There are certain moments that feel like the culmination of dreams. Rolling onto the Netflix stage to speak during National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) was one of those moments for me. The weight of the opportunity, the excitement, and the possibility—it all felt a bit like the dream of a little girl who once imagined herself a movie star. But today, it wasn’t about fame; it was about sharing a message I’ve dedicated my life to, with the hope that it could open doors to even bigger conversations.
Hello, I’m Alycia Anderson—TEDx motivational speaker, podcast host, and CEO of The Alycia Anderson Company. I’ve spent years speaking about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA), advocating for the rights and visibility of people with disabilities in the workplace and beyond. I’ve had incredible opportunities, but this one—speaking at Netflix—was special.
Growing up, I dreamed of being in the spotlight, just like many kids. But as a girl born with a disability, the idea of seeing someone like me on screen felt far-fetched. The world wasn’t telling stories like mine. So, sitting at Netflix—a company that shapes the narratives that reach millions—felt like coming full circle. It stirred that childhood dream in me, though this time with a different focus. It wasn’t about being a movie star but about having the chance to push forward the representation of people with disabilities in media.
Yet, as I rolled onto that stage, I couldn’t help but dream again—this time of a story being told about a little girl in a wheelchair, who rolled her way onto the silver screen by growing up into a woman who speaks to the largest companies in the world, breaking down the barriers faced by people with disabilities in the workforces they employ.
Netflix is already leading the charge with projects like Crip Camp and Rising Phoenix, showing the world the rich and complex lives of people with disabilities. Being there, speaking in front of the very people who make those stories possible, carried a sense of pressure—but also immense possibility. I couldn’t help but wonder: Could my story one day be part of that tapestry? Could the experiences I’ve shared, the challenges I’ve overcome, find their way into the broader narrative of disability on screen?
It’s not something I roll into every room thinking about, but sitting at Netflix, it was hard to ignore. The power of storytelling is undeniable—it’s how we connect, how we learn, and how we change perceptions. I wanted my message to resonate, to show how important it is to include disabled voices, not just as token characters, but as central figures in the stories we tell.
The little girl who dreamed of seeing herself on screen was still there, but now, as a woman, my dream is bigger. I want to see all of us—people with disabilities—represented in the stories that shape culture. I want the world to see that our experiences are rich, nuanced, and worthy of the same attention and celebration as anyone else’s.
As I rolled off that stage at Netflix, I couldn’t help but think about the future. Maybe, just maybe, my story—or the stories of others like me—could one day grace the screen, shining a spotlight on the lived experiences of people with disabilities in a way that’s never been done before.
For now, I’m grateful for the chance to contribute to this conversation and honored to have had the opportunity to speak on such a powerful platform. Happy National Disability Employment Awareness Month! Let’s continue pushing forward, sharing our stories, and making space for a more inclusive world—on and off the screen.