The Power To Turn Advocacy Into Action To Redefine Accessibility

Jessica Fabus Cheng is an accessibility advocate

By Jessica Fabus Cheng

When my cousin tripped over an inaccessible sidewalk outside a medical office and prematurely became a wheelchair user, something in me shifted. As a young healthcare practitioner, I was used to advocating inside hospital walls, but witnessing that moment made me realize that systemic barriers outside those walls could be just as devastating. I knew then that speaking up wasn’t optional—it was necessary.

That moment lit the fire behind Accessibility in Action, the platform I built to reframe how brands and businesses view accessibility: not as charity, but as a smart, human-centered strategy. I launched Turnkey Accessibility—a free training to help brands easily embed inclusion into their digital presence—and began using every tool I had to push the message wider. Taking on the title of Mrs. DC International gave me a literal crown—and I used it not just as a symbol, but as a microphone to amplify the voices of those too often left out.

Surviving a rare thyroid cancer and losing 20% of my vocal function deepened my resolve. For years, I minimized my own experience. Now, I own it. I stand on stages, record podcasts, and lead trainings not despite my vocal challenges, but because of them—proof that accessibility isn’t about perfection. It’s about connection.

In the digital world, accessibility is still treated like a checkbox—something to add in later, if at all. I feel the sting of that exclusion every day. But instead of getting discouraged, I’m building something better: helping brands weave accessibility into their foundations, showing them that doing good can also drive growth.

I’m no longer waiting for the world to catch up. I’m teaching it how.

Because when you make your message accessible to all, you don’t just expand your audience—you expand your impact.

Jessica Fabus Cheng is an Accessibility Advocate, Speaker, Inclusion Strategist and Podcast Host of “All the Best with Jess.” https://www.facebook.com/jessicafabuscheng ; https://www.instagram.com/jessica_fabus_cheng ; https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-fabus-cheng-rn-cst-9451a755/