KNOXVILLE — Stephanie Brewer Cook retired on June 30 after 29 years with the City of Knoxville and more than 30 years advocating for disability access and inclusion. She served as Knoxville’s ADA coordinator since 2012.

Cook first became involved in accessibility efforts through a mayor-appointed disability advisory council before joining the city as a staff member in 1998. During her tenure, she helped oversee improvements to city buildings, parks, public programs, and websites while working to expand awareness about accessibility issues.

"I think I always knew there was an advocate in me that had to do something to increase access and awareness," Cook said. She added, "There’s a spirit of the law and there’s the letter of the law and we’ve strived to meet that spirit more so than just the basic level of access."

She said she is most proud of the SAFE Team, or Securing Accessibility for Emergencies, formed after a fire at a high-rise apartment building revealed challenges evacuating residents who used mobility devices. The initiative led to the creation of an emergency equipment trailer stocked with wheelchairs, walkers, sensory kits, and other supplies for people with disabilities during disasters.

Cook also helped Knoxville become recognized as a World Health Organization Age-Friendly Network City in 2018.

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon praised Cook’s contributions, saying she helped make accessibility and universal design a standard part of city operations. "When you design things universally for people who have disabilities, you make it better for everyone, and that was something I learned from Stephanie Brewer Cook," Kincannon said.