Alycia Anderson, speaker and inclusion consultant, shares her life journey with Sacral Agenesis and how she transformed this experience into a mission of empowerment and innovation. With work that impacts companies and individuals around the world, Alycia advocates for genuine inclusion and the importance of representation for a more equal future. In an honest conversation, she reveals how her disability is a source of strength and how organizations can create more inclusive and transformative environments.
You were born with Sacral Agenesis, but you turned your experience into a mission of empowerment. What was the process like to see your disability not as a limitation, but as a source of strength and innovation?
You know, there’s this ongoing debate in the disability community about whether it’s ‘easier’ to be born with a disability or to acquire one later in life. Some say carrying over able-bodied confidence can provide a richer lived experience, while others argue that growing up with disability means you never had to navigate that painful transition. But honestly, for me, none of it happened overnight.
I was born with Sacral Agenesis, and I’ve been a wheelchair user since birth. But growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and even into the early 2000s, there were very few, if any, role models with disabilities that I could look up to. Visibility was minimal. So, in a lot of ways, I had to become the role model I needed.
Losing my mom to leukemia at a young age made things harder, but I was blessed with a twin sister, able-bodied, who’s been by my side every step of the way, and a father who balanced pure joy and belly laughs with a no-nonsense kind of guidance. He taught me early on that I’d need to learn how to do things on my own, and that foundation shaped me.
As the older twin, by just minutes, I’ve always felt this responsibility to lead, to explore, to live boldly and to protect my siblings. From pursuing my education, to building a career, traveling, relocating, and putting myself out there again and again, I’ve had to find my voice and use it. First to carve out space for myself in a world that often told me what I couldn’t do. And then, over time, that voice turned outward, into advocacy for the more than one billion people globally who live with a disability.
The shift came when I stopped trying to prove that I could fit into society’s mold, and instead started owning who I am. That’s when I discovered the recipe: own it, embrace it, elevate it and from that comes empowerment. That’s the message I’m bringing to stages now. My disability isn’t something I overcame, it’s a part of me. It’s the very lens through which I’ve found strength, innovation, and purpose.
Your work as a speaker and consultant has impacted companies and individuals around the world. What was the most memorable moment in your career when you felt you truly changed someone’s perspective on inclusion?
Honestly, the most memorable moments for me are the ones that happen after I roll off the stage.
It’s the people who come up to me, sometimes with tears in their eyes, sharing that they’ve been living in silence, hiding their disability out of fear. Fear of being judged, mistreated, or overlooked at work. Fear of what a label might cost them. Fear that speaking their truth might somehow make them less than in the eyes of their employer or peers. And then they say, “I’ve never shared this with anyone before.” That line never gets easier to hear, but I hear it a lot.
I’ve had young students come up to me and say, “Before hearing your talk, I was afraid to grow up with my disability.” And right there, that’s when I know I’ve changed a perspective. Not just on disability, but on identity, value, and potential.
These conversations fuel me. They’re the reason I do this work. Because when someone sees a part of themselves reflected in my story, it gives them permission to show up more fully on their own. That’s not just meaningful, it’s transformative.
What’s even more powerful is that these are the exact kinds of conversations that forward-thinking companies are craving. They’re striving for workplaces where authenticity is valued, where people are celebrated for their differences, not penalized. Where disability isn’t seen as a deficit, but as a driver of innovation and a reflection of the real, diverse world we live in.
The truth is, disability touches everyone. It transcends race, gender, culture, religion, you name it. Most people, at some point in their lives, will experience disability either directly or through someone they love. So disability inclusion isn’t just about “them,” it’s about all of us.
We are in a moment where humanity is asking bigger questions: How do we work with purpose? How do we lead with empathy? How do we honor our differences and use them as a bridge, not a barrier? And inclusion, especially disability inclusion, is one of the most powerful answers we have.
Your podcast, Pushing Forward with Alycia , you have already brought influential voices to discuss inclusion and empowerment. What motivates you most to create these dialogues and which episode had a special impact on you?
My podcast, “Pushing Forward with Alycia”, was born from both a want and a need. I felt a deep responsibility to bring disability into the conversation on a more regular basis, not just as a sidebar, but as a central, joyful, impactful part of the human experience. Pushing Forward with Alycia is my space to amplify stories, spotlight products and services that are truly serving our community, and just as importantly, to show the beautiful, full lives being lived with disability.
It’s been such a gift to open up my life to listeners, to share the highs, the hard truths, the funny moments, and the everyday reality, and honestly being in community has created strength in my own advocacy. Some of my favorite episodes are the ones where my husband Marty and I just sit down and talk. We reflect on our experiences, our love story, our travels, the moments that have stretched us and the ones that have brought us even closer. Those conversations are incredibly special to me because they’re raw and real, and they let people see disability from an intimate, everyday perspective, not as something to pity, but as something layered and beautiful.
That said, I get really energized when someone else who’s doing amazing work in the disability space joins me and shares their story. Whether it’s an advocate, a creator, an innovator, it always blows me away how many incredible voices are out there pushing forward and changing the world in their own ways. Influential people like Anthony Kennedy Shriver–founder of Best Buddies International, Kaylee Bays–the first wheelchair user to be on So You Think You Can Dance and Jonathan Goodwin–the world renown stunt performer from the UK.
As for a favorite episode? Honestly… it’s always the next one. I’m approaching my 100th episode, and each conversation feels like a new opportunity to grow, to challenge assumptions, and to connect deeper with the community and the world around us. That’s what keeps me going knowing that the next dialogue might be the one that changes someone’s perspective, makes them feel seen, or inspires them to push forward in their own way.
You’ve collaborated with giants like AT&T, Hyatt and Victoria’s Secret. What are the most common challenges companies face when trying to create a more inclusive environment, and how can they overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges I see across the board is getting the right blend of representation across marketing, employee pools, and the products and services they offer. Companies are waking up to the need for inclusion, but many still struggle with the how. It’s not just about checking boxes; it’s about deeply embedding disability inclusion into the culture and strategy of the organization.
A key area where many companies get stuck is encouraging Self-Identification inviting employees to share that they have a disability without fear of stigma, discrimination, or limitation. People are still afraid that being honest about their disability will negatively impact how they’re perceived or how far they can go in their career. That fear is real and companies must create an environment where employees feel not just safe, but empowered to bring their full selves to work.
Leadership training is another big one. You can’t build disability-inclusive teams without first educating your managers and executives on what true inclusion looks like across hiring, team-building, daily operations, universally accessible products and beyond. It’s about awareness and action. That’s why The Alycia Anderson Company has taken the time to develop an Embracing Disability Inclusive Leadership Training and Consulting Platform.
I’ve seen real success in companies that are leveraging their employee resource groups, business resource groups, and affinity groups to provide ongoing education and build strong internal communities. It’s also about reaching out to people who are living the experiences you’re trying to support by hiring people with disabilities, bringing them into leadership, and making sure they have seats at the decision-making tables.
Inclusion doesn’t happen by accident. It’s intentional, it’s ongoing, and when done right, it becomes part of the DNA of a company. The good news? Companies are ready for it. More and more, they’re recognizing that disability inclusion isn’t just good ethics, it’s smart business, and it’s the future of work.
Many people still see disability as a limiting factor. What would you like everyone to know about the real potential of people with disabilities in the job market and in society?
The real potential of people with disabilities in the job market hasn’t even come close to being fully realized. We’re talking about one of the most untapped, undervalued talent pools in the world. Right now, only about 20% of people with disabilities are employed or are willing to self-identify at work. That number alone tells us not about capability, but about the fear and stigma still attached to disability.
Disability is complex, varied, and yes it can be nuanced. That’s part of what makes disability inclusion one of the greatest challenges of our time. But it’s also what makes it one of the greatest opportunities. Our current workforces are trying to keep up with massive shifts in AI, evolving tech, and constantly changing consumer needs. And yet, we’re still leaving out nearly 1 in 6 people globally, more than 1.85 billion people with disabilities, who collectively hold over $13.5 trillion in annual buying power. If that’s not a reason to prioritize inclusion, I don’t know what is.
Inclusion of people with disabilities isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s a smart business move. And like with anything else, representation plays a huge role. The more people with disabilities are seen in leadership roles, in ads, in boardrooms, in classrooms the more normalized it becomes, and the more young people will grow up knowing that they, too, belong.
That’s why you’ll hear disability advocates constantly say representation matters because when we see ourselves reflected in society, we begin to believe what’s possible. And I want people to know: disability is not a deficit. It’s a dimension of diversity that brings with it resilience, creativity, adaptability, and an incredible depth of lived experience that can transform how we work, lead, and innovate.
It’s far past time that we authentically and meaningfully include this population not just because it’s overdue, but because it will build a better future for all of us.
In addition to being a leader in inclusion, you love tennis, cycling, and spending time with your husband. How do these activities contribute to your well-being and balance in your routine?
It should come as no surprise that disabled people need to stay active, fit, and healthy just like our able-bodied counterparts. It’s part of the human condition we’ve got to take care of the bodies we live in, whatever our abilities may be. For me, movement is medicine. It’s not just about physical health, but about mental clarity, emotional balance, and joy.
Tennis has been one of the most impactful gifts in my life. It was something my mom gave me before she passed, maybe the most precious gift I’ve ever received outside of this life itself. Through tennis, I found independence, confidence, and connection. It’s how I met my husband, Marty. It’s how I first tapped into the disability community in a meaningful way. I wasn’t a Paralympian or at the top of the sport, but I absolutely won in life by making it part of my world.
I’ve always loved being outside riding my handcycle, walking my dog, feeling the shifts in weather and seasons. But with my travel schedule and the demands of running my own business, I’ve also found grounding in the gym. I love using bands, weights, and finding adaptive workouts through apps like Peloton. As a woman approaching her fifties, exercise has become more than a habit; it’s become a vital part of sustaining my stamina, heart health, and overall well-being.
And honestly, it’s also how I find balance. Whether I’m on a trail, in the gym, or just spending quiet time with Marty, those moments give me space to breathe. They refill my cup so I can continue to do the work I love advocating, educating, and helping shift the narrative on what disability really looks like in this world.
If you could imagine a truly inclusive world, what would it look like to you? What steps do you think we still need to take to get there?
A truly inclusive world, to me, would be one where I didn’t have to call ahead and say, “Hey, I’m going to be showing up in a wheelchair.” Whether I’m going to a restaurant, a concert, boarding a plane, booking a hotel, renting a car or doing any of the everyday things we all do, it would just work. Accessibility would be baked in, not bolted on. I’d have the same variety of choices as a consumer that others enjoy. I could test drive a vehicle before I buy it. I wouldn’t be met with surprise or hesitation. I’d be met with readiness and welcome.
To get there? The path is long and winding. The steps we need to take wrap around the globe and through every sector of society from policy to design, from attitudes to infrastructure. But I don’t believe in demanding change with shame or pointing fingers. I believe in leading with hope, persistence, and possibility. Not from a place of pity, and definitely not from retreat. But from a place of power, resilience, and belief that our collective action can and will create change.
Progress doesn’t happen with the snap of a finger. It happens step by step, conversation by conversation, and decision by decision. And it won’t happen at all unless we try. That’s why I keep pushing forward.
Because inclusion isn’t just about me, it’s about all of us. It’s about caring for each other, honoring those who came before us, and creating a better world for those who will come after. And for all of those reasons, I will keep showing up, keep speaking out, and keep leading with my heart pointed toward inclusion.
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