Who Are We?

Our Profiles

Barbara A. Ceconi, President

Kurt F. Kuss, Associate

Our Biographies

	Barbara A. Ceconi
Barbara A. Ceconi is a founding partner of Access Umbrella, Inc.,an accessability and diversity consulting firm. She has worked extensively with corporations, museums, cultural institutions, theaters, schools, exhibit and space planners, and the medical and counseling professions to explore issues of disability and diversity among employees and customers.   Ms. Ceconi is committed to lowering the barriers that prevent many people from feeling comfortable around individuals who are perceived as being different. She is an experienced course developer and facilitator who uses her considerable interpersonal communication skills in innovative ways. She is sought after for her ability to create an informative and relaxed training environment where participants are encouraged to personally assess their attitudes toward disabilities and differences in the population.   Ms. Ceconi provides disability and diversity training, and she is a certified corporate trainer of the 4MAT System. Her presentations include information and skills for working with customers and co-workers to develop a set of common goals that are shared and supported by employees and leaders alike. She provides organizational assessment of policies, group dynamics, and understanding of diverse learning styles. She enhances the ability of people to explore the effect these have on cooperation, creativity, mutual respect, and productivity between managers and employees. Her expertise promotes accessibility and diversity as vital organizational resources that reflect greater productivity and higher quality customer service.   Ms. Ceconi was a Social Worker prior to her current role as a disability and diversity consultant. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Amherst College and completed her Master's degree in Social Work at Boston College.   Her article, "Sight or Insight? Child Therapy With a Blind Clinician" appeared in The Clinical Social Work Journal published by Human Sciences Press, Inc. (1994) Two other articles, Connecting With Communities: Urban Teens and Museums, and Teaching Science Teachers Science, have been published online through the website of The Museum of Science, Boston (1995). Most recently she has co-authored several articles which include: "Compliance to Customer Satisfaction", and "Interact Positively With Co-workers Who Have Disabilities", in the Cultural Diversity at Work Journal (1999), and "Breaking Down Barriers: Inclusion of People With Disabilities Through Creative Strategies of Universal Designing", Diversity and the Recreation Profession, Venture Publishing, (2000).   Ms. Ceconi has served as a board member for Very Special Arts Massachusetts, and on the Special Needs Advisory Group at the Museum of Science, Boston. She was a member of the Planning Committee and Chairperson of the Accessibility Subcommittee for the annual Assistive Technology Conference, Boston. She has advised many other organizations and lectured at Harvard University Medical School, Boston University Medical School, Northeastern University, and Emerson College. She is a member of the Boston Chapter of the American Society for Training and Development, and a member of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Return to Barbara's Profile   Return to Top of Page

	Kurt F. Kuss
Kurt F. Kuss is an Associate Partner of Access Umbrella, Inc., a Boston-based accessibility and diversity consulting firm. He dedicates his professional expertise and personal experiences to assist academic and cultural institutions, retail establishments, professional training organizations, and corporate entities in their pursuit to advance and strengthen services to all consumers - particularly those who have disabilities.   His demeanor and knowledge create an environment where people are put at ease, invited to ask questions, and persuaded to consider their own experiences during future interactions. He uses a synergistic training approach designed to communicate factual information while facilitating the development of an emotional investment in disability issues. Participants are encouraged to take ownership of presented information and incorporate it into a new way of behaving.   During the twelve years prior to losing his vision in 1989, Mr. Kuss trained and worked as a professional chef in the Chicago area. His experiences in the hospitality industry acquainted him with providing the best possible service to ensure customer satisfaction.   Mr. Kuss received his B. A. in Human Services with a concentration in Substance Abuse Counseling from National-Louis University, Evanston, IL., and his Master's in Social Work from Loyola University, Chicago. He has practiced as a Licensed Social Worker and a Certified Addictions Counselor. These credentials and clinical experiences have given him professional insight into basic human behaviors, and the impact that internalized attitudes can have on a workplace environment.   Mr. Kuss has provided customer service training to the Chicago Mayor's Office On People With Disabilities. He is a co-author of several articles including; "Breaking Down Barriers: Inclusion of People With Disabilities Through Creative Strategies of Universal Design" in Diversity and the Recreation Profession, Venture Publishing, 2000, and "Interact Positively With Co-workers Who Have Disabilities", in the Cultural Diversity at Work Journal,1999. He has appeared as a Subject Matter Expert on a diversity training video entitled Service Savvy: Providing Outstanding Service in a Diverse World, Learning Journey, Inc. 2004.   Mr. Kuss has participated on numerous panel discussions concerned with universal design including Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) conferences in 1998 and 2001; the Western Museum Association conference in 2001; and during the Designing for the 21st Century II conference in Providence, RI. 2000. He has conducted training on issues of access and universal design for the FleetCenter, Boston; the U.S. Mint, Philadelphia; the Smithsonian Institution; the American Museum of Natural History; and the Greater Boston Visitor's and Convention Bureau. He has developed a program for describing live performances of opera for patrons of the Opera Company of Philadelphia.   Mr. Kuss has been a member of the Community Advisory Board for the Public Television Station WGBH in Boston. He served as the Graduate Council President for Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Yorktown Heights, NY. In preparation for campus improvements, he served on the Special Needs Advisory Board for the College of Lake County in Illinois, and consulted on issues of disability access for the City of Chicago's Taxi and Limousine Driver Training School. He is a member of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Currently, Mr. Kuss serves on an Advisory Board for a children's television program produced by Scholastic Entertainment. Return to Kurt's Profile   Return to Top of Page