In this episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia, host Alycia Anderson interviews Treasa Praino, a legally blind disability advocate, university instructor, and human‑rights specialist completing her PhD at Syracuse University. They explore her journey from facing early discrimination to shaping inclusion through her work in federal probation, education inequities, and transformative projects in South Africa. Treasa emphasizes presuming competence, valuing interdependence over independence, and recognizing how cultural contexts redefine disability. ‘Don’t be afraid, be curious…’ she urges.

In this episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia, Treasa Praino—legally blind, a disability advocate, instructor, and human-rights specialist—reflects on how disability is shaped by context. She contrasts her experience navigating New York City, where accessibility is taken for granted, with life in New Jersey, where lack of infrastructure amplifies disablement. Treasa underscores that interdependence and presuming competence are essential, and that disability doesn’t define a person—it’s shaped by time, place, and society.

In Episode 102 of Pushing Forward with Alycia, host Alycia Anderson welcomes Cecilia Elizalde, a former TV producer turned disability‑inclusion advocate after her daughter Valentina’s Down syndrome diagnosis. Cecilia discusses her work with Best Buddies International and the launch of Eunie’s Buddies—a program offering support and mentorship to families receiving an intellectual or developmental disability diagnosis. They explore compassionate diagnoses, the ripple effect of inclusion, caregiver self‑care, and navigating this journey with community and grace.

In Episode 102, Alycia Anderson hosts Cecilia Elizalde—TV producer turned disability‑inclusion advocate after her daughter’s Down syndrome diagnosis. As Senior Director of Eunie’s Buddies at Best Buddies International, Cecilia shares her journey from representation campaigns to launching this family‑support program. She unpacks the importance of compassionate diagnoses, one‑on‑one mentorship, caregiver self‑care, and tailored resources—creating community and empowerment for newly diagnosed families at every life stage.

Actor, model, and disability-fashion advocate Miracle Pelayo joins Alycia Anderson to recount her extraordinary journey from 23-week preemie to entertainment trailblazer. Pelayo shares how surviving cerebral palsy fueled her breakthrough roles, including voicing the first American Girl doll with CP, and how she uses style to empower “wheelchair baddies.” Tune in for candid insights on resilience, representation, and rewriting Hollywood’s narrative while offering hope to families worldwide and allies.

Born at 23 weeks with a 5 % survival chance, Miracle Pelayo defied the odds to blaze a new path in Hollywood.
Alycia Anderson
In this candid conversation with Alycia Anderson, she reveals how modeling adaptive fashion and voicing the first American Girl doll with cerebral palsy fuel her mission to “make CP beautiful.” Pelayo calls out casting barriers—only 4 % of on-screen talent has disabilities—and urges relentless visibility to spark change for future storytellers.

From a single USB mic on their kitchen table to a global platform, Alycia and Marty Anderson’s “Pushing Forward with Alycia” podcast rolls into triple digits with Episode 100. Launched June 29 2023, the weekly show now spans 45-plus hours, 80 diverse guests, and listeners in over 70 countries. This celebratory episode spotlights disability pride, community, and the unstoppable momentum that has transformed Thursday conversations into a movement for inclusion and empowered storytelling.

Relive the landmark 100th episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia through this complete, searchable transcript. Follow host Alycia Anderson and producer-husband Marty as they reflect on two years, 80 guests, 45 hours of stories, and the global disability-pride movement their Thursday conversations inspired. Ideal for readers, researchers, and accessibility advocates seeking quotable insights on inclusion, resilience, and the future of empowered storytelling.