Accessibility Champion: Cawthon Recognized by UT Austin For Student Inclusivity
The University of Texas at Austin’s Disability & Access division has honored Dr. Stephanie W. Cawthon as an Accessibility Champion in recognition of her demonstrated commitment to fostering an accessible, inclusive, and welcoming campus for students with disabilities.
Accessibility Champions are nominated by students with disabilities to recognize UT Austin faculty and staff members who have:
Positively impacted their semester
Demonstrated excellence in accessibility
Ensured disabled students have equitable access
In an excerpt from the nomination of Dr. Cawthon, the student wrote: “The compassion and empathy she showed me in our accommodation letter meeting made me feel understood and supported.”
On the UT Austin faculty since 2007, Dr. Cawthon is a full professor in the College of Education in the Educational Psychology department — in which she serves as Associate Chair and Graduate Advisor — and has a courtesy appointment in Special Education. She teaches the course The Culture of Disability in Education and received the Dean’s Research Innovation Award for Spring 2023.
She directs the Collaborative for Access and Equity and helped co-found and co-chair the newly-formed Disabled Faculty Equity Council.