2025 Housing Expo

Alycia Anderson

Biography

Alycia Anderson is an international TEDx motivational speaker, disability advocate, DEI & accessibility  corporate inclusion educator, a former VP of a Multifamily SaaS technology company, podcast host of Pushing Forward with Alycia and founder / CEO of The Alycia Anderson Company, LLC. Alycia's  company focuses on the education and advocacy of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the  workplace.

Alycia holds a European Master's Degree in Adapted Physical Activity emphasizing the benefits, practices and principles of inclusion. She is a tennis player, cyclist, identical twin and has been a wheelchair user since birth.

In June 2024, Alycia was appointed to the Insurance Diversity Task Force commissioned by the  California Department of Insurance under their Insurance Diversity Initiative. Alycia was awarded 2022 Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG) Program of the Year and 2024 Distinguishing Alumni Award from California State University, Chico.

Alycia shares her journey globally to help companies and organizations understand the true benefits inherent to building a diverse, inclusive and accessible workplace and society. Shining light on how our diversities are core to the qualities that make each of us uniquely qualified and able in life. Alycia's authenticity and charisma draw others to her, and she naturally connects with them to inspire, mentor, champion, and support. Alycia right sizes everyday obstacles to open minds to a world of possibility. "And that's how she rolls!"

Alycia has spoken for the likes of: TEDx, Victoria's Secret, Siemens, NBC, Abbvie, Humana, eHarmony, Hyatt, AAA etc. and has been featured in an AT&T commercial, the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and the Orange County Register. She's also been a guest on the Leeza Gibbons show, spotlighted on CBS news, and featured on the covers of Living Low and New Mobility Magazines.

Disabling Ableism: The Modern Pathway to Inclusion in Multifamily 

Ableism is deeply embedded in our workplaces, Multifamily 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 product development to the workplace, of ten 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 Multifamily 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.