SJ Wilkes Group Advocacy Services

SJ Wilkes Group empowers people with disabilities through professional advocacy, disability etiquette training, accessibility awareness, community education, and policy-focused support.

We help individuals, families, caregivers, and businesses build communities where every person rolls with dignity, safety, and equal access. 

At SJ Wilkes Group, we believe advocacy is more than a service — it’s a responsibility. With over 30 years of lived and professional experience, Sharonda Johnson-Wilkes combines leadership, disability expertise, and community empowerment to ensure people with disabilities receive the support, dignity, safety, and accessibility they deserve.

We stand on one foundation:
“No one with a physical disability — especially those 100% dependent on a wheelchair for mobility — should be homeless, unseen, or unprotected in DC or its surrounding states.”

Our advocacy work focuses on educating communities, supporting families, holding systems accountable, and building accessible environments that promote independence and quality of life.

Professional workshops that teach:

• How to respectfully engage with people with disabilities
   
• Everyday do’s and don’ts
   
• Communication etiquette
   
• Inclusive body language
   
• Avoiding ableist language and behaviors
   
• Creating safe, respectful work and public environments
   

Our services are provided to:

• Businesses
   
• Schools & universities
   
• Healthcare providers
   
• Real estate offices
   
• Government agencies, and
   
• Community organizations

Comprehensive education sessions covering:

• Understanding different disabilities
   
• Invisible vs. visible disabilities
   
• Ableism and systemic barriers
   
• What accessibility really looks like
   
• Emergency preparedness for people with disabilities
   
• Housing inequality & accessible housing needs
   

These sessions are interactive, powerful, and designed to reshape how communities understand disability.

Support for individuals navigating challenges such as:

• Accessible housing issues
   
• Caregiver conflict or neglect
   
• Discrimination or ableism
   
• School or employer accommodations
   
• Social Security concerns
   
• Transition planning
   
• Legal resource navigation
   
• Crisis support
   

We advocate with a fierce but compassionate approach.

Training and support for:

• Home healthcare providers
   
• Caregiver teams
   
• Nonprofits serving people with disabilities
   
• Group homes
   
• Transportation companies
   

Includes:

• Quality-of-care evaluations
   
• Emergency response guidance
   
• Safe lifting & transportation guidance
   
• Cultural sensitivity
   
• Professional appearance & conduct standards

We provide high-impact advocacy in:

• Disability policy
   
• Housing equity
   
• Healthcare access
   
• Caregiver protections
   
• Legislative change
   
• Public safety & crisis response for wheelchair users 

We attend meetings, speak at hearings, and advise agencies on real-world disability barriers.

A signature area of SJ Wilkes expertise services include:

• Helping individuals transition into safe, accessible housing
   
• Educating property managers and landlords
   
• Identifying ADA concerns
   
• Policy recommendations
   
• Site assessments
   
• Speaking out about housing discrimination and negligence