James Leo Hemauer, 67, passed away on June 17, 2021. In 1970 Jim sustained a severe spinal cord injury in a swimming accident which left him paralyzed and a quadriplegic. He earned a degree in social work at UW Oshkosh then moved to Tempe, Arizona, to attend ASU where, in 1982 he earned his Master's Degree in Counseling with an emphasis on higher education and disabilities. After graduate school, he took a position at the University of Arkansas where he developed a program to assist students with disabilities. As a consultant to many community and state agencies regarding disability law, Jim contributed research for a publication entitled, "Campus Access for the Learning Disabled."

With a job offer at ASU in 1985, Jim returned to his alma mater. His work there was to ensure that all students with physical disabilities had equal access to classroom materials and that all campus buildings met the legal requirements for accessibility. After serving ASU for 25 years, Jim retired in 2010 as the Associate Director of the Disability Resource Center (now known as Student Accessibility and Inclusive Learning Services).

Jim was a member of various committees throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area that dealt with accessibility including working as a consultant with the NFL for Super Bowl XXX and also with the Grand Canyon National Park in creating accessible facilities. He was a frequent guest lecturer in many college courses at ASU and a guest speaker at many 6-12 schools throughout the Phoenix area.

Jim is survived by seven siblings, nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister. A memorial mass was held on  June 26, 2021 at Shepherd of the Hills Parish, W1562 Co Rd B, Eden, WI 53019. Jim will be laid to rest at St. John the Baptist Cemetery in Plymouth, WI. Memorials are suggested in Jim's name which will be used to establish a scholarship for students at Plymouth High School. (Source: ASU Foundation)