Tiffany Yu is a disability advocate, entrepreneur, and speaker dedicated to reshaping narratives around disability and inclusion. She is the founder of Diversability, an award-winning social enterprise that elevates disability pride, and a sought-after voice in conversations on accessibility, ableism, and mental health. Through her work, she empowers individuals and organisations to foster more inclusive communities, emphasising that disability is an essential part of human diversity – not a limitation.
In this interview, Tiffany Yu shares her deeply personal journey – from navigating life with a disability after a childhood accident to becoming a leading advocate for disability justice. She discusses overcoming internalized ableism, the importance of disability pride, and the intersectionality of her advocacy. Tiffany also opens up about living with PTSD, the challenges of social media activism, and the business case for disability inclusion.
Tiffany Yu on living with paralysis and PTSD
Tiffany Yu’s journey into disability advocacy is deeply personal and profoundly motivating. Following a life-altering car accident at the age of nine, she not only lost her father but also sustained paralysis in her right arm.
Looking back, she recalls: “At that age, I didn’t fully understand what disability meant, but I do remember feeling isolated and ashamed. While I didn’t have the language to understand that it was internalised ableism at the time, I had low self-esteem, low self-confidence, and a negative self-image that I wouldn’t amount to much because I was disabled.
“It would take over a decade to start to connect with the disability community and unlearn many of those beliefs to realise how proud I am to be part of such a rich disability community and culture.”
Her injury resulted in paralysis in her right arm, also known as a brachial plexus injury. Tiffany explains more about the level of her impairment and what kind of support and adaptations she requires for daily living:
“A brachial plexus injury means that the nerves connecting my spinal cord to my right arm were damaged, leaving me with paralysis in that arm. At the time of the accident, I was right-handed, so I relearned how to write with my left hand. I’ve also learned to adapt to doing most things one-handed, including typing, putting up my hair, biking, etc.
“I have a playlist on TikTok where I show how I do different things while living with a paralysed arm. We are lifehackers, so if you can imagine any task that you do with two arms, I’ve adapted it to work for me. For example, I wrote the entire first draft of a book using a speech-to-text technology called Otter.ai so as not to put too much strain on my non-injured arm to type that amount of text.”
She continues: “I also have a one-handed cutting board for cooking. If I have to carry or transport a lot of things, I’ll opt to use luggage with wheels. I have shoes that zip up so I don’t have to tie my shoelaces.
“I continue to advocate for accessible and inclusive design because what benefits disabled people often improves usability for everyone.”
The trauma of the accident extended beyond the physical. Diagnosed with PTSD in 2019, 22 years after the incident, Tiffany highlights the gap in diagnosis and treatment for non-apparent disabilities:
“Mental health wasn’t something that was talked about in my household as the daughter of Asian immigrants. Different therapies and support have helped manage my PTSD. I am now more aware of when I get triggered and have strategies to navigate that.
“I hope that we can continue to destigmatise mental illness and make access to mental health support more affordable so that more of us can get the care that we need.”
Tiffany Yu on recognising ableism and embracing disability pride
Tiffany’s first encounter with ableism happened early in life. “I first noticed ableism in elementary school when I was picked last for sports teams in my gym class. Thanks to discovering adaptive sports, I completed my first triathlon, relearned how to ride a bike, and have been finding a lot of joy in para climbing.
“As I got older, I saw it in the way people made assumptions about my capabilities or pitied me when I told them I was disabled.
“As a disabled person, I’ve been leaning into community, disability pride, and disabled joy as my method of resistance. Ableism is a system issue–not a personal failing – and I’ve written an entire book on what needs to happen to dismantle it.”
She aims to break common misconceptions about disability: “One of the biggest misconceptions is that disability is a tragedy or something to be ‘overcome.’ Another is that disabled people are either inspirational or burdensome, with no in-between.
“Through my work, I aim to show that disability is just a natural part of human diversity. It’s not something to be feared, but embraced.”
Tiffany also emphasises the intersectionality of disability advocacy: “Disability justice is inherently intersectional. It connects with racial justice, gender equity, LGBTQIA+ rights, and economic justice because disabled people exist in every community.
“When we talk about accessibility, we have to consider how multiple forms of oppression impact people differently. My advocacy is informed by the belief that we can’t achieve true justice unless we address all these interconnected systems.”
Tiffany Yu on navigating social media and viral advocacy
@imtiffanyyu When you witness a microaggression #AntiAbleism #Ableism #EndAbleism #LearnOnTikTok #TikTokPartner #Disability #Allyship #DiverseVoices ♬ Pieces (Solo Piano Version) – Danilo Stankovic
As a disabled influencer, Tiffany is intentional about sharing her experiences while maintaining personal boundaries. She acknowledges the challenges of engaging with ableist rhetoric online but remains committed to using social media as a powerful tool for advocacy.
Tiffany says: “It’s definitely a balance! I try to be intentional about what I share and set boundaries to protect my energy. Social media is a powerful tool for advocacy and finding community, but it can also be overwhelming—especially when dealing with ableism online. I remind myself that rest is part of the work, and I focus on creating content that aligns with my values rather than just chasing engagement.”
One of her most impactful initiatives is The Anti-Ableism Series, a short-form video series that has amassed millions of views. Through this platform, she educates people on actionable ways to support the disability community, amplifies the voices of fellow advocates, and fosters a sense of solidarity.
She adds: “I started The Anti-Ableism Series on social media in December 2020. It’s a short-form video series on Instagram and TikTok that highlights bite-sized ways that people can show up better for the disability community. Each part starts with the question, ‘Do you want to be a better ally to disabled people?’
“To date, the series has over 300 parts and five million views. I’ve been able to incorporate brand partnerships into the series, and it has been a fun way to amplify other disability advocates by bringing them on as guests. It has been powerful when folks share with me actions that they’ve taken or changes in their thinking as a result of seeing parts of the series.”
The business case for disability inclusion
When it comes to workplace inclusion, Tiffany highlights a critical misconception: “The biggest mistake is thinking that disability inclusion is not good for business. There is research that highlights the business case for disability inclusion, not only the fact that disabled people and their friends and family are an $18 trillion global market, but also that companies that champion disability employment are more profitable.”
Her advice for businesses is clear: “Start by reflecting on where you might still have some ableist thoughts: Do you assume a disabled person couldn’t do the job? Do you think that accessibility and accommodations are a burden? Then take a look at your entire hiring process and see where you might be unintentionally excluding disabled candidates. Hire and promote disabled employees. Pay them equitably. Listen to their access needs and make accommodations standard practice. Cultivate an accessibility-first culture that goes beyond compliance.”
Disaster preparedness and political challenges
Living in Los Angeles, Tiffany has seen firsthand how natural disasters disproportionately impact disabled people. The recent wildfires underscored the lack of emergency preparedness for this community.
Tiffany says: “Some of the early casualties of the LA fires were disabled people. I was moved to see disability-led mutual aid efforts and the community come together to support each other, but it is a reminder that disabled people need to be a part of disaster planning and response.”
The political discourse around disability also remains a significant concern. Responding to President Trump’s claims that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies contributed to a fatal plane crash, Tiffany states:
“This kind of rhetoric is both ableist and dangerous. It falsely suggests that disabled people are inherently unqualified and disregards the fact that ableism has historically excluded us from jobs we are more than capable of doing. DEI policies exist because systemic barriers prevent marginalised people from accessing opportunities. Blaming disabled professionals for a tragedy is not only inaccurate but deeply harmful.”
Empowering future disabled advocates
For those looking to become disability advocates, Tiffany offers a simple yet powerful piece of advice: “Start by listening and learning from disabled people—especially those with marginalised identities.
“Advocacy isn’t just about speaking up, but also about uplifting others and taking action in your own communities. And remember, you don’t have to be an influencer to be an advocate. Small, everyday actions make a difference.”
You can find out more about Tiffany Yu by visiting her website and following her on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads and YouTube.