Becky Jackson Curran Keynote Speaker from Boston, MA

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. Most recently, Becky spent over three years working in the Equity & 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’s advocacy is also deeply personal. She experienced the heartbreaking loss of her infant son, Jackson, who was born with dwarfism. Honoring his memory, she continues to champion a world where children and adults with disabilities are seen, celebrated, and given every opportunity to thrive. She 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.”