Meet Shanna Chevalier, TDOT Statewide ADA Technical Specialist and U.S. Army Veteran
In a world where Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards continue to evolve in both the physical and digital environments, ongoing education, teamwork, and proactive planning will become increasingly essential.
Shanna Chevalier, TDOT Statewide ADA Technical Specialist, is at the center of TDOT's compliance efforts, collaborating with teams across the department and throughout the state to support accessibility across transportation facilities, sidewalks, programs, services, and digital content.
Needless to say, her role is complex and challenging for a variety of reasons - some of which may surprise you.
Some people might not know TDOT has a dedicated statewide ADA Title II and Section 504 compliance program. Shanna said that most people are even surprised to learn that we do, but the reality is that accessibility needs a focused effort, driven by someone like Shanna, to ensure success.
“Accessibility does not happen by accident,” Shanna said. “It requires planning, collaboration, and problem-solving behind the scenes to help ensure people can access transportation facilities, information, programs, and services. Many people think ADA is all about ramps and parking spaces, but accessibility is often found in the details. It can be a curb ramp connecting to a sidewalk, a pedestrian push-button placed within reach, captions on a training video, or a website that works with assistive technology.”
With nearly one in three Tennessee adults living with a disability, accessibility is an important part of how we serve the public and help ensure everyone can access the transportation system safely and independently.
One of Shanna’s key priorities is helping to ensure accessibility is considered early, consistently, and practically in TDOT’s work.
“This includes collaborating with internal teams, local agencies, consultants, and federal partners to provide guidance, support compliance efforts, address questions, and identify solutions that improve access for all Tennesseans,” Shanna said. “One of the things I enjoy most is that accessibility touches nearly every part of TDOT. It allows me to work with a wide range of people and disciplines to solve problems, strengthen processes, and support meaningful improvements that help make Tennessee’s transportation system more accessible, inclusive, and usable for everyone.”
Shanna said her experience as a Soldier in the U.S. Army helped prepare her for her role today as our ADA Coordinator.
“One of the most meaningful experiences of my military career was serving with the Wounded Warrior Battalion at Fort Campbell, helping Soldiers recovering from injuries and illnesses transition to the next chapter of their lives,” she said. “Combined with more than 10 years of supporting Equal Opportunity programs, those experiences taught me the importance of removing barriers and creating opportunities for everyone to succeed. I learned that barriers often say more about our environment than they do about a person's ability. While my role has changed from military service to public service, the mission remains the same: helping people and improving lives.”
Her mission of helping people and improving lives doesn’t come without its challenges.
Suhad Alzubaidi, Production Program Support Team Lead, and Shanna’s supervisor, has seen firsthand how Shanna navigates the ADA compliance world – with passion, professionalism and commitment.
”As TDOT’s ADA Coordinator, Shanna plays an important role in helping ensure accessibility and inclusion across the department’s programs and services,” Suhad said. “Her dedication to serving others, attention to detail, and collaborative approach have made a positive impact on both employees and the communities TDOT serves.”
One thing for us all to keep in mind: compliance is a joint responsibility. We all play a role.
“The biggest thing people can do is think about accessibility from the beginning,” Shanna said. Whether you are designing a project, creating a document, publishing online content, or planning a public meeting, considering accessibility early leads to better outcomes for everyone.
“Accessibility is not just an ADA issue. It is part of how we plan, design, communicate, and serve the public. Every employee has an opportunity to help improve access. If you are unsure about a requirement or have a question, ask.”
- Shanna
Looking at how she approaches her responsibilities as our ADA Coordinator, Shanna said she keeps a quote from the Disney movie Meet the Robinsons top of mind: “See a need, fill a need.”
“Many of the accessibility features we use every day exist because someone recognized a barrier and decided to create a solution,” she said. “In many ways, that is what accessibility is all about. It starts with recognizing a need and taking action to make things better for the people we serve.”
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