Send us Fan Mail Accessibility is about far more than ramps, bathrooms, and meeting minimum building codes. It is about dignity, independence, employment, belonging, and creating a world in which people with disabilities are genuinely included. In this powerful episode of Women Like Me Stories & Business, host Julie Fairhurst speaks with disability advocate, music educator, author, and community leader Jenna Udenberg. After developing juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at seven years old, Jenna was using a wheelchair within a year. She shares the assumptions she encountered, the teachers who saw her potential, and how she became a music educator, even after being told there was no such thing as a left-handed trumpet player. Jenna also challenges how society talks about disability. People with disabilities do not need pity, unsolicited help, or praise simply for living their lives. They need to be heard, respected, and included in the decisions that affect them. Julie and Jenna discuss: • Why accessibility is about more than meeting legal requirements • The difference between helping someone and taking away her agency • Why a wheelchair can represent freedom rather than limitation • Accessibility barriers in workplaces, businesses, hospitals, stages, and public spaces • The pressure placed on disability advocates to always appear strong or inspirational • Why authentic relationships matter more than assumptions • Jenna’s nonprofit, Above and Beyond With U • The story behind her memoir, Within My Spokes This conversation may change what you notice, what you question, and how you respond the next time you see someone who appears to need assistance. The simplest place to begin? Ask before helping, and respect the answer. ABOUT JENNA UDENBERG Jenna Udenberg is a community leader, music educator, published author, accessibility educator, and founder of Above and Beyond With U. Through education, advocacy, consultation, and accessibility audits, Jenna helps organizations move beyond minimum requirements and create meaningfully inclusive spaces. CONNECT WITH JENNA www.aboveandbeyondwithu.org https://www.instagram.com/aboveandbeyondwithu https://www.facebook.com/people/Above-Beyond-With-U/100091881005060/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/91173822/admin/dashboard/ ✨ READY TO TURN YOUR STORY INTO AUTHORITY? I’m Julie Fairhurst - publisher, executive producer, story and sales strategist, and founder of Women Like Me Media. After 34 years in sales, helping approximately 3,000 clients, publishing more than 350 women’s stories, and hosting over 400 interviews, I know this: Your story is not simply something that happened to you. It is part of your wisdom, your credibility, and the work you are here to do. Whether you are ready to write your story, publish your book, strengthen your message, sell with greater confidence, or become more visible, I can help you take the next step. Your voice matters. Your experience has value. And you do not need to remain the best-kept secret in your industry. Visit https://juliefairhurst.com to explore coaching, publishing, podcast opportunities, and visibility programs. 🎙️ Subscribe to Women Like Me Stories & Business for honest conversations with women who are turning what they have lived and learned into purpose, leadership, and lasting impact. Julie Fairhurst Founder & CEO, Women Like Me Media Publisher • Executive Producer • Story & Sales Strategist Soft heart. Strong voice. Clear invitation. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
