In this episode, Angel Howard speaks with Jenna Udenberg, a disability activist, educator, and author, about redefining how society understands disability and accessibility. Jenna shares her personal journey from being diagnosed with juvenile arthritis at a young age to becoming a leader in accessibility education and nonprofit work. The conversation explores the importance of language, the role of curiosity and respect in building inclusive relationships, and how environmental design often creates barriers rather than individual conditions. Jenna also discusses her nonprofit’s mission to improve accessibility through education, consulting, and advocacy, while emphasizing that meaningful inclusion begins with listening to lived experiences and involving disabled individuals in decision making from the start.

Takeaways

• Disability is not a negative term, it is a natural part of human diversity and should be acknowledged without stigma.
• Environmental design, not individual conditions, is often the primary source of disability barriers.
• Language matters, and person-first language is generally preferred, but individual preferences should always be respected.
• Curiosity and respectful questions are essential for building understanding and reducing discomfort around disability.
• Accessibility should be integrated from the beginning of any design or planning process, not added afterward.
• Inclusive design benefits a wider population, not just people with disabilities.
• There is no single correct term or approach, preferences vary across individuals and communities.
• Lived experience is critical, decisions about accessibility should involve those directly impacted.
• Assumptions about ability or struggle can be misleading, always ask before offering help.
• Creating psychological safety in communication fosters better relationships and more inclusive environments.

Today's guest, Jenna Udenberg, can be found at:

Website: https://www.aboveandbeyondwithu.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-udenberg-801517196/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aboveandbeyondwithu/

Your host, Angel Howard, can be found online at:

Website: https://angelhoward.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-angel/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@angelhowardissuescoach

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelhowardofficial/

Get Angel's book: https://amzn.to/4o4UcEi

Keywords

disability awareness, accessibility, inclusive design, disability advocacy, person-first language, mobility disabilities, universal design, communication, empathy, nonprofit leadership, accessibility education, disability culture, social inclusion, adaptive environments