Shardae Nelson-Johnson was promoted to director of the office of accessibility at the end of February. Before receiving the promotion, Nelson-Johnson was the coordinator of the Office of Accessibility (OA).
“Prior to my current role, I worked as the coordinator for the Office of Accessibility here at Winthrop,” Nelson-Johnson said. “My main duty was to collaborate with students who have disabilities with the goal of assisting them with gaining access to all aspects of campus life. I was responsible for consulting with faculty and staff regarding the provision of disability-related accommodations.”
These duties are still a part of her responsibilities as the director.
“In this position, I will continue to assist students with gaining access to all aspects of campus life,” Nelson-Johnson said. “This position also entails educating the Winthrop community about disability and access. I am also responsible for making sure other members of the OA team have what they need to carry out their roles.”
Nelson-Johnson started her journey as a graduate student in 2013 when she was enrolled in The Master of Social Work (MSW) program. From there she worked as an admissions specialist for the MSW program, and a case management intern for counseling services on campus. In 2015, she joined the Office of Accessibility as the assistant coordinator, and has climbed the ladder since then.
“I appreciate the growth that I have seen in the Office of Accessibility since I joined this team in 2015,” Nelson-Johnson said. “The university has invested in software that makes OA’s work with students more efficient. Faculty and staff are reaching out to OA to consult on how to best serve students with disabilities. Our team members have participated in professional development opportunities and gained experiences that inform our daily work with other members of the Winthrop community.”
As the new director of the Office of Accessibility, Nelson-Johnson plans to continue to support Winthrop students with disabilities.
“OA will work toward increasing the amount of programming available on campus related to disability, ableism, and access,” Nelson-Johnson said. “I am excited about our plans to increase awareness about disability and access through programming intended for all students, not only students who live with disabilities, and Winthrop employees.”
According to the Winthrop website, “The Office of Accessibility (OA) works to ensure that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate fully in their educational experience by facilitating accommodations, discourse, and engagement.”
The Office of Accessibility can be found on the third floor of Kinard Hall in offices 323-325. According to the Winthrop website, the “OA can also explore options such as Zoom, phone or other technology platforms to arrange a virtual meeting.”
Students who are looking to learn more information about the office and the accommodation options can search the Office of Accessibility on the Winthrop website. After submitting an accommodation form online, someone from the office will be in touch to set up an intake appointment.
“I wish more students were aware of the existence of our office and knew that students can request accommodations related to a disability on the college level,” Nelson-Johnson said.
