Well-regarded for her contributions to the field, Ms. Cawthon was recognized as one of the 20 Most Captivating People in 2015 by the San Antonio Current, garnered the 40 Under 40 Award from the San Antonio Business Journal in 2013 and the Individual Advocacy Award from the San Antonio Independent Living Services in 2013. In 2021, she was inducted into Leadership San Antonio Class 46, a premier program for existing and emerging leaders in Bexar County and surrounding areas. How have you navigated disruptions in your industry to remain a top professional? I just put one foot in front of the other and keep asking questions. It involves the entire community. If I relied solely on my personal resources and connections, we wouldn’t get anywhere. It is really about building those connections and asking for help and support because doors open here and there outside the scope of anything I could do by myself. What are two key behaviors/personality traits that allow you to be effective in your role? My tenacity and open-mindedness. What is the most important issue/challenge you are dealing with in your industry? Funding is always the top challenge. Aside from that, it’s time, because we make more progress and do better work with one-on-one conversations than we do on platforms. It takes a lot to put together those one-on-one conversations when we find that people mostly don’t do what they need to do because they don’t know how. How do you feel your industry has changed/evolved? I think we are about to see more change moving forward than we have in the past. Our country has been a little bit slow to engage, involve and consider people with disabilities in the planning stages, how we put environments together and how we teach in schools. I have seen very little change over the last few years, but I think the change is coming and I am hopeful for that. What innovations or technologies do you feel will shape the future of your industry? Just because my field is so broad, I think new technologies help people with disabilities engage in the workforce. I think it would be great if we could figure out how to get AI to do ASL, like how Google Translate works, but we haven’t figured it out yet because it is a combination of hand motions, facial gestures and body language, and the technology is just not there yet. I also hope for better, cheaper and more efficient methods of transportation. Telemedicine also needs to catch up for people with disabilities. I know during the COVID-19 pandemic that became a prominent issue. I have really enjoyed seeing the development of online communications platforms like Zoom, though. The pandemic really made businesses have to focus on accessibility. There should be more accessibility from our digital platforms so that more people can benefit from the information that is available online. Fifth Edition Marquis Who’s Who INSIGHT 15 INSIGHT MARQUIS WHO′S WHO FIFTH EDITION
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