Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stephanie Cawthon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Stephanie, thanks for joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

The beginning was over 20 years ago, when I first started understanding how many barriers people with disabilities face in our school systems. I was working first as a consultant, then as a researcher on projects that sought to better understand where people face roadblocks to meeting their full potential.

In the meantime, the need for accessibility across school, workplaces, and the community has grown exponentially.

Fast forward to 5 years ago. I was getting more and more requests to provide guidance and expertise on projects, give keynote presentations, and sit on boards and task forces. I also started leading a team of deaf professionals in producing high quality ASL videos for test companies, which drew on my theatre and stage management background.

I had to figure out pretty much everything, and quickly:

+How to set up an LLC
+How to set up accounting

+Where to find a studio + equipment
+Who we needed on staff and when
+What kind of software products we needed

+How our production protocol worked
+How much time was needed for a project cycle

+How to manage taxes and contracts
+How to schedule many many moving parts
+How to conduct QC of our products

In the years that followed, we drafted best practice documentation, have worked with several clients, and share these experiences with industry leaders. We are still in the emerging stages in terms of breadth of our clients, AND we are very efficient and confident in the quality of our production and product.

Fast forward to 2024: TODAY I am in the middle of a book launch, which has brought a whole new set of skills and challenges! In just the last year, I have engaged in new activities including:

+ Bringing a book to fruition
+ Hiring a PR firm
+ Selecting print vendors
+ Working with ISBN and copyright
+ Thinking about branding and social media expansion
+ Figuring out how to do a book launch strategy, and more!

In everything, I draw on the principles of design, process, and products that I gained as a researcher and as a stage manager.

Stephanie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My current efforts are all around the launch of Disability Is Human, the book and Official Workbook, both due out in early September.

In Disability Is Human, I bring the same energy and insights from my popular presentations and workshops to nearly every industry — where I have empowered, encouraged, and supported thousands of people in their journey toward greater access.

With relatable stories, real-world examples, personal experiences, and actionable tips, Disability Is Human is a breakthrough book that:

+ Provides the key building blocks to tap the vital power of accessibility
+ Boosts your understanding of disability — including disabilities you can’t see or don’t notice
+ Explains “ableism,” how to identify it, and ways to address it to improve accessibility for everyone

www.DisabilityIsHuman.com has a ton more information and insights into this work and how it can benefit you and your organization.

But my work has a much longer history than that!

Accessibility has been my passion for over 2 decades.

Example projects and clients: https://www.stephaniecawthon.com/consulting

For example, I first got into the business of producing American Sign Language videos for standardized testing through my early days as a researcher while in graduate school and into my career. I now lead a team of deaf professionals who come together to work on various projects.

Problems solved:

+ The need for a *team* of deaf experts who can create high quality videos of test passages and items, with a full slate of experts in one place: Assessment design, ASL linguistics + script development, Project Management, Videography, Editing, ASL delivery, and content area knowledge.

+ The need for disability-centered research, writing, and evaluation. I lead teams to support grant proposal writing, project evaluation, and impact reports. This includes strategic planning, data collection, presentations, slide decks, written reports, and more.

+ The need for policy synthesis and action plans that integrate research findings, best practices, example scenarios, and training materials. This focuses on the needs of disabled people in both education and the workplace. This includes work across agencies at the national, state, and local level.

+ The need for board member or task force expertise on accessibility + opportunity for disabled people, particularly for deaf people. I sit on multiple standing committees as part of my service to the community.

These projects are high-touch, with extensive engagement from proposal development to project implementation.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Here are some strategies I use to maintain the high morale on our team:

+ I schedule projects with lots of lead time and buffers so we reduce stress and last minute issues.

+ We seek input and revise processes after each major launch to refine our protocol.

+ We have skill redundancy on our team, intentionally providing overlap to create a culture of support. This is also very helpful when life happens and someone has to drop off unexpectedly.

+ We use similar systems and protocols each time we do a project. The timelines are laid out, color coded responsibilities, and vendors.

+ We provide a lot of different food and drink options throughout the day, delivered on site during production times.

+ I provide bonuses in addition to high pay rates that recognizes the value each person brings to the team.

+ Our communications are a balance between all-group updates and individual strategy and conversations.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I use a wide variety of resources in thinking about how to build a book and a brand.

Here are a few:

+Write Your Best Selling Book: https://www.writeyourbestsellingbook.com
+Smart Gets Paid with Leah Neaderthal: https://www.smartgetspaid.com
+Atomic Habits book with James Clear: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
+Anything with Simon Sinek: https://simonsinek.com
+Anything with Brene Brown: https://brenebrown.com
+Anything with Luvvie Ajai Jones: https://luvvie.org

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stephaniecawthon.com
• Instagram: @drstephaniecawthon
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-cawthon/
• Twitter: @swcawthon
• Youtube: @StephanieCawthon
• Other: www.DisabilityIsHuman.com

  New Book Coming Soon!