A graduate of Gallaudet University (B.A. in Economics) and The American University (M.A. in International Affairs) in Washington, D.C., he has been a sports writer, researcher, lecturer, ombudsman and translator.

Rafael has also been involved with the Deaflympic teams of the Soviet Union, Israel, USA, Russian Federation and Uzbekistan. Recently he has published three books on the subject of the Deaflympics and its history.