Self-Advocacy, Respect, and What Comes Next

What does self-advocacy look like when the world still underestimates disabled people, misrepresents them, or treats disrespect like entertainment?

Dani Bowman will kick off our National Convention and share what it’s like to build a career on her own terms. She will also talk about how she uses her public platform, why harmful language like the R-word still matters, and how we can all push back when disability is mocked, minimized, or dismissed.

Dani is an autistic entrepreneur, animator, educator, and speaker, and the founder of DaniMation, an animation studio and training program supporting autistic and neurodivergent creatives. She has taught animation to over 3,500 students and premiered 16 original animated short films at San Diego Comic-Con. Dani earned her BFA in Animation and her MBA in Global Strategy & Leadership. As a cast member on seasons 1-4 of Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum U.S., Dani uses her platform to advocate for inclusion and empower others to imagine what’s possible for people with disabilities.