Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has announced Saron McKee as its first Manager of Access and Accessible Programs. McKee joins the Airport from the Mayor’s Office where she served as Director of ADA Compliance from November 2018 until she arrived at PHL in January.
“The Manager of Access and Accessible Programs is a new role at PHL and we are excited to welcome Saron to our team,” said Airport CEO Chellie Cameron. “Our airport has a diverse population both in terms of employees and record numbers of passengers. It is important that all our facilities and services are accessible to everyone. Having a team member with Saron’s expertise and experience in the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA-related matters will enhance our efforts in ensuring our accessibility.”
“I am excited to join my exceptional peers at PHL to make ours one of the most accessible airports in the world for people with disabilities,” said McKee. “My aim is to develop programs that facilitate a wonderful guest experience for all travelers and ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to programs, services and activities at the airport.”
At the Mayor’s Office, McKee, who holds a Reasonable Accommodation Specialist Certification, created and implemented policies required under the ADA, trained a team of 150 City ADA Liaisons to ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities can participate in City programs, services and activities, advised on compliance agreements and complaints against the City, tracked and resolved modification requests and grievances according to policy, and provided technical assistance on Title II of the ADA, Second 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and other laws that are relevant to nondiscrimination of people with disabilities.
Prior to relocating to Philadelphia, McKee spent 10 years working in the Office of the General Counsel of the Seattle Housing Authority as ADA/504 Coordinator. There, she created a foundation for success by moving the agency into full compliance with Title II of the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and was recognized for building a large ADA program. She also researched and implemented best practices for creating accessible built environments, ensured structural accessibility by completing regular accessibility surveys and reviews in the field, and provided training and guidance on the rights of persons with disabilities and the housing providers’ responsibilities pertaining to disability laws and regulations.
Before joining the Seattle Housing Authority, McKee was the Americans with Disabilities Act Training and Information Specialist for the National ADA Network Region 10 where her primary focus was on ADA training and assisting employers with reasonable accommodations and providing information about structural access and barrier removal. Prior to that, McKee spent 8 years with the VSA arts of Washington where among various ADA-related duties she provided team-oriented inclusive art opportunities for all ages and abilities in addition to trainings, classes and accessible art classes.
McKee holds a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Western Washington University and an Associate’s degree in Psychology from Seattle Central Community College.