OM DENNE EPISODE
Host Alycia Anderson welcomes Jessica Lopez, a disability rights advocate, keynote speaker, marketing strategist, and digital accessibility consultant working at the intersection of inclusive marketing, brand strategy, disability inclusion, accessible technology, and corporate accessibility. A recent Arizona State University graduate and Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholar, Jessica brings lived experience, business insight, and bold advocacy to conversations about accessible education, disability pride, inclusive hiring, digital accessibility, SEO, workplace inclusion, and why building accessibility from the start creates stronger brands, better customer experiences, and measurable business impact.
Jessica shares her lived experience as a woman born without hands and feet, a hearing aid user, and someone who later developed a chronic illness that changed the course of her education. From growing up in performing arts school, riding horses through adaptive recreation, and learning confidence on stage, to navigating inaccessible education systems and eventually graduating after gaining access to online learning, Jessica’s story is a powerful reminder that disabled people are not limited by their bodies, but by systems that fail to adapt.
In this episode, Alycia and Jessica explore disability pride, accessible education, corporate inclusion, digital accessibility, inclusive marketing, career confidence, the ROI of accessibility, and what happens when companies stop assuming and start asking disabled people what they need.
Confidence, Access, Advocacy, and “Why Not Me?”: The Big Takeaways from Jessica Lopez
♿ Disability identity, pride, and being born without hands and feet
🎤 Performing arts, confidence, and learning to take up space
🐎 Adaptive horseback riding as freedom, movement, and possibility
🦻 Navigating hearing loss, hearing aids, and visible disability
🏫 Inclusive education, school accommodations, and the power of the right support
💻 Online learning as accessibility, not convenience
⚖️ Systemic barriers in education and why access changes life trajectories
🌎 Travel, fellowships, and expanding what disabled ambition can look like
💼 Disability rights advocacy as a career path
🏢 Corporate accessibility, inclusive hiring, and leadership representation📲 Digital accessibility, accessible websites, alt text, SEO, and ROI
📣 Inclusive marketing and why disability must be built into brand strategy
👗 Accessible fashion, style, independence, and showing up polished
💛 Confidence for young disabled women chasing big dreams
✨ “Why not me?” as a mindset for opportunities, scholarships, speaking, and leadership
📈 Accessibility as a business advantage, not an extra cost
🤝 The power of asking disabled people directly what works for them
Unforgettable Quotes from Jessica Lopez
“My body was not the reason why I wasn’t able to do the things that I was hoping to do. It was really a result of a systemic barrier.” ~ Jessica Lopez
“I don’t feel like I’m missing anything. All of my limbs are the way they are.” ~ Jessica Lopez
“Accessibility is a bunch of small practices and small little things, and they add up to a massive turnaround on a big scale.” ~ Jessica Lopez
Where to Listen: Jessica Lopez’s Most Powerful Moments
00:00 Podcast Welcome
00:25 Meet Jessica Lopez
02:55 Horses And Freedom
06:44 Born Different Early Life
07:43 Performing Arts Confidence
13:00 Aides And Accommodations
14:16 Prosthetics And Identity
16:35 Chronic Illness School Barriers
19:53 Disability Pride Keynote Invite
21:34 Advocacy Career Path
23:31 How Corporations Can Partner
26:35 Accessibility ROI In Marketing
29:25 Style And Stage Presence
31:19 Advice Why Not Me
35:16 Accessibility In 2026
37:23 Pushing Forward Moment
38:27 Closing Thanks And Subscribe
Connect with Jessica Lopez
🌐 Website: https://jessical.me
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realjessl
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realjessl
𝕏 Twitter/X: https://x.com/RealJessL
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealJessL
Connect with Alycia 🌐 Website: https://alyciaanderson.com/
🎙️ Podcast: https://alyciaanderson.com/podcast
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyciaanderson/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyciaanderson/
About Pushing Forward with Alycia
Pushing Forward with Alycia gives disability a voice through conversations about accessibility, inclusion, ambition, resilience, leadership, and creating a more inclusive world for all people.
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