwanya.

These conversations reminded me how important it is that young people, especially those from historically excluded communities, are not only included in global discussions, but recognized as active contributors shaping the road to 2030.

#ECOSOC2026 #SDGs #GreenDisability #DisabilityInclusion #YouthLeadership #ClimateJustice #GNYPWD #WeAreBillionStrong

[Marcos Athias Neto @marcosathias]

Indigenous Peoples manage 25% of the world’s land and protect vital ecosystems, yet they receive less than 1% of climate finance.

There’s no climate justice without Indigenous rights.

Learn why it matters: https://t.co/TSL4ZjWJvr

#UNPFII

[UN Youth Office @UNYouthAffairs]

Hear from our Youth Reference Group members at this year’s ECOSOC Youth Forum, representing voices from around the world and driving real change. 🌍

🎥 Watch the full video: https://t.co/LMNl95Hd0D

[Puneet Singh Singhal @puneetsinghal22]

I discussed the Youth Employment Crisis in SDG Media Zone at UN HQ, NY as the @UNYouthAffairs Youth Reference Group member.

Watch my #SDGLive discussion with Lindsey Madisson moderated by Bora Kamwanya.

Video credit: @UN TV

[Puneet Singh Singhal @puneetsinghal22]

I am honored to contribute in the "The Rhythm of Water," a Collective Poem by the @Connect4Climate youth community that reflects our deep relationship with water.

Poem curated by Parneet Kaur.

#Water #SDGs

[UtahCouncil_Blind @UCBInfo]

Dating A Blind Person vs. Dating A Sighted Person! https://t.co/e1O9afUhww via @YouTube

[UtahCouncil_Blind @UCBInfo]

Be My Eyes Foundation Launches to Ensure Free Access to Accessibility Technology for Blind People Worldwide https://t.co/KWb6vGQYoL

[Debra Ruh @debraruh]

Today is World Down Syndrome Day. A moment to reflect not just on inclusion, but on the everyday choices that shape it.

Alongside “JUST EVOLVE,” there is a simple yet powerful call: let’s rethink the words we use. Because language is not neutral. It shapes how we see, how we treat, and how we value one another.

Many of the words still casually used today were once clinical terms. Over time, they have shifted into everyday speech as insults, echoing through classrooms, workplaces, sports fields, films, and conversations. They may not always be spoken with the intent to harm, but their impact is real. They reinforce a narrative where disability is equated with failure, limitation, or lessness.

And that narrative quietly builds a world that excludes.

Changing this does not begin with grand gestures. It begins with awareness. With pausing. With choosing words that reflect dignity, respect, and understanding.

Because evolving our language is not about being careful. It is about being conscious. It is about building a culture where every person, including those with Down syndrome and other disabilities, is seen in their full humanity.

Perhaps it is time we leave certain words behind, not just in speech, but in mindset.

A more equitable world begins with how we speak into it.

Credit: @coordown @WorldDSDay

#WeAreBillionStrong #AXSChat

#JustEvolve #WorldDownSyndromeDay #WDSD26

[UtahCouncil_Blind @UCBInfo]

Meet the Woman Who Made Museums More Accessible
https://t.co/VyShMnFBD2

[UtahCouncil_Blind @UCBInfo]

Accessible Game Conference GAconf Europe
April 27th-28th 2026

https://t.co/Mu8M9Kslt0

[IAAP @IAAPOrg]

Words Shape How We Understand & Include People

On World Down Syndrome Day, a message from @coordown and the @NDSS helps us reflect on the importance of evolving language.

Check out the video: https://t.co/rlrc6KJTDX #JustEvolve #WDSD26

[Puneet Singh Singhal @puneetsinghal22]

A Dancer's Defiant Grace Amid Chaos

My Friend @ishaavinodchopra's memoir pulls you into the whirlwind of bipolar life with unflinching intimacy, tracing her path from manic highs that fueled her dance passion to crushing lows that tested her spirit. As an Indian woman navigating family expectations, cultural pressures, and immigrant challenges, she reveals how mental illness reshaped her world, yet also sharpened her resilience and creativity.

What strikes the deepest is her raw humanity: the quiet ache of hiding volatility from loved ones, the sting of stigma in workplaces and relationships, and the hard-won wisdom of routines like sleep that anchor the storm. Chopra doesn't just recount suffering; she celebrates the unexpected gifts deeper empathy, fierce independence that emerged from it. Her voice, vulnerable yet fierce, bridges personal turmoil to universal truths about acceptance, ambition, and love.

The book's later chapters shift to practical insights on disclosing a diagnosis, building connections, and thriving despite judgment, making it a lifeline for those affected and eye-opener for allies. Content warnings: domestic abuse, rehab experiences, suicidal ideation, and institutional trauma.

In crisp, evocative prose, Chopra transforms disorder into a map for order, urging readers to embrace the full spectrum of another's humanity.

This is a testament to loving one's fractured self. Anyone grappling with mental health, cultural identity, or the dance between chaos and control will emerge moved, enlightened, and a little less alone.

ID: A close-up photo of the front cover of the book Finding Order in Disorder: A Bipolar Memoir by Ishaa Vino Chopra, published by Om Books International. The cover features a teal-to-pink gradient background with abstract silhouettes of several black birds flying across it. Bold white text reads "FINDING ORDER IN DISORDER" at the top and "A BIPOLAR MEMOIR" below, with the author's name in smaller black text at the bottom. The book is held in a hand visible at the bottom edge, with the publisher's red "Om" logo in the top right corner.

[Debra Ruh @debraruh]

Twelve years. Over 500 episodes. Week after week. 💛

I’m so proud to be part of @AXSChat and to share this journey with my dear friends and co-hosts, @NeilMilliken and @AkwyZ.

And I’m thrilled to share that AXSChat has just been recognized on Goodpods as:
#8 in the Top 100 Future of Work (All-Time) chart.

What an honor.

But what means the most to me is the impact.

What started as conversations has become something much more—a living archive of voices, ideas, and insights from across our global disability community.

Think about the collective knowledge captured in those 500+ episodes…
The lived experiences. The innovation. Hard conversations. The moments of truth, challenge, and hope.

We’ve had the privilege of learning from so many brilliant guests—leaders, advocates, technologists, creators—each one contributing to a body of knowledge that continues to grow and guide us.

And we’re still going. Still learning. Still listening. Still amplifying.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey—our guests, our audience, and our community. You are the reason AXSChat continues to matter.

With gratitude and pride 💛

#WeAreBillionStrong #AIEthics #AXSChat #AIInclusion #AI4Good #DisabilityPowerIndex

[Debra Ruh @debraruh]

@nickisnpdx : Every time I put these socks on, they bring me joy and they make me think of all the amazing work that’s happening behind #PinkSocks.

It also makes me grateful that Nick recognized the work that I’m doing with Disability Inclusion and makes me proud every single time. I see those pink socks with mustache. We can bring joy to others with little things. Hugs

ID: Top-down view of a person’s legs wearing maroon leggings, standing on a patterned brown carpet. One foot is bare with pink nail polish on the toes, while the other foot wears a pink sock with black mustache patterns.

[Debra Ruh @debraruh]

@nickisnpdx : Every time I put these socks on, they bring me joy and they make me think of all the amazing work that’s happening behind #PinkSocks.

It also makes me grateful that Nick recognized the work that I’m doing with Disability Inclusion and makes me proud every single time.

I see those pink socks with mustache. We can bring joy to others with little things. Hugs

ID: Top-down view of a person’s legs wearing maroon leggings, standing on a patterned brown carpet. One foot is bare with pink nail polish on the toes, while the other foot wears a pink sock with black mustache patterns.

[LIFE For Relief @LIFEforRELIEF]

Despite the obstacles, our kitchens in Gaza are active, preparing hot Iftar meals for displaced families and orphans.

No one should have to break their fast in hunger.

Your support makes every plate possible. Click here to see how you can do it!

https://t.co/C9l6JP1QFL

Life For Relief and Development

#GazaIftar #GazaRelief #GazaAid #RamadanRelief #Iftar #Ramadan #IftarMeals #SupportGaza #DisplacedFamilies #HelpTheNeedy #LifeForRelief

[Debra Ruh @debraruh]

When accessibility is overlooked, this is often the reality for deaf students in school.

Information on support related to the challenges highlighted in this video can be found through the BBC Action Line: https://t.co/3Q44Y2hmC9

#WeAreBillionStrong #SignLanguage #AXSChat