A personal fight for disability access: ODA director nominated for advocacy award
Fighting for disability access isn’t just Brandie Wiley’s job... It’s her life.
Wiley is the director of the Office of Disability Access at UNT Health Fort Worth. She manages student disability accommodations and institutional ADA/Section 504 compliance, leading systemic improvements in disability services infrastructure, policies and campus-wide training initiatives.
But it’s her lived experience as an adoptive parent of three children with disabilities and her day-to-day efforts pushing the Fort Worth community to be more inclusive that makes Wiley such a fierce advocate to have in your corner should you need accommodations as a student at UNT Health.
“My children completely changed my life trajectory,” she said. “When I became a mother to children with disabilities, I was exposed to so many things that were wrong, so I learned how to advocate. I learned to take action. To speak up for those who can’t.”
Wiley was recently nominated for the City of Fort Worth’s Danny Scarth Trailblazer Award. This award recognizes leadership and advocacy that raise awareness of living a life of value with a disability and make lasting contributions that expand opportunities and improve quality of life for persons with disabilities in Fort Worth.
“To be considered for something that reflects the work I care about most — accessibility, inclusion, and dignity — is truly humbling,” Wiley said. “I have been so inspired by the stories of previous winners and that's why I feel so humbled that my name would even be mentioned as a contender for this award!”
While Wiley’s commitment to this cause is demonstrated through her work at UNT Health, she was nominated for the award based solely on the work she does outside of her day job.
For example, she
- Authored two books focused on disability-related topics
- Served as chair for the Fort Worth Mayor’s Committee on Persons with Disabilities for six years and served another two years as a committee member
- Is a charter member of the Eagle Mountain–Saginaw Special Education Advisory Board
- Is a frequent community presenter to families and professionals on disability access, advocacy and inclusive practices
- Advocated and collaborated with MHMR of Tarrant County to influence improvements in crisis response
- Is a former board member of The Arc of Tarrant County, a nonprofit providing advocacy and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the DFW Metroplex
- Is the founding advisor for DREAM (Disability, Rights, Education, and Advocacy in Medicine), a UNT Health student organization dedicated to advancing disability advocacy and inclusion in medical education
- Has been recognized for bridging higher education, community systems, and family-centered advocacy to create meaningful, lasting change
Wiley sees her advocacy efforts as the natural extension of her care for her kids. “I have taken the experience of my home life and tried to change not just the reality for my children, but for the entire community, the entire country,” she said.
As someone who has learned to take action, Wiley is motivated to make lasting change
because of her concern for the next person to walk her path.
“How do we make sure what just happened to me and my child does not happen to the next person — someone who will not pick up the phone and who won’t report what they’re experiencing?”
Modest and grounded, Wiley doesn’t see herself as someone deserving of recognition. She says that she’s just doing what anyone in her shoes would do. And she recognizes how much more work is left to be done, which is why we need more advocates for disability access.
“It goes beyond allyship to being an active advocate, fighting for a better, more inclusive world,” she said.
As far as her award nomination, Wiley just hopes more individuals will be inspired to become active advocates. “Advocacy is never a solo effort. It is collective, persistent and deeply personal.”
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The goal of the Office of Disability Access is to remove all barriers for students, while maintaining the integrity, technical standards, and accessibility of each academic program. If you’re a UNT Health student dealing with a disability-related barrier to success, please reach out to oda@unthealth.edu or visit unthealth.edu/oda to schedule an appointment.