Helyn Lynae Marshall [In memoriam – August 24, 1975 — September 26, 2023]
Helyn grew up in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of disabled, self-employed artists. This origin point afforded her an intimate experience of the arts and disability and is the foundation of her ethos. Helyn believes the arts are not a luxury, but a necessity and the ability to enjoy and participate in the arts is a human right.
As the Wex’s first Accessibility Manager and lead Digital Accessibility Coordinator, Helyn works across departments of the center to inform, support, and increase accessibility at every level: physical, digital, and programmatic content. She moves the Wex forward by understanding OSU’s current accessibility policies, providing insight to all departments, connecting to accessibility service providers and other resources including training, creating guides and formats for institutional practice, working with the administration on adapting procedures and refining Wex policies, developing best practices with internal and external partners, and attending and participating in conferences in this emerging field.
Helyn’s goal is to remove all barriers to participation in the arts at the Wex, to foster belonging and agency, and maintain a warm, kind, and flexible place where we can feel the fullness of our humanity together through art.
