Alycia Anderson Blog

Breaking Barriers, Building Leaders: Meet OWN It! My newest keynote announced!


Published: Thursday August 28, 2025
Alycia Anderson, smiling in a wheelchair with arms raised, wearing a pink top and jeans. Text reads: “2025 Booking Specials Ends Sept. 15! Introducing my new speech: OWN It: Embrace, Elevate, & Empower.”

I’m thrilled to introduce my newest keynote, OWN It: Embrace, Elevate & Empower. This isn’t just a keynote — it’s a movement designed to transform how teams lead, connect, and thrive. Rooted in my own journey as a woman, wheelchair user, and advocate, OWN It is about breaking barriers and showing leaders and organizations how … read more… Breaking Barriers, Building Leaders: Meet OWN It! My newest keynote announced!

Episode 104 – A Champion’s Mindset | Roderick Sewell on Resilience and Success


Published: Thursday August 28, 2025
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In this inspiring episode of Pushing Forward with Alycia Anderson, Paralympian Roderick Sewell shares how resilience, determination, and a champion’s mindset shaped his journey to success. From overcoming obstacles to breaking barriers, Roderick’s story offers powerful lessons on perseverance and personal growth. Join Alycia as she explores what it takes to rise above challenges and embrace the mindset of a true champion.

Episode 104 Transcript


Published: Thursday August 28, 2025
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Read the full transcript of Pushing Forward with Alycia Anderson Episode 104 featuring Paralympian Roderick Sewell. In this candid conversation, Roderick shares how resilience, determination, and a champion’s mindset shaped his journey from overcoming obstacles to achieving success. Explore his powerful insights on perseverance, leadership, and growth, and discover why his story continues to inspire audiences around the world.

Episode 103 – The Contextuality of Disability | Treasa Praino’s Global Perspective


Published: Thursday August 21, 2025
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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.

Episode 103 Transcript


Published: Thursday August 21, 2025
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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.

Alycia Anderson Is Redefining What Inclusion Looks Like Across Stages, Boardrooms, and Global Workplaces


Published: Thursday August 14, 2025
Alt Text: Screenshot of an About Insider article titled “Alycia Anderson is Shining a Light on Diversity and Inclusion.” Below the headline is a photo of Alycia Anderson, a blonde woman in a black sleeveless top and green pants, smiling while seated in a white wheelchair in a bright studio.

Alycia Anderson is an everyday adventurer on wheels, TEDx motivational speaker, disability advocate, and unapologetic optimist is rewriting the script on what true inclusion means and how it’s lived out in practice. Recently featured by About Insider, Alycia is using her platform to inspire, educate, and equip leaders to embed disability, inclusion, and accessibility into … read more… Alycia Anderson Is Redefining What Inclusion Looks Like Across Stages, Boardrooms, and Global Workplaces

Episode 102 – Eunie’s Buddies is Empowering Parents and Caregivers of Down Syndrome Children


Published: Thursday August 14, 2025
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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.

Episode 102 Transcript


Published: Thursday August 14, 2025
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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.

Disability Inclusion isn’t a check‑the‑box exercise – It’s expertise


Published: Wednesday August 13, 2025
Image Description: A woman in a wheelchair wearing a bright pink top and jeans gestures with one hand, appearing confident and approachable. Bold text on the left reads: "Disability inclusion isn’t a check‑the‑box exercise, t’s expertise." The background is dark green with white and pink lettering, and the website www.alyciaanderson.com and Instagram handle @alyciaspeaking are displayed.

Way too often, disability inclusion is treated as a task, a policy update, a one‑off training, or a statement.But real inclusion isn’t something you cross off a list and move on.It takes expertise:– Lived experience to guide decisions– Informed strategies to build belonging– Accessibility knowledge to design environments everyone can use– Workplace disability expertise to … read more… Disability Inclusion isn’t a check‑the‑box exercise – It’s expertise

Episode 101 – From Preemie to Pioneer: The Miracle Pelayo Interview


Published: Thursday August 7, 2025
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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.