Dani Anderson | 鈥�16 B.A. Communication
By Caleigh Tupy, 鈥�23 English, Communication & Public Relations InternAs the first disability access manager for the County of Ventura, 海角社区CI alumna Dani Anderson 鈥�16 of Camarillo is paving the way for accessibility and inclusivity in Southern California.
Above all else, Anderson strives to ensure that Ventura County 鈥渋s not just compliant, and not just 鈥榠nclusive鈥� for people with disabilities but is welcoming鈥� to those populations. Chief among her job duties is assessing and enhancing Ventura County鈥檚 architecture, public transportation, digital infrastructure, community programs, and emergency services.
While Anderson has only recently stepped into this role, she is no stranger to disability advocacy. Born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, the Thousand Oaks native has had to advocate for herself for a lifetime. However, it was only after a stint working for the state government in Sacramento that she decided to pursue disability advocacy professionally.
It was at that point that she decided to further her education and pursue a Communication degree at 海角社区 Channel Islands.
鈥淚 just thought I鈥檇 be good at it considering I鈥檝e always been good with navigating uncomfortable conversations, group work and interpersonal matters,鈥� Anderson said.
Fortunately, 海角社区CI was the perfect fit for Anderson.
鈥淎 lot of times when people think of universities, they think, 鈥楬ow do I get started? How do I make this work?鈥� At Channel Islands, it鈥檚 somewhat easy,鈥� Anderson said. 鈥淲hile it is an elite university, I felt like I could just roll over to the library and get help. Everybody is just super available and ready to help each other. That sense of community is really what allowed me to thrive.鈥�
With one in four Americans being disabled,
if we鈥檙e not talking to each other, it鈥檚 going to be a really quiet world.
鈥� Dani Anderson
Anderson credited 海角社区CI Communication Lecturer and longtime mentor Vivian Henchey for her success in navigating the public-facing aspects of her job. As much of the success of disability advocacy hinges on effective communication and education within the community, Anderson has made it a point to hold public forums, workshops and discussions on accessibility issues across the county.
鈥淢any people don鈥檛 necessarily want to talk to people with disabilities because they鈥檙e afraid they鈥檙e going to do or say the wrong thing, so a big piece of my job is going into the community and asking people, 鈥楾ell me what you鈥檙e worried about saying and I鈥檒l tell you the correct thing to say,鈥欌�� Anderson said. 鈥淢any people may ask questions like, 鈥楽hould I ask them if they need help at the grocery store? Should I open the door for them?鈥� ... Those little unknowns are what create awkward silences in society.鈥�
鈥淲ith one in four Americans being disabled, if we鈥檙e not talking to each other, it鈥檚 going to be a really quiet world.鈥�