Alycia Anderson

The Heart of Inclusion

Ableism is deeply embedded in our education systems, workplaces, and broader society, often going unnoticed yet significantly impacting the inclusion, accessibility, equity, and belonging of individuals with disabilities. Alycia Anderson’s speech explores how ableism perpetuates the belief that conventional abilities are superior, leading to the exclusion of disabled perspectives in various sectors.

By challenging ourselves to understand and empathize with the experiences of those with disabilities, we can begin to dismantle ableism and celebrate diverse abilities. Alycia’s journey from education to founding her own business demonstrates the importance of accessibility in fostering innovation and inclusion. Prioritizing accessibility in all aspects of life is essential to achieving true inclusion, as it opens the door to appreciating and valuing every form of human experience.

Takeaways:

• Omnipresence of Ableism: Ableism is ingrained in every facet of society, from education to the workplace, often going unnoticed yet profoundly affecting inclusion.
• Challenging Conventional Beliefs: Ableism perpetuates the belief that traditional abilities are superior, leading to the exclusion of disabled perspectives in DE&I conversations.
• Empathy and Understanding: Shifting perceptions through empathy and understanding is crucial to dismantling ableism and celebrating diverse abilities.
• Accessibility Fosters Innovation: Prioritizing accessibility in education and the workforce drives innovation and generates positive outcomes for institutions and organizations.
• True Inclusion Requires Accessibility: Accessibility is the gateway to inclusion, allowing us to appreciate and value all forms of human experience, ultimately leading to a more inclusive society.

Intersectionality & Embracing Equity Through the Lens of Disability

Alycia Anderson’s award-winning speech on intersectionality intricately explores the dimensions of disability, emphasizing the importance of self-identification and representation in the workplace. She positions disability inclusion as a gateway to embracing one’s full identity, drawing from her experiences and those of notable figures to highlight the diverse tapestry of disability.

Alycia challenges prevailing perceptions by framing disability as a collective strength, advocating for its strategic integration in professional settings. Her speech clarifies the nuanced differences between equity and equality, emphasizing the need for true equity in the workplace. Alycia’s compelling delivery, which earned her recognition in 2022, empowers individuals and organizations to foster inclusion and create thriving environments.

• Emphasizing Representation: Alycia highlights the critical role of self-identification and representation in the workplace, showcasing how disability inclusion enriches organizational culture.
• Intersectionality in Identity: She presents disability as a key aspect of one’s overarching identity, advocating for its acceptance as a gateway to embracing all facets of identity.
• Strategic Integration: Alycia challenges conventional views by framing disability as a collective asset, encouraging its strategic integration in professional settings.
• Equity vs. Equality: Her speech clarifies the nuanced differences between equity and equality, stressing the importance of fostering true equity in the workplace.
• Award-Winning Advocacy: Recognized in 2022 for her impactful delivery, Alycia’s speech empowers individuals and organizations to champion inclusion and create environments where everyone can thrive.

Disabling Ableism: The Modern Pathway to Inclusion

A comprehensive microlearning journey designed to address the barriers to inclusion in the workplace. This facilitated live training features five video components that focus on the key topics of ableism, accessibility, inclusive language, and the importance of recognizing and combating microaggressions on the path to inclusion. The program is tailored for various audiences, including but not limited to leadership teams, HR, DE&I staff, or even new hires.

This program easily crosses over from the challenges of workplace disability inclusion to the foundational work of educators, retailers and a multitude of service professionals acting as a conduit to opening conversations about disability inclusion, increasing employee engagement, and fostering a culture of belonging and allyship.

Participants will gain new perspectives on innovation and the benefits of accessibility, learning essential skills to dismantle ableism and promote true inclusion. The series includes five video modules interwoven into a facilitated live presentation by Alycia Anderson, and as applicable is supplemented with PDF takeaways and digital copies of video contents to provide lasting practical tips and resources on disability inclusion, allyship, and the importance of language in fostering an inclusive environment within organizations.

• Focus on Key Topics: The training covers essential areas like ableism, accessibility, inclusive language, and microaggressions to promote a modern pathway to inclusion.
• Targeted for Broad Audiences: Designed for leadership teams, HR, DE&I staff, new hires, and more, ensuring that the lessons resonate across various organizational levels.
• Comprehensive Learning Approach: The series includes five video modules and live facilitation by Alycia Anderson, offering a mix of theoretical and practical knowledge.
• Promotes a Culture of Belonging: The training aims to increase employee engagement, foster a sense of belonging, and promote visibility and allyship within the workplace.

Practical Takeaways: Participants may receive video assets and PDFs with actionable tips, resources, and principles on disability inclusion, making it easy to implement what they’ve learned in this program into their daily work or potentially repurposed in their organizational learning management systems for licensed periods of time (negotiated at time of contract).