Design Doors not Walls.
Rethink access with Dr. Stephanie W. Cawthon
Featured In:
What Dr. Cawthon Helps Leaders Solve
“There is no peak performance without accessibility.”
Stephanie W. Cawthon, PhD is a nationally recognized researcher, author, and speaker who helps higher education leaders integrate accessibility into institutional strategy and leadership.
With more than two decades of research, teaching, and leadership experience, Dr.Cawthon brings practical insight to institutions working to strengthen systems that support access.
She currently serves as Executive Director of the National Disability Center for Student Success and holds the Catherine Mae Parker Centennial Professorship in Education at the University of Texas at Austin.
100
+
Keynotes, workshops, and invited talks
50
K
Workshop or course participants
20
+
Years of experience
5
Books
Services
Dr. Cawthon partners with leaders of disability-centered organizations to bridge the gap between ambitious goals and clear action plans. Clients include non-profits, state agencies, assessment companies, national initiatives, and colleges and universities. A true thought partner and champion, Dr. Cawthon’s work serves as a catalyst that clarifies next steps, aligns teams, and creates robust frameworks you can confidently build on into the future.
Learn more about Stephanie's speaking experience
Keynotes + Facilitated Workshops
Learn more about Stephanie's consulting expertise
Executive Consulting + Strategic Planning
Learn more about Stephanie's consulting expertise
Accessibility Roadmapping
Learn more about Stephanie's consulting expertise
Accessible AI Planning
Learn more about Stephanie's consulting expertise
Deaf-led ASL Video Translation
Learn more about Stephanie's consulting expertise
Research Synthesis
Most Requested Keynote Topics
Unlocking Hidden Talent as the Key to Success
What if the key to stronger teams isn’t new tools or training, but the people you already have? This keynote shows leaders how to unlock hidden talent by focusing on accessibility, aligning teams around what matters, and removing barriers that quietly limit performance, retention, and growth.
Lead in the Moment and Create Your Path Forward
Leadership doesn’t begin with a title. It begins with action. This keynote draws on mentorship and lived experience to help individuals move from uncertainty to intention. Participants learn how to build confidence in their decision making, recognize and develop their strengths, and take meaningful steps toward a path that reflects who they are and where they want to go.
Because Disabled Communities Deserve Our Best: From Ambitious Goals to Strategic Plans that Work
Big ideas only matter if they lead to meaningful outcomes. This keynote introduces a disability-centered strategic planning approach through the ACCESS Framework, helping organizations align mission, engage community, and stay grounded in evidence. Leaders leave with clear strategies to move from vision to action while building systems that support long-term impact and accountability.
A Prolific Author & Editor
Books that are Changing the Conversation
Featured Appearances
Belonging Is the Secret to Success
Belonging Is the Secret to Success
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The Latest: What Students Teach Us
The Latest: What Students Teach Us
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Heading to ASHE 2025: Reflecting on Progress and Possibility
Heading to ASHE 2025: Reflecting on Progress and Possibility
Read MoreStart Where You Are — Stop Thinking, Start Doing
December 2025
Rethinking How We Work in Groups with Dr. Stephanie Cawthon
Hosted by Kim Lloyd and Sue Donaher. Dr. Cawthon discusses the everyday teams we are all part of — friends, family, coworkers — and how each person brings something unique and valuable. Covers accessibility, leadership, and human potential. (27 min)
We’re Not Stumped
April 2025
Stephanie W Cawthon Disability Is Human Interview
In this episode of We're Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes Dr. Stephanie Cawthon, a disabled author, speaker, and researcher, to discuss her groundbreaking new book, Disability as Human. As a professor at the University of Texas at Austin and the founder of the National Disability Center for Student Success, Stephanie wears many professional "hats" in her mission to advance accessibility and disability inclusion.
Teaching in Higher Ed
January 2025
Disability Is Human — The Vital Power of Accessibility in Everyday Life
Dr. Cawthon discusses her book with host Bonni Stachowiak, covering myths about disability, the cost of accommodation framing, and how to build more accessible learning environments. Recorded with ASL interpretation and full video/transcript.
