Breaking Down Barriers: Attitude, accessibility and support pivotal to success

With assistive devices, accessible classrooms, and supportive faculty and staff, Kehrig immersed herself in her undergraduate college experience. For example, she used both an FM unit and Bluetooth device connected to her phone to stream audio directly to her hearing aids.

“All my professors have always been very understanding,” she said, specifically noting Janell Townsend’s, Ph.D., professor, marketing, and chair, management and marketing department, and TJ Wharton’s, Ph.D., associate professor, operations management, efforts to check in with her often to ensure her classes and lectures were accessible.

“I haven't really ever had a situation where I was embarrassed to speak up,” Kehrig added.

This acceptance and support proved instrumental to Kehrig as she began OU’s online MBA.

Attending classes online presented Kehrig with new challenges. “After my first class, I just broke down,” she said. The lecture-based virtual class was difficult for Kehrig to hear clearly.

Drawing on her lifelong determination, Kehrig rallied herself and reached out to her advisers. “They immediately set me up with a translator, and it’s been a godsend,” she said.

On track to complete her MBA and graduate with honors this spring, Kehrig is reaping the benefits of her determination, education and experience with a promotion to Trade Show Manager at BNP Media and plans to branch into supply chain management.

Not one to shy away from talking about her disability, Kehrig said she plans to weave her story into conversations whenever she can because it could empower others with similar experiences.

“Maybe other people with disabilities will feel inspired,” she said. “There is no limit on what we achieve.”