NC Commission on Accessibility
History of the Commission
Established by Executive Order 35, the Commission on Accessibility is charged with with examining matters that affect the accessibility of government services and information, and recommending actions to improve access to state government. Members are appointed to two-year terms by the Administration Secretary and meet quarterly to discuss and determine how best to improve access in four key areas: communications, language, digital, and physical.
About the Commission
The NC Commission on Accessibility is comprised of members from the public as well as state employees with lived experience or expertise. Their charge is to:
- Recommend actions for the departments of Administration, Information Technology and Health and Human Services, as well as for the Governor's Office and other cabinet agencies, to improve access to government across digital platforms, communications, language access and physical spaces.
- Using strategic guidance from the Office of Language and Communication Access and Office of State Human Resources, help to advance accessibility in employment opportunities within state government
The commission meets quarterly at the request of the Secretary of the Department of Administration.
Meeting Dates
| Commission Meetings |
|---|
For meeting minutes, email Jordan Etters jordan.etters@doa.nc.gov
Want to Serve? Find Your Fit!
Members of the public interested in joining one of the over 300 North Carolina boards and commissions can apply for Governor appointment online. If interested in joining a DOA board or commission, you can also reach out to jordan.etters@doa.nc.gov for more information and to be considered when there are open positions.
Commission Members
| Member Name | Professional Affiliations |
|---|---|
| Yolanda Adams, Co-Chair | Assistant Director for Student Leadership and Family Outreach, GEAR UP, Appalachian State University |
| Chauncy Barnhill, Co-Chair | Former Senior Vice President, Operations Director, Wells Fargo Chairman, Disability:IN NC |
| Amy Hepler | Lead Accessibility Developer, NC Department of Information Technology |
| Margaret Brunson, PhD | Organizational Health Special Advisor, NC Office of State Human Resources |
| Andrea DeSantis, PhD | Assistant Secretary for Workforce Solutions, NC Department of Commerce |
| Aleshia Hunt | Student Government Affairs Assistant Director, East Carolina University |
| John Samuel | Co-Founder, Ablr |
| Cyndy Yu Robinson | Executive Director of Kramden Institute |
| Sara Nichols | Energy and Economic Development Manager, Land of Sky Regional Council |
| Jamie Ragan | Director of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service, NC Department of Environmental Quality |
| Donna Maria Harris | Public Affairs Director, NC Department of Revenue |
| Julia Hegele | Communications Director, NC Department of Administration |
| Marcia Evans | Communications Director, Office of State Budget and Management |
| Nancy Astrike | Deputy Director for Workforce Solutions, NC Office of State Human Resources |
| Seneca Rogers | Member, Alamance County School Board |
| Teresa Rush Edward | Founder and President, ESG Foundation NC |
| Deborah Bosley, PhD | Founder and Principal, Plain Language Group |
| Bethany Wagner | Manager of the Office of Language and Communication Access, NC Department of Health and Human Services |
| Carolina Fonseca Jimenez | Acting Director of the Office of Partnerships and Outreach, NC Department of Adult Correction |
| Kirsten Barber | Deputy Director for Communications & Digital Media, NC Department of Public Safety |
| Tamara Brothers, PhD | Director of Program Outreach and Engagement, NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources |
| Jordan Wright, PhD | Dean of Education, NC School for the Deaf |
| Cristina España | Senior Outreach Advisor, Office of the Governor |
| Saira Estrada | Language Access & Immigrant Integration Coordinator, City of Charlotte |
| Andrew Young | Founding member, Montagnard/Southeast Asian Community Disparities Research Network |
| Michael Ali | Assistant Director for Construction Management, NC Department of Administration |
| Doug Taggart | Interagency Coordinator, NC Department of Military and Veterans Affairs |
| Lauren Howard | Director of the NC Office on Disability and Health, NC Department of Health and Human Services |
| Tunya Smith | Program Director for the Office of Economic Opportunity and Compliance, NC Department of Transportation |
| Kathryn Sorenson, PhD | Associate Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Lorie Boehm | West Regional Director, The Arc of North Carolina |
| Laura Meyers | Deputy Director, Equality North Carolina |