Press Kit

To make a media request:

If you are a writer, editor, or producer and would like to request an interview with Stephanie about her book or expertise, please contact publicist Lori Ames

Official Bio

Stephanie W. Cawthon, PhD, is an internationally renowned author, educational psychologist, and researcher who is the Catherine Mae Parker Professor in Education at The University of Texas at Austin.

Her new bestselling book, Disability Is Human: The Vital Power of Accessibility in Everyday Life, dispels myths and raises expectations about disabled people. It draws upon more than 25 years of research — and her own experiences as a deaf woman with multiple disabilities.

In 2023, Cawthon founded the National Disability Center for Student Success — the first research center of its kind — to use innovative, disability-centered collaborations to establish an actionable research foundation to support the success of more than four million disabled college students in the U.S.

She has been awarded more than $50 million in federal and other grants for her groundbreaking research that investigates issues of equity and access, explores accommodations and accessible learning and work environments, and challenges systemic standards that are holding people back.

The author of four books, Cawthon is the first deaf editor of Perspectives on Deafness, an Oxford University Press international book series on the leading research and practices with deaf people, and gave the first commencement address in American Sign Language at UT Austin.

She lives in Austin, Texas.

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How to Host a Deaf Podcast Guest

Podcasts have exploded in popularity. But aren’t podcasts just for hearing people? Nope! Podcasts can be for deaf people, too. Stephanie is an avid fan of several podcasts and has been a guest on some.

Here’s how to make your podcast an accessible experience for deaf guests and subscribers — and for a broad audience that uses or prefers multiple communication modalities such as captions and video.

Ask what communication modalities and supports your guest prefers. (Stephanie usually lets the host know in advance if she’s not asked.)
Record the podcast on Zoom or another platform, complete with captions and video of all participants.
An ASL interpreter may be used. Stephanie and her designated interpreter have worked together in many “live” high-stakes media and recorded events.
If possible, provide the questions or topics ahead of time. Stephanie provides key phrases and concepts with her ASL interpreter to prepare her in advance and ensure a smooth conversation.
For optimal accessibility for all, the final edited episode should include ASL video and audio with captions (shared on YouTube or another public video platform), audio on the podcast channel, and a link in both descriptions to a full transcript.
Speaking of the episode description, this is a good place to explain to your audience that your guest is deaf, the accommodations your podcast provided, who is speaking and who is signing, and the role of the interpreter — so people are clear on what is what (and who is who)!

Accessibility Guidelines for Media Interviews and Presentations

Each disabled person has individual accessibility preferences. Stephanie is no different!

Stephanie is deaf and uses a range of communication strategies. The decisions around communication modality are complex and highly dependent on context and communication partners. There are times when Stephanie voices for herself and times when she signs. You may see her use different modalities in different contexts.

For the most part, these recommendations apply when communication partners are speaking and hearing. We are happy to discuss other accessibility considerations, as they vary by the content, format, and audience of each media event or presentation. In the meantime, these general accessibility guidelines can get you started in your planning.

Remote Conversations

This includes consulting appointments, interviews, meetings, and discussions. Stephanie rarely takes voice telephone calls unless she already knows your voice and if the conversation can be accessible without visual input.

Live 1:1 Conversations

Zoom or other video platform. (Zoom preferred.)
Video (cameras on) is strongly preferred if that is also accessible for the other party.
Turn on auto-captions. Transcripts are shared for note-taking purposes.
One American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter may be needed for access support, depending on the length and content of the appointment.

Live Group Conversations

Zoom or other video platform. Zoom preferred.
Video (cameras on) is strongly preferred if that is also accessible for the other group members.
Turn on auto-captions. Transcripts are shared for note-taking purposes.
ASL interpreter(s), depending on the group size and complexity of communication modalities across the group.
When selecting a date, ask Stephanie for schedule availability that includes ASL interpreter(s).
If presentation slides will be used, send them ahead of time for interpreter preparation.

Recorded Video Conversations

This includes podcasts and other media interviews. Stephanie does not do audio-only recordings of podcasts or conversations.

Zoom in gallery view is strongly preferred.
Video (cameras on) is strongly preferred.
Record to computer.
Captions can be on, but be prepared to edit for accuracy in post-production.
Send questions or prompts ahead of time for ASL interpreter preparation, preferably in a shared document such as a Google doc.
When selecting a date, ask Stephanie for schedule availability that includes ASL interpreter(s).
Schedule time for a tech check (minimum 15 minutes) prior to each recording.
Plan to prepare a video version of the interview (even if you are hosting only an audio version). Stephanie will request access to a final video edited version for sharing with her audiences.

Presentations and Conference Panels

This includes keynote speeches, conference panels, or training sessions. For guidelines on hybrid meetings, please check with Stephanie and her team.

In-Person Presentations WITHOUT Audience Engagement

Microphones for all participants who are speaking.
Captioning, if it is a large group in a theater setting.
ASL interpreters may be preferred depending on the content.
Supportive amplification, if it is programmable with the correct frequencies.

In-Person Presentations WITH Audience Engagement

If it’s a room larger than a standard conference room, provide microphones for all participants who are speaking — including a microphone for audience questions, comments, and interactions.
ASL interpreters in teams of two for more than 20 minutes.
Remember that if Stephanie is onstage, she cannot see captions behind her or interpreters in front of her. Stage lighting may also make visibility challenging without proper placement.

Additional Access Tips

Schedule in advance. Because we are typically coordinating multiple schedules, advance planning is key. Stephanie has set times when interpreters are already scheduled for most video and remote calls. These are priority times for meetings and media events via Zoom.
Plan on interpreter teams. ASL interpreters typically work in teams, rotating every 20 minutes when possible. With a group conversation, they are working for a much longer period of time. Breaks in the meeting are very helpful in maintaining interpreter consistency and quality.
Check interpreter qualifications. Experienced ASL interpreters are essential, especially with complicated subject matter. When Stephanie is signing for herself, she will prioritize ASL interpreters who know her and her content well. This ensures the highest quality translations and communication for all parties.
Prepare the interpreter. ASL interpreter preparation is a key component of accessibility. In all cases, providing any advance material to interpreters will significantly ensure a more successful event. Stephanie typically asks to meet with interpreters to go over specific ASL signs and the intent of her message.
Introduce the interpreter. When in a meeting, Stephanie will introduce the ASL interpreter(s). Please do not direct questions to the interpreter unless Stephanie has already done so or the issues are related to technology and access.
Speak clearly and avoid reading off slides. We all speak much faster when we are reading off slides than when we are speaking naturally. It can be very difficult for interpreters to keep up if you are reading quickly and with few pauses.
Manage communication between meeting participants. Overlapping and interrupting speech are disruptive to access when both modalities are in a conversation. Use turn-taking, facilitating the speaker order, and other strategies to make sure that there is visual access to input at all times. Wait for the interpreters to finish before starting to speak.