MAY 18, 2020 — Alumna Emma Faye Rudkin ’18 is helping the hearing-impaired individuals on a larger scale.
Gov. Greg Abbott has reappointed Rudkin, who is the founder and CEO of Aid the Silent, for a second term to the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities. Rudkin is one of 12 people appointed to the committee this year and will serve until her term expires in February 2021.
“This is personal to serve because, as a deaf individual with a service dog, I go through many of the experiences brought to the attention of the committee. I service clients through Aid the Silent who need equal access that is greatly connected to the policy and the recommendations we make,” Rudkin said.
“My firsthand experience adds to the committee. I hope to lessen the barriers between people with disabilities so that they can have equal access to everything else that their peers are able to have the opportunity to.”
With this role, Rudkin said she represents the voice of the overall struggles for the deaf community in Texas.
“Our committee makes recommendations that impact every aspect of the quality of life for people with disabilities,” she said. “The 12 appointed members make sure we are facilitating between the respective state agencies and the public testimonies representing real injustices to the community that has disabilities, and then we put together a report to Governor Abbott.”
Some issues Rudkin hopes to address with her role include the inadequate mandated amount of accessible vans available to people who need wheelchair transportation through ride shares as well as the limited access children who are deaf have to technology for interpreters and captioning during the coronavirus pandemic.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
Join the doctoral candidates for the Doctoral Conferreal Ceremony and celebrate their accomplishments.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusCelebrate the graduates from the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, College of Education and Human Development, Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design and University College.
AlamodomeCelebrate the graduates from the College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and College of Sciences.
AlamodomeThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
