Cathie Axe is the Executive Director of Johns Hopkins’ Student Disability Services (SDS) university-wide. Her role was created in 2019 to bring disability services across the schools and campuses into one consistent, efficient and inclusive system. From developing a collective mission to centralizing services to increasing accessibility and reducing ableism, her work involves collaborations and partnerships with students, faculty, staff and community members.
With over 30 years of higher education experience, 27 of those years managing disability services at a variety of institutions, Cathie has had the opportunity to engage in the evolution of services and perspectives around disability. Initially identifying as an ally with family members on the spectrum and hearing loss, she quickly learned that her migraines qualified as a disability and could be accommodated. She also came to understand her protected status under the ADA as a person in recovery from addiction, and actively began sharing this in her work in roles that included providing accommodations for students in recovery along with being the drug and alcohol counselor as well as running support groups for students in recovery.
Cathie earned her Master’s degree in Counseling and Development in Higher Education at George Mason University, where she also got her start in disability services. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Brown University in Business Economics where she worked in her most recent role as Associate Dean and Director of Accessibility Services. Over her sixteen years at Brown she developed disability services from a one-person office to a robust and progressive team of staff, campus partners and engaged students. Her work in disability services has spanned a variety of institutions including Northern Virginia Community College and American University, where served as an LD/ADHD specialist. She enjoys working with students on the spectrum, mentoring students, running groups and facilitating workplace experiences.