Becky Jackson Curran
Becky Jackson Curran is a disability inclusion advocate, professional speaker, and media consultant. Born with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, she has dedicated her career to advancing authentic representation of people with disabilities in media and society.
Becky has worked at Creative Artists Agency, CBS Television Studios, and in the Equity * Inclusion department at SAG-AFTRA, supporting national diversity initiatives. She is the founder of DisABILITY In Media and serves on several national advisory boards and committees, including ArtLifting and the National Center on Disability and Journalism.
A sought-after speaker, Becky has delivered over 600 talks across the U.S., Canada, and Kenya, including two TEDx Talks. Her mission is to educate, empower, and create more inclusive spaces where all people are seen, heard, and valued.
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Resilience Through Adversity: Becky’s Story of Strength, Loss, and Hope
In this powerful and deeply personal talk, Becky shares her journey as a woman living with physical and mental health challenges, including life with dwarfism, the devastating loss of her infant son, and the sudden onset of mobility loss. With courage and authenticity, Becky opens up about the emotional and physical obstacles she has faced, and how these experiences have shaped her outlook on life. Drawing from her own story, she offers heartfelt advice on maintaining a positive perspective, cultivating resilience, and finding balance between personal grief and professional responsibilities. Becky’s story is a moving reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the power of hope, even in the darkest moments.
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Strength Through Adversity: Driving Disability Inclusion at Work and Beyond
In this powerful keynote, Becky, a disability advocate and professional, shares her personal journey through dwarfism, profound personal loss, and mobility challenges, offering an inspiring lens on resilience and inclusion. With firsthand insight and professional expertise, she guides audiences through practical steps for building disability-inclusive workplaces. From reshaping language and assumptions to empowering disabled talent as innovators and leaders, Becky delivers a message that’s both heartfelt and actionable, proving that inclusion isn’t just right, it’s smart for business.
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Disability Is Not the Problem… Fear Is: Embracing Inclusion for a Stronger Future
In this empowering keynote, internationally recognized speaker and inclusion advocate Becky challenges audiences to rethink their assumptions about disability. Drawing from her personal journey as a little person and her global work in diversity and inclusion, Becky delivers a powerful message: disability is not the problem; fear, stigma, and inaction are.
Through compelling stories, practical insights, and research-backed data, Becky demonstrates how embracing people with disabilities leads to stronger teams, better business outcomes, and a more inclusive world. She equips attendees with tangible strategies to foster respect, accessibility, and equity in their organizations and communities. Whether you’re a business leader, educator, HR professional, or advocate for change, this keynote will inspire you to move beyond fear, challenge outdated narratives, and unlock the potential of individuals with all Abilities.
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Building a More Inclusive Work Environment: Overcoming Bias and Embracing Belonging
Becky shares her personal journey navigating the challenging job market of the film industry, applying for over 1,000 positions, attending 100 interviews over four months, and ultimately working in three temporary roles. This real-life experience sheds light on the persistent barriers individuals with disabilities face in employment.
In this candid and insightful keynote, Becky dives into the importance of self-awareness, acceptance, and rigorous examination of unconscious bias in hiring and workplace culture. Attendees will learn how biases impact decisions at every stage of recruitment and retention, and discover actionable strategies to foster a truly equitable and inclusive environment. By empowering hiring managers and inspiring all employees, this talk offers practical tools to create workplaces where diversity isn’t just accepted, it’s celebrated and leveraged for success.
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Building a More Inclusive School Environment: Fostering Belonging and Engagement for Students with Disabilities
Creating a school environment where students with disabilities feel welcomed, valued, and fully engaged is essential, not only for the students themselves but for the entire educational community. Neuroscience reveals that social exclusion causes a “social pain” in the brain similar to physical pain, impacting student well-being and productivity. When schools actively foster inclusion, they reduce this pain and create a supportive atmosphere where students thrive.
In this inspiring keynote, Becky shares her personal and professional journey as a person with a physical disability and highlights the importance of cultivating belonging from the moment students enter the campus and throughout their educational experience. Becky offers practical recommendations to educators, administrators, and staff for building a culture that promotes strong connections, boosts engagement, and encourages innovation. Attendees will leave equipped with strategies to make their schools not only accessible but truly inclusive, helping students with disabilities become dependable, loyal contributors who are more likely to complete their education successfully.
See Becky Jackson Curran in action.
Disability Inclusion Advisor; Lifetime advocate for global disability inclusion and equality
Becky Jackson Curran is a respected disability inclusion advocate, professional speaker, and media consultant with a passion for advancing authentic representation of people with disabilities in the media and society. Born with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, Becky has spent her career breaking barriers and educating others on the value of inclusion in all aspects of life.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Providence College, where her commitment to changing perceptions of disability began. After college, she persevered through an intense job search process, submitting over 1,000 applications and completing more than 100 interviews, before launching her career at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the world’s leading entertainment and sports agency. There, she worked in the Entertainment Marketing and Comedy Touring departments before transitioning to CBS Television Studios to assist with casting pilots and TV series. During this time, Becky also served as Marketing Director and Co-Founding Board Member of the Catalina Film Festival and founded DisABILITY In Media, a platform dedicated to promoting positive disability inclusion through storytelling and social media.
Becky spent over three years working in the Equity and Inclusion department at SAG-AFTRA, the world’s largest entertainment union, where she supported the rollout of a national diversity plan to improve representation of historically excluded communities across entertainment and news media.
Becky currently serves in advisory roles with ArtLifting, the National Center on Disability and Journalism (NCDJ) at Arizona State University, Positive Exposure, the Providence College National Alumni Association Council, and Understanding Our Differences.
An accomplished public speaker, Becky has delivered over 600 talks across the United States, Canada, and Kenya to audiences ranging from schools and nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. She delivered her first TEDx Talk in 2014 and a second in 2020. Her speaking topics focus on disability inclusion, overcoming adversity, and redefining success through self-acceptance and resilience.
Becky is dedicated to fostering a world where all people, regardless of ability, are valued, included, and empowered. Her core message remains simple yet powerful: “I never want to change who I am, I want the way the world reacts to my differences to change.”
Our speakers get attention.
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Building A More Inclusive Workplace for People with DisabilitiesBecky Kekula is a TEDx international motivational speaker and advocate for inclusion! After receiving a college degree, Becky worked for a decade in the entertainment and news media industries.
