Hi, I’m Sara Huehls.
My journey into accessibility consulting didn't begin with a textbook or a compliance manual — it began with real life.
As a person who is neurodivergent and lives with both apparent and non-apparent disability, I experience the realities of accessibility every single day. That experience started early. As an adolescent, I navigated a rare disease that shaped how I understood my body and what it means to need accommodation before you have the words to ask for it. Today, I continue to manage chronic illness and mental health as a working mom — with access needs that shift, aren't always visible, and don't pause for event day.
I saw the gap up close, as both an attendee and a volunteer. Venues that no one had walked through with a critical eye. Registration processes with no way for people with disabilities to request accommodations. Staff who wanted to help but didn't know how. People with disabilities quietly having a worse experience than everyone around them — or not coming back at all. The problem usually wasn't bad intentions. It was nobody in the room knowing what to look for.
I knew what to look for. So I started Rooted Inclusion.
I'm currently pursuing the CPACC certification through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) and working toward Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE) certification through Disability:IN — both formal recognitions of what has always been true of this work. What I bring goes beyond credentials: lived experience navigating the world as a person with disability, a practitioner's eye for what actually creates barriers, and genuine investment in getting this right for the people who need it most.
Bridging the Gap in the Spaces We Love
I am an avid attendee of fan conventions, community festivals, and local cultural events. These vibrant, creative spaces naturally attract an incredibly diverse, highly neurodivergent, and passionate community of attendees. Yet, I have witnessed firsthand how often these events fall short when it comes to true inclusion.
From corporate leadership to grassroots impact
My professional background blends high-level project strategy with hands-on advocacy. In my everyday career, I work with technology and automation initiatives, which requires a strong focus on structure and clear planning.
But some of the most meaningful work I do happens through leading Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and supporting workplace accessibility initiatives. Collaborative efforts like these have shown me how to look past surface-level "checkbox" exercises and focus on lasting, practical changes. I am really looking forward to taking what I’ve learned about team training, environment reviews, and actionable frameworks, and open-sourcing that toolkit for the community spaces I care about most.
Cultivating change in my hometown
Indianapolis is a city that loves to gather. From local festivals to weekend conventions, we have an incredible community here. However, I noticed a real gap in our hometown: there isn't a local consulting practice focused on helping small-to-mid-sized events navigate accessibility holistically, especially when it comes to neurodivergence and non-apparent disabilities.
That is why I started Rooted Inclusion, LLC. I want to help our local event organizers feel confident and equipped to welcome everyone. By working together, we can make Indianapolis a wonderful example of what truly accessible community gatherings look like—where every single person feels genuinely welcome from the moment they sign up to the final day-of wrap-up.
