Mary Reaves

Mary Reaves

As the Director of Community Access, Mary ensures that buildings, programs, organizations, community spaces, and more are ready and willing to provide access to all members of their community, including those with disabilities. Mary has worked in the accessibility space for almost 20 years and she is passionate about accessibility as it is the pathway to true inclusion and belonging.

Mary Reaves is a Rehabilitation Counselor by training who worked in Deaf Mental Health for nearly 10 years before co-founding Beginnings SC. She spent more than ten years with Beginnings SC building and managing programs that include parent counseling, services for child care providers, advocacy and policy, training and technical assistance, and awareness and education to support the families and professionals who serve deaf and hard of hearing children. She received her Bachelor's in Psychology from USC and later a Master's in Rehabilitation Counseling from the USC School of Medicine in 2009 with a Certificate in Deaf Studies and, through this program, learned American Sign Language. Mary received a Certificate in Special Education Advocacy from William & Mary Law School in 2021 and has gone on to support families (including her own) as they navigate the educational needs of children with disabilities.

Mary has served on the board of directors for community organizations, including Girls Rock Columbia, and is currently board secretary for The Hive Community Circle and DEIA Co-Chair for the Blue Ridge Institute Board of Directors. Mary's goal is to help remove the barriers put into place when access is not provided. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Larry, and together they have 3 children and 1 fur babies. When she isn't working, she enjoys making cool stuff, baking, reading, learning new things, and naps, on the rare occasion, she can get one.