The Ableism Audit: What Can You Do?
Abstract:
The Ableism Audit, developed by the National Athletic Trainers' Association in collaboration with the DEIA Council, provides a valuable framework for athletic trainers to evaluate the inclusivity of their professional environments. This audit process took inventory of the accessibility services that are currently provided to members and guests engaging in NATA events as well identified areas where services could be improved. This audit highlights key areas where ableism, or the discrimination and prejudice against individuals with disabilities, can unintentionally permeate workplaces, meetings and events. Using this tool a framework, athletic trainers can critically assess how accessible and welcoming their spaces are, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of ability, feel included and respected. The presentation will guide attendees through the audit process, identifying common barriers that individuals with disabilities may face in that wide range of athletic training settings.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify current barriers for individuals with disabilities in their setting.
- Explain what an ableism audit entails.
- Evaluate how accessible and welcoming their current athletic training settings are.
- Develop an audit process for their respective athletic training settings.
Level:
Advanced
Domain(s):
Domain 5: Health Care Administration and Professional Responsibility
Orthopedic Domain(s):
Domain 3: Professional Practice
Keywords:
Accessibility; Disability; Barriers
CEUs:
1.0 Category A
In order to earn your CEUs, you must watch the session video in its entirety, complete the assessment, and receive a certificate of completion. Your statement of credit, reflecting the total CEUs earned for on-demand sessions, will be uploaded to your NATA EducATe transcript in early November. The maximum CEUs to be awarded are: up to 20 CEUs for On-Demand Only Registrants; and up to 5 CEUs for In-Person Attendees (A statement of credit for 15 in-person CEUs will be issued separately.) CEUs will only be awarded for sessions that have a certificate of completion.
Course Expiration:
All sessions of the NATA 76th Symposia On-Demand must be completed by October 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. CDT.
For full details, refer to the expiration policy on our FAQ page.
Trevor M. Bates, DHSc, AT
Dr. Bates holds a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Millikin University, a Master of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a Doctorate in Health Sciences from AT Still University of Health Sciences. His most recent tenure in academia includes serving as President of Mercy College in Ohio, President of Wilmington College, as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty at Mercy College of Ohio, and as Founding Associate Dean of Health Sciences at Heidelberg University. Outside of higher education, Dr. Bates served as Executive Vice President of Strategy and Innovation for True Empowering LLC.
In addition to his professional achievements, Dr. Bates is actively engaged in various volunteer appointments in healthcare and has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the 2024 Outstanding Educator Award from the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association and the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - College of Applied Health Sciences. Dr. Bates is also currently the National Athletic Trainers' Association's DEIA Council Chair.
Tamesha Logan, MBA, CAE
Tamesha Logan is an accomplished leader with over 17 years of experience driving impact across national and global nonprofit organizations. Known for her strategic mindset and collaborative leadership, she has played a pivotal role in shaping and advancing organizational strategy, aligning departments to mission-critical goals, and strengthening stakeholder engagement at every level.
A trusted partner to boards and executive leadership, Tamesha has led enterprise-wide strategic planning initiatives—facilitating the development of measurable outcomes, operational alignment, and enhanced volunteer engagement. Her efforts have contributed to increased market opportunity, expanded partnerships, and meaningful improvements in organizational performance.
Over the past decade, she has also elevated brand value across multiple sectors through innovative marketing and communications. Her leadership has expanded visibility, deepened audience engagement, and opened new revenue pathways through multimedia advertising and national awareness campaigns, while garnering the support of high-profile philanthropists including Kobe Bryant, Ken Griffey Jr., and Mark Cuban. She has also cultivated partnerships with leading charitable organizations such as the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, underscoring her ability to connect vision to influence and impact.
Tamesha has led media strategies that resulted in billions of national impressions and coverage from top-tier outlets including ESPN’s Outside the Lines, Forbes, The New York Times, USA Today, HuffPost, and the Associated Press. These efforts not only increased public awareness but also spurred best practices and policy change in critical areas like sports safety.
“Integrity guides me, grace steadies me, and purpose drives me. That is my professional truth.” This philosophy has shaped every role Tamesha has held—and continues to guide her commitment to meaningful leadership and lasting impact.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Sam Houston State University, an MBA from Texas Southern University, and a certificate in Organizational Leadership from Harvard Business School Online. Tamesha is a 2024–2026 DELP Scholar and a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society of Association Executives. She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.