ODA Staff
Ron Venable
Ron Venable is the Director of the Office of Disability Accommodation. His career working with students with disabilities began with the Texas Rehabilitation Commission (now known as the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services) as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. In this position, he provided transition counseling for people with disabilities, job placement and eligibility determination for services. Ron's caseload at DARS was primarily comprised of college students from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) and the Tarrant County College District. He gained experience working with a wide range of physical disabilities but the majority of his work was with Learning Disabilities, and Attention Deficit Disorder.
After DARS, Ron was the Assistant Director of the Office for Students with Disabilities at UT Arlington. There, he worked with students and faculty to determine appropriate accommodations in the classroom for three years before coming to UNT. This work continues at UNT with an expanded administrative role. Ron received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Baylor University in 1995 and a Masters Degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1999.
Ron became the Director of the Office of Disability Accommodation in July 2004.
Matthieu De Wein
Matthieu joined the UNT/ODA team in the spring of 2011. Beginning his career in 1989, Matthieu has provided services to a variety of people including children who have suffered emotional trauma, court adjudicated youth and individuals of all ages with developmental disabilities, mental health issues and learning disorders. Matthieu has served in a variety of settings including a volunteer crisis counseling center, private educational and treatment centers, local school districts and state agencies. Matthieu's educational background includes bachelor's degrees in psychology, and, human development and family life (1990), an M.A. in human development (1997) and a Ph.D. in behavioral psychology (2009). All degrees conferred by the University of Kansas. Matthieu was confirmed as an adjunct assistant research professor in the department of Applied Behavioral Science at the University of Kansas in February, 2011. Matthieu tells us that he is excited to be part of our community and looks forward to assisting students with the accommodation process here at UNT.
Randi Johnson
Randalynn (Randi) Johnson is the Student Services Coordinator/Deaf Services Counselor for the Office of Disability Accommodation. She began working in the area of Deaf services at the Deaf Action Center in Dallas, Texas, first as Employment Specialist then as Interpreter Coordinator. As Employment Specialist, she assisted clients in the Deaf Community in finding employment, providing interpreting services for job interviews and through the hiring process. She has been employed at the University of North Texas since 2001 as a full time Sign Language Interpreter, providing communication access to students who are Deaf or have hearing impairments. She was promoted to Student Services Coordinator in 2005. Randi graduated in 1997 from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resources Counseling and Services to the Deaf with a Minor in Interpreting.
Rebecca Cagle
Rebecca Cagle is the Testing, Text Conversion and Technology Coordinator for the ODA. She has over 12 years of experience working in these areas in postsecondary disability accommodations. She is a graduate of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Rehabilitation Science Program and a current graduate student in assistive technology and human services at California State University at Northridge. Rebecca has taught students with learning disabilities in high school and also holds a certificate in Life Care Planning. She is a member of the Denton Mayors Committee for the Employment of People with Disabilities, DCTA advisory committee, North Texas Area Rehabilitation Association, Denton County MRC (Health Emergency Alert Response Team), AHEAD (Association for Higher Education for people with Disabilities), UNT orientation advisory committee and the UNT safety committee. Rebecca enjoys kayaking, organic vegetable gardening and playing Frisbee with her dog.
Valerie Thornton
Valerie is a full-time Sign Language Interpreter for the Office of Disability Accommodation. Her educational background includes a B.S. in Communication and an A.A. in Interpreting. She was certified by the Texas Board for Evaluation of Interpreters in 2008. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree. Her involvement on campus includes a seat on the UNT Staff Council and the UNT Allies.
John Johnson
John Johnson joined the Office of Disability Accommodation in August 2009 as the Testing Coordinator. He graduated with a BA in Behavioral Science from Cal Poly Pomona University and shortly afterward relocated to North Texas. He has over 10 years of work experience split between community mental health and higher education. He holds a Licensed Bachelor of Social Work in the State of Texas, and is completing his final credit hours for a Master’s of Education in Counselor Education from UNT. John has served in many volunteer positions over the years, and is currently an active member in a few professional counseling associations as well as a volunteer in reserve with the American Red Cross Chisholm Trail Chapter.
Rebecca French
Rebecca French is the Administrative Specialist for the Office of Disability Accommodation. Rebecca has a wealth of experience in office management, having 12 years of service at the university and 14 years in the banking industry. In 2008 Rebecca was awarded as the Administrative Professional of the Year for the Division of Student Affairs and currently serves on the Staff Development Committee. A native of Denton, Rebecca resides near UNT with her husband and their daughter who is a freshman at UNT.