Real Access Motivates Progress, better known as RAMP, educates and advocates for accessibility and inclusion issues for the disabled. ¹

The organization provides a “RAMP Stamp of Approval” as a symbol showing that a business or organization’s premises satisfy the group’s criteria for accessibility for individuals with disabilities. ²

Background

Real Access Motivates Progress, better known as RAMP, aims to educate and support individuals with disabilities, their families, and allies. ¹ The organization offers accessibility consultation to small businesses for free. It also offers informational training services to small businesses that include sessions such as “Access 101: Accessibility Design Standards for a Small Business;” “Best Practices for Hiring People with Disabilities;” “Disability Sensitivity Training;” “Untapped: How to Market to People with Disabilities;” and “Accessibility Consultation for Special Events.” ³

The organization measures its success with every business, event, or organization with a premises that becomes more accessible. ⁴  RAMP says it breaks barriers, champions accessibility, and promotes equal opportunities through innovation, advocacy, and education, fostering a more equitable future. ⁵

RAMP is a volunteer-run organization. ⁶

Leadership

As of 2025, Tina Guenette was as the CEO, founder, and president of Real Access Motivates Progress, or RAMP. She survived four battles with cancer, multiple strokes, and heart attacks. In 2014, she had a spinal stroke during a routine surgery that left her paralyzed from the waist down. In 2019, she founded RAMP as a national nonprofit organization. President Joe Biden appointed her to the U.S. Access Board in 2023. In 2025, Guenette graduated from the Elected Officials to Protect America’s Global Leadership Core Program. ⁷

As of 2025, Jerome Wills was the chairman of the board of directors for RAMP.  Wills is a financial strategist with more than a decade of banking expertise and more than two decades of large team management. He previously worked as a youth counselor at the Boys and Girls Club. ⁸

As of 2025, Joanna Pallini was the vice chair of the board of directors. Pallini became a member of the Leadership Rhode Island Upsilon II class.  During her time with LRI, she worked with her group, 4Inclusion, to support RAMP’s mission.  ⁸

As of 2025, Jeanine Calkin was the legislative liaison and the vice chair for RAMP. She is a former Democratic Party Rhode Island state Senator. In 2021, she lost the use of her right leg, and is an amputee. ⁸

As of 2025, Anna Zawadzki was the secretary of the board of directors. She lost her right eye to ocular melanoma in 2022. ⁸

As of 2025, Michael Medeiros was serving as the treasurer of the board of directors. Medeiros is a banking manager with more than 20 years in the financial Industry. ⁸

As of 2025, Cristina Amedeo was a board member. She began work in social services in 1994. As an interpreter, fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, she worked on a project for AT&T in Disney World Florida, as a research specialist collecting information on the Spaceship Earth ride. ⁸

Kerri Cassino became a board member in 2024. She has worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield, and for the parent group SPEAR: Special Education Advocacy and Reform.  ⁸

Projects

In 2019, Real Access Motivates Progress CEO Tina Guenette supported the RED BAG carrier initiative to ensure that first responders have access to vital medical information while still protecting the privacy of individuals. ⁹

RAMP launched the “RAMP Approved” program in November 2024 to catalog accessibility of businesses, events, organizations, and other venues across the United States. The goal was to allow disabled persons to be able to pull up a map and see which restaurants, shops, or venues were completely accessible before leaving home. ¹⁰ By February 2025, RAMP had approved about 50 businesses and had 167 in its pipeline, the Providence Journal reported. ⁴

1. “Our Mission.” Real Access Motivates Progress Approved. Accessed July 20, 2025. https://rampapproved.com/
2. “Frequently Asked Questions.” Real Access Motivates Progress. Accessed July 20, 2025. https://rampapproved.com/faqs/
3. Governors Workforce Board. Rhode Island. Accessed July 20, 2025. https://gwb.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur746/files/2024-10/Disabilities%20Hiring%20Resource%20Guide%20-%202024.pdf
4. Richmond, Will. “RAMP is making RI more accessible for all. Why inclusion matters.” Providence Journal. February 20, 2025. Accessed July 20, 2025. https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/good-news/2025/02/20/ramp-commits-to-a-more-inclusive-accessible-rhode-island/78185888007/
5. “RAMP’s Mission.” Real Access Motivates Progress Approved. Accessed July 20, 2025. https://rampapproved.com/
6. “Donate to RAMP.” Real Access Motivates Progress Approved. Accessed July 20, 2025. https://rampapproved.com/
7. “Tina Guenette.” Real Access Motivates Progress Inclusion. Accessed July 20, 2025. https://www.rampisinclusion.org/meet-our-ceo
8. “Meet Our Board Members.” Real Access Motivates Progress Inclusion. Accessed July 20, 2025.https://www.rampisinclusion.org/meet-our-board
9. “Ramping up to Save Lives with Emergency RED BAG Movement.” Abilities. September 25, 2019. Accessed July 20, 2025. https://www.abilities.com/2019/09/25/ramp
10. Plante, Corey. “Guenette advocates for better accessibility at theaters, other venues.” Valley Breeze. December 5, 2024. Accessed July 20, 2025. https://www.valleybreeze.com/news/guenette-advocates-for-better-accessibility-at-theaters-other-venues/article_ad1851da-b12a-11ef-901c-935ac477942c.html