Accessibility & Inclusion with Jenna Udenberg

In this episode of From Fear to Fire, host Heather Hansen O’Neill speaks with disability advocate, educator, and author Jenna Udenberg about lived experience, leadership, and the true meaning of Accessibility and Inclusion. Jenna shares her journey as a lifelong wheelchair user and founder of the nonprofit Above and Beyond With U, emphasizing that accessibility is not about checking boxes or meeting minimum ADA requirements. Instead, it requires involving disabled people from the very beginning so spaces, systems, and decisions reflect real human needs rather than assumptions.

Jenna also reframes disability as a neutral part of the human experience, explaining that barriers are most often created by environments and attitudes, not bodies. She encourages organizations and leaders to move beyond good intentions and take intentional action rooted in Accessibility and Inclusion across workplaces, education, and community spaces. Her message is clear: when people feel welcomed, safe, and valued, everyone benefits, and that awareness is what helps individuals and organizations truly move from fear to fire.