Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast
Alycia Anderson
115 episodes
3 days ago
Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast
Pushing Forward with Alycia is the weekly podcast that gives disability a voice and welcomes everyone—disabled people, allies, families, and inclusive employers—into a courageous, judgment‑free space to learn, ask questions, and advance access together. Launched June 29, 2023 and dropping new episodes every Thursday, host Alycia Anderson—disabled motivational speaker, DEI educator, entrepreneur, athlete, and storyteller—shares lived experience and amplifies voices across the global disability community. The show began as a safe, respectful space to talk honestly about difference, ableism, and belonging; that welcoming spirit remains its heartbeat today.
What You’ll Hear
From headline issues to everyday wins, we dig into DEI + disability, digital accessibility, workplace inclusion, disabling ableism, Disability Pride Month, intersectionality, airlines & disability discrimination, and so much more. If it shapes how disabled people live, learn, work, travel, play, create, love, and lead—we’re talking about it.
Nearly 100 Episodes (and Counting!)
In just two years we’ve published 98 full episodes (as of July 16, 2025) and are racing toward our 100th celebration. Recent conversations feature boundary‑breaking guests like Marsha Elle (bionic model, Billboard artist), Tiffany Yu (Diversability & The Anti‑Ableist Manifesto), Gigi Robinson (chronic illness creator & strategist), Kristen Anderson (global inclusive leadership champion), Isaac Harvey MBE (East London influencer & entrepreneur), and many more advocates, athletes, artists, policy shapers, siblings, caregivers, and allies you’ll love meeting.
Who It’s For
Whether you identify as disabled, are new to advocacy, support a disabled loved one, or lead teams striving to build a more inclusive workplace, you’ll leave each episode with insight, language, and actionable takeaways you can bring to classrooms, boardrooms, events, and everyday life. Our mission is to be a safe place to learn, share, ask “no wrong” questions, and transform awkwardness into connection.
Listen & Support
Follow, subscribe, share, rate, and review to help amplify disability inclusion. Sign up for release alerts, suggest a guest, and bring Alycia to speak or train your organization in disabling ableism. However you engage, you’re helping open hearts and clear paths for all of us. Open hearts, clear paths. Let’s go.
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Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast
Pushing Forward with Alycia is the weekly podcast that gives disability a voice and welcomes everyone—disabled people, allies, families, and inclusive employers—into a courageous, judgment‑free space to learn, ask questions, and advance access together. Launched June 29, 2023 and dropping new episodes every Thursday, host Alycia Anderson—disabled motivational speaker, DEI educator, entrepreneur, athlete, and storyteller—shares lived experience and amplifies voices across the global disability community. The show began as a safe, respectful space to talk honestly about difference, ableism, and belonging; that welcoming spirit remains its heartbeat today.
What You’ll Hear
From headline issues to everyday wins, we dig into DEI + disability, digital accessibility, workplace inclusion, disabling ableism, Disability Pride Month, intersectionality, airlines & disability discrimination, and so much more. If it shapes how disabled people live, learn, work, travel, play, create, love, and lead—we’re talking about it.
Nearly 100 Episodes (and Counting!)
In just two years we’ve published 98 full episodes (as of July 16, 2025) and are racing toward our 100th celebration. Recent conversations feature boundary‑breaking guests like Marsha Elle (bionic model, Billboard artist), Tiffany Yu (Diversability & The Anti‑Ableist Manifesto), Gigi Robinson (chronic illness creator & strategist), Kristen Anderson (global inclusive leadership champion), Isaac Harvey MBE (East London influencer & entrepreneur), and many more advocates, athletes, artists, policy shapers, siblings, caregivers, and allies you’ll love meeting.
Who It’s For
Whether you identify as disabled, are new to advocacy, support a disabled loved one, or lead teams striving to build a more inclusive workplace, you’ll leave each episode with insight, language, and actionable takeaways you can bring to classrooms, boardrooms, events, and everyday life. Our mission is to be a safe place to learn, share, ask “no wrong” questions, and transform awkwardness into connection.
Listen & Support
Follow, subscribe, share, rate, and review to help amplify disability inclusion. Sign up for release alerts, suggest a guest, and bring Alycia to speak or train your organization in disabling ableism. However you engage, you’re helping open hearts and clear paths for all of us. Open hearts, clear paths. Let’s go.
Izzy’s Path: From High School Advocate to Cancer Survivor and Nonprofit Influencer
Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast
35 minutes
1 month ago
Izzy’s Path: From High School Advocate to Cancer Survivor and Nonprofit Influencer
In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' host Alycia Anderson sits down with Izzy Grimmer, a remarkable high school student and disability advocate in honor of Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. Izzy shares her inspiring journey, including her recent battle with cancer, her work establishing a disability advocacy and awareness week at her school, and her efforts with initiatives like Accommodate Me and Magical Bridge. As an advocate for intellectual developmental disabilities, autism, and all other disabilities, Izzy draws inspiration from her brother Eli, who is nonverbal. She discusses the challenges and privileges of living with disabilities, the importance of community and allyship, and how her experiences have fueled her passionate advocacy work. Tune in for a conversation filled with resilience, empathy, and actionable insights for becoming better allies to the disabled community.
Episode Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Pushing Forward with Alycia
00:25 Special Guest Introduction: Izzy Grimmer
01:40 Izzy's Advocacy Journey
03:44 Disability Advocacy Week
10:27 Creating Accommodations and Resources
15:27 Izzy's Cancer Journey and Resilience
24:10 Magical Bridge Partnership
28:56 Final Thoughts and Advice
A Quote from Izzy
“Ignorance is completely in your control. If you can take the steps to learn something and be a better ally, then you should do it a hundred percent.” ~ Isabella “Izzy” Grimmer
Standout Themes Explored
🌟 Empowering Disability Advocacy
💪 Overcome Adversity
🦋 Challenges Can Be Privileges
🌿 Embracing Stress as a Blessing
🎗️ Conquering Cancer as a Survivor
🧩 Building The Disability Advocacy Club
🔑 The Power of Access
🛡️ The Strength of Resilience
🤝 Community Connections & Partnerships
🌍 A Vision for Inclusive Societies
👣 A Role Model for All Generations
Support Izzy’s Causes
Unravel Pediatric Cancer | Magical Bridge Foundation | Accommodate Me Website | The Accommodate Me Instagram
Connect with Isabella “Izzy” Grimmer
LinkedIn Profile
Follow Up with Alycia
Share Feedback with Alycia About the Podcast | Follow Alycia on Instagram | Connect with Alycia on LinkedIn | Book Alycia for a Speaking Event | Inquire on How Alycia Can Train Your Employees in Disabling Ableism | Buy Alycia’s Disability Inclusion Micro Learning Video Series
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Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast
Pushing Forward with Alycia | A Disability Podcast
Pushing Forward with Alycia is the weekly podcast that gives disability a voice and welcomes everyone—disabled people, allies, families, and inclusive employers—into a courageous, judgment‑free space to learn, ask questions, and advance access together. Launched June 29, 2023 and dropping new episodes every Thursday, host Alycia Anderson—disabled motivational speaker, DEI educator, entrepreneur, athlete, and storyteller—shares lived experience and amplifies voices across the global disability community. The show began as a safe, respectful space to talk honestly about difference, ableism, and belonging; that welcoming spirit remains its heartbeat today.
What You’ll Hear
From headline issues to everyday wins, we dig into DEI + disability, digital accessibility, workplace inclusion, disabling ableism, Disability Pride Month, intersectionality, airlines & disability discrimination, and so much more. If it shapes how disabled people live, learn, work, travel, play, create, love, and lead—we’re talking about it.
Nearly 100 Episodes (and Counting!)
In just two years we’ve published 98 full episodes (as of July 16, 2025) and are racing toward our 100th celebration. Recent conversations feature boundary‑breaking guests like Marsha Elle (bionic model, Billboard artist), Tiffany Yu (Diversability & The Anti‑Ableist Manifesto), Gigi Robinson (chronic illness creator & strategist), Kristen Anderson (global inclusive leadership champion), Isaac Harvey MBE (East London influencer & entrepreneur), and many more advocates, athletes, artists, policy shapers, siblings, caregivers, and allies you’ll love meeting.
Who It’s For
Whether you identify as disabled, are new to advocacy, support a disabled loved one, or lead teams striving to build a more inclusive workplace, you’ll leave each episode with insight, language, and actionable takeaways you can bring to classrooms, boardrooms, events, and everyday life. Our mission is to be a safe place to learn, share, ask “no wrong” questions, and transform awkwardness into connection.
Listen & Support
Follow, subscribe, share, rate, and review to help amplify disability inclusion. Sign up for release alerts, suggest a guest, and bring Alycia to speak or train your organization in disabling ableism. However you engage, you’re helping open hearts and clear paths for all of us. Open hearts, clear paths. Let’s go.
