Wendy Tobias, EdD, CRC, LPCC
(415) 696-4604
Chief Accessibility and Inclusion Officer,
ADA Coordinator
Bio
Wendy Tobias, Ed.D., LPCC, CRC: In 2021, Dr. Wendy Tobias joined UCSF as Chief Accessibility and Inclusion Officer, an inaugural role for both UCSF and the entire UC system. She also serves as ADA Coordinator. As a member of the Office Diversity and Outreach, Wendy focuses on ensuring UCSF is an inclusive place for people with disabilities.
Wendy is responsible for developing and administering policies and practices to assure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act, Sections of 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to access and accommodations of persons with disabilities. Wendy works closely with the community with disabilities and other stakeholders at UCSF to identify and address barriers, design solutions, build awareness, and overall, make UCSF a desirable employer and destination for persons with disabilities. Her work encompasses Campus, UCSF Medical Center, and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital.
Before coming to UCSF, Wendy served as Director of SF State University's Disability Programs & Resource Center, where she led campus efforts to ensure access, social justice, and equity for people with disabilities. Previously she was a Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the State of California, where she assisted individuals with disabilities from a wide spectrum of backgrounds and oversaw plans for educational training to obtain and maintain employment. She also served as an adjunct faculty member in SF State's Graduate School of Counseling.
Wendy is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership, an M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling, and a B.A. in Psychology from SF State. She also holds a certification in Rehabilitation Counseling. She is a proactive leader and is passionate about ensuring collaboration across UCSF to remove the physical, technological, and attitudinal barriers and share vision of an accessible and inclusive environment for all.
Cecile Puretz
(415) 806-7391
Assistant Director,
Disability Access and Inclusion
Bio
Cecile Puretz (she/her) joined UCSF in 2022 and serves as the Assistant Director of Disability Access and Inclusion in the UCSF Office of Diversity and Outreach (ODO). In this role, Cecile coordinates the Disability Resource Center (DRC), a dedicated space for disabled students, staff, faculty, and their allies to build community and explore disability identity, culture, and pride. Cecile is also responsible for providing consultations, trainings, and resources to UCSF constituents around developing accessible in-person, remote, and hybrid events. Cecile works closely with UCSF campus and health partners to develop disability cultural events and programs that focus on intersectional disability identities, health equity, and disability pride.
Prior to joining UCSF, Cecile founded Access and Community Engagement programs at The Contemporary Jewish Museum, where she managed museum-wide efforts to ensure access and equity for audiences with disabilities, as well as community-based partnerships and outreach strategies.
Cecile is the co-founder of the Bay Area Arts Access Collective (BAAAC), a professional network aimed at increasing accessibility in arts and cultural organizations for people with disabilities. She has served as a consultant for community organizations and City agencies including the SF Department on Disability and Aging Services (DAS) and the SF Mayor's Office on Disability (MOD). Cecile has presented nationally and internationally on best practices for advancing disability access and inclusion in the arts and public health. Her work in accessibility has been recognized by awards by the World Institute on Disability (WID) and Support for Families of Children with Disabilities. She holds B.A. in Community Studies from University of California, Santa Cruz, and an M.A. in Education from Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.