She serves as a catalyst to clarify next steps, align teams, and create robust frameworks you can confidently build on into the future.
Unlocking Potential
Dr. Cawthon partners with leaders of disability-centered organizations to bridge the gap between ambitious goals and clear action plans.
Featured
Consulting Clients
When you’re seeking an expert adviser or need to execute a project flawlessly, Stephanie has over 28 years of consulting experience at the helm of her own deaf- and disabled-led company — offering a variety of services from hourly advising to a full team approach with graphic designers, videographers, content writers, researchers, and interpreters.
Dr. Cawthon brings her vast expertise as:
- A visionary trailblazer in accessible and inclusive settings
- A founding director of a multimillion-dollar research center who has been awarded over $50 million in grant funding
- An in-demand speaker and author
- A tenured professor at one of the world’s top research institutions
- An educational leader sought by governments, agencies, and consortiums for her insights and assistance
She places a high value on collaboration, evidence-informed decision-making, research translation, and journeying with organizations as they deepen their practice.
- For some clients, it’s a few hours of consulting or a guest article on accessibility and equity.
- For others, it’s several months of working closely with a committee to create and design a new model state plan or with researchers to evaluate a new program.
- For all, it’s an approach grounded in purpose, intention, and transformative partnership.
Consulting Spotlight:
ASL Translation and Video Production
Why is it so important to (a) have ASL translations and (b) make sure you get them right? Because standardized tests, measures, and surveys are used everywhere:
- Job placements and screenings
- Customer intake forms
- Education settings from K-12 to postsecondary
- Much more!
But rarely are these formats accessible to deaf people who use ASL — which can be a major equity issue (and ADA compliance matter) for many organizations. If you have an online test or survey, get in touch for ASL translation support and any other accessibility consulting!
Not all ASL translations are created equal.
Here’s my advice on how to do them right, in a free, downloadable, easy-to-use, and accessible PDF:
Consulting Services
Executive Consulting + Strategic Planning
- Technical Advising
- Strategic Planning
- Vendor Selection and Management
- Funding and Grant Proposals
- Program Evaluation
- Alignment Studies
- Diversity Consulting
- Culture of Disability
- Accessibility, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Ableism
Accessibility Roadmapping
- Accommodations + Accessibility Roadmaps
- Quality Control and Bias Reviews
- Assessment Development
- Test Equity Analysis
- Content Strategy and UX Research
Accessible AI Planning
- Technical Advising (AI-specific applications)
- Quality Control and Bias Reviews (AI bias and outputs)
- Guidelines (AI usage and accessibility frameworks)
Deaf-led ASL Video Translation
- American Sign Language Translation and Implementation
Research Synthesis
- Research Translation
- Reports and Presentations (when research-focused vs speaking)
- Guest Articles
Advisory Boards & Roles
- Advisory Board, School Psychology Forum
- Student with Disabilities Assessment Advisory Task Force, Council of Chief State School Officers
- Technical Advisory Committee, National Center on Educational Outcomes
- Technical Advisory Committee, ELPA21 Assessment Consortium at UCLA
- Advisory Committee of Assessment of English Language Learners, Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium
- Diversity Panel, National Committee on Measurement in Education and Association on Higher Education and Disability
- Advancing ALTELLA Assessment Advisory Task Force, WIDA Consortium at University of Wisconsin at Madison
- CAAELP Assessment Advisory Task Force, CRESST at University of California at Los Angeles
Testimonials
”Dr. Stephanie Cawthon is a rare specimen: A brilliant and talented author, speaker and professor, and also a deeply soulful, generous and compassionate human. I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with her on her seminal book, 'Disability is Human.' To say she is a hard worker is a gross understatement. She brings wisdom, joy and grace wherever she goes. She has impacted so many lives already, and I know she will continue to expand her universe of influence in these coming years.
Mei Mei FoxConsulting Recipient
”I have worked all of my life serving vulnerable Alaskans in need whether that be seniors or people with disabilities. I met Dr. Cawthon 5 years ago. I'm glad I did! She made a difference for me as a leader providing support, writing a web-based platform to provide state public vocational rehabilitation access to the Model State Plan for the Deaf, joining me on keynote presentations, and just being a great professional with great advice. That kind of talent is hard to come by. She is at the top of my list!
Duane MayesConsulting Recipient
