O TYM ODCINKU
What if accessibility was already there before anyone had to ask for it?
Pushing Forward with Alycia is back, and for Episode 160, Alycia Anderson is joined by her husband and business partner, Marty Anderson, for a timely National Disability Employment Awareness Month conversation about what disability inclusion actually looks like in today's workplace.
The 2026 NDEAM theme is Celebrating Value and Talent, but Alycia and Marty want organizations to go one step further: move from awareness to action.
At the center of the conversation is an idea they're bringing into workplaces around the country: Access Before Ask.
Instead of waiting for an employee to disclose a disability, navigate a process and request access, what if organizations intentionally removed barriers from the beginning?
Alycia and Marty unpack:
• Why NDEAM matters, and why disability inclusion cannot end October 31
• What Access Before Ask looks like in everyday workplace practice
• Captions, accessible documents, flexible participation and other ways to reduce unnecessary barriers
• How AI could become a powerful accessibility accelerator
• The danger of building yesterday's disability bias into tomorrow's technology
• Why AI-powered hiring and employee tools need disability representation and human oversight
• The role leaders play in hiring, retaining and advancing disabled talent
• Why accessibility belongs in planning, procurement, technology and leadership
• Practical actions organizations can carry into November and beyond
And yes, Alycia puts Marty through another rapid-fire round, including remote vs. office work, the accessibility feature he wants everywhere, meeting habits that need to disappear and the one thing he believes every CEO should experience.
The takeaway?
“Access before ask means belonging.”
NDEAM may open the conversation. It shouldn't be the only time we have it.
🎧 Listen, subscribe, follow, review and share Pushing Forward with Alycia wherever you get your podcasts.
♿ Looking for practical ways to make your workplace, meetings, marketing and digital experiences more accessible? Explore The Accessibility Check™ resources from The Alycia Anderson Company.
🎤 Planning an NDEAM event, leadership program or workplace accessibility experience? Connect with Alycia and bring the conversation to your organization.
Pushing Forward with Alycia gives disability a voice through candid conversations about accessibility, employment, leadership, representation and what's possible when we create a world where more people can fully participate.
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