Speaking
Talks and speaking appearances from Leanna Johnson Lee on disability, workability, accessibility, and the future of work.
Leanna Johnson Lee is a writer, researcher, and content strategist who speaks about disability, workability, the future of work, and the hidden assumptions built into workplace systems.
Her talks connect lived experience with practical systems thinking—helping audiences distinguish what a job actually requires from the habits, processes, and expectations that have grown around it.
Current talks
Holistic Accessibility: Making Work Work for Disabled People
Accessibility is more than getting through the door. This talk introduces a holistic approach to participation, sustainability, and belonging—and asks who can realistically take part, contribute, and recover without disproportionate cost or harm.
Disabled People Are the Stress Test for Systems
Disabled people often encounter hidden assumptions that others can move through unnoticed. When someone appears to “break” a workplace, service, or process, the person may not be the problem—the friction may be exposing a design flaw.
Remote Work Is Access. But Not Every Remote Job Is Accessible
Remote work can remove major barriers, but location flexibility alone doesn’t make a job workable. This talk explores meetings, communication, scheduling, surveillance, workload, and the other design choices that determine whether remote work actually expands access.
Stop Confusing the Way a Job Is Done With the Job Itself
Employers often mistake familiar methods for essential job functions. This talk helps audiences separate outcomes from conventions so they can design clearer job descriptions, better interviews, and more workable ways of working.
What I speak about
- Disability, chronic illness, and the future of work
- Holistic accessibility and the Workability Framework
- Accessible hiring, disclosure, accommodations, and retention
- Remote and flexible work
- Sustainable performance and fluctuating capacity
- Inclusive communication, content, and workplace systems
Speaking formats
Leanna is available for:
- Keynotes and solo presentations
- Workshops and facilitated discussions
- Virtual and in-person panels, as a moderator or panellist
- Roundtables, lunch discussions, and lunch-and-learns
- Panel and roundtable consultation and development
- Podcast, webinar, and media interviews
About Leanna
Leanna Johnson Lee is a writer, researcher, content strategist, and longtime chronic worker. Her work examines the future of work, disability, accessibility, and the systems that shape how people participate. She is the creator of The Chronic Worker and the Workability Framework, co-host of the Bettermental podcast, and co-chair of the American Society of Journalists and Authors’ DEAI Taskforce.
Selected appearances
- PowerToFly Visible & Invisible Disabilities and Neurodivergence Summit (2024): Holistic Accessibility: Making Space for Disability in DE(A)I
- American Society of Journalists and Authors (2024): Do You Really Want to Say That? Q&A on Inclusive Writing with Janet Stovall
- Self Employment in the Arts: Workshops, panels, roundtables, mentoring, and creative-business programming
- The BrandLab (2020): Content Marketing Strategy for Tech Brands
Speaking archive
2025
- American Society of Journalists and Authors In-Person Conference, Feb. 24–26
2024
- American Society of Journalists and Authors Conference From Anywhere, Sept. 24–26
- PowerToFly Visible & Invisible Disabilities and Neurodivergence Summit, August
- American Society of Journalists and Authors webinar, June
2022
- Self Employment in the Arts, October
- Coffee Breaks for Creatives: Mental Health Conversation for Creatives, January
2021
- American Society of Journalists and Authors Conference: “Landing Bylines with Corporate Publications” with Benita Lee of GoodRx, Jordan Teicher of Contently, and Mary Ellen Slayter of Managing Editor Magazine — panel creator and moderator
- Grapeseed Collective: “Building a Business That Supports You and Your Mental Health!” — workshop
2020
- Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization Global Conference: “Mental Health, the College Creative/Entrepreneur & COVID” — workshop with Mike Veny
- The BrandLab: “Content Marketing Strategy for Tech Brands” — workshop
- Self Employment in the Arts Conference:
- “Creating a Podcast With Impact” — workshop with Mike Veny
- “Breaking Into Freelance Writing” — roundtable
- “Marketing Strategies for Creatives” — panel
- “Self-Management and Freelance Strategies” — panel
- One-on-one mentoring and portfolio reviews
- AWAY Chicago: “Celebrate Getting Away Solo” with Sofia Martin of Wanderful, Kehinde Smith, and Chicago Tribune travel editor Lori Rackl
2019
- Self Employment in the Arts Conference:
- “Making a Living in the Literary Arts” — panel
- “The Dos and Don’ts of Freelance” — panel
- “Making a Living as a Freelance Writer” — roundtable
- “Combining Writing and Marketing as a Content Marketing Writer” — lunch breakout session
2018
- Self Employment in the Arts Conference:
- “Mental Health for the Creative Entrepreneur” — workshop with Mike Veny
- “Nonprofits” — panel
- “Eyes on Your Mission” — featured creative and assistant producer
- Branding, marketing, and mental health — one-on-one mentoring
2017
- Chicago Area Families for Adoption Conference: “Meet the Birthparents” — panel
- Chicago Women’s Creative Collective New Year’s Brunch: New Year, New Hope: A Freelancer’s Story of Adoption
Invite Leanna to speak
Planning an event, panel, workshop, podcast, or webinar? Get in touch or connect with Leanna on LinkedIn.
Leanna Johnson Lee is a writer, researcher, and content strategist who speaks about disability, workability, the future of work, and the hidden assumptions built into workplace systems.
Her talks connect lived experience with practical systems thinking—helping audiences distinguish what a job actually requires from the habits, processes, and expectations that have grown around it.
Current talks
Holistic Accessibility: Making Work Work for Disabled People
Accessibility is more than getting through the door. This talk introduces a holistic approach to participation, sustainability, and belonging—and asks who can realistically take part, contribute, and recover without disproportionate cost or harm.
Disabled People Are the Stress Test for Systems
Disabled people often encounter hidden assumptions that others can move through unnoticed. When someone appears to “break” a workplace, service, or process, the person may not be the problem—the friction may be exposing a design flaw.
Remote Work Is Access. But Not Every Remote Job Is Accessible
Remote work can remove major barriers, but location flexibility alone doesn’t make a job workable. This talk explores meetings, communication, scheduling, surveillance, workload, and the other design choices that determine whether remote work actually expands access.
Stop Confusing the Way a Job Is Done With the Job Itself
Employers often mistake familiar methods for essential job functions. This talk helps audiences separate outcomes from conventions so they can design clearer job descriptions, better interviews, and more workable ways of working.
What I speak about
- Disability, chronic illness, and the future of work
- Holistic accessibility and the Workability Framework
- Accessible hiring, disclosure, accommodations, and retention
- Remote and flexible work
- Sustainable performance and fluctuating capacity
- Inclusive communication, content, and workplace systems
Speaking formats
Leanna is available for:
- Keynotes and solo presentations
- Workshops and facilitated discussions
- Virtual and in-person panels, as a moderator or panellist
- Roundtables, lunch discussions, and lunch-and-learns
- Panel and roundtable consultation and development
- Podcast, webinar, and media interviews
About Leanna
Leanna Johnson Lee is a writer, researcher, content strategist, and longtime chronic worker. Her work examines the future of work, disability, accessibility, and the systems that shape how people participate. She is the creator of The Chronic Worker and the Workability Framework, co-host of the Bettermental podcast, and co-chair of the American Society of Journalists and Authors’ DEAI Taskforce.
Selected appearances
- PowerToFly Visible & Invisible Disabilities and Neurodivergence Summit (2024): Holistic Accessibility: Making Space for Disability in DE(A)I
- American Society of Journalists and Authors (2024): Do You Really Want to Say That? Q&A on Inclusive Writing with Janet Stovall
- Self Employment in the Arts: Workshops, panels, roundtables, mentoring, and creative-business programming
- The BrandLab (2020): Content Marketing Strategy for Tech Brands
Speaking archive
2025
- American Society of Journalists and Authors In-Person Conference, Feb. 24–26
2024
- American Society of Journalists and Authors Conference From Anywhere, Sept. 24–26
- PowerToFly Visible & Invisible Disabilities and Neurodivergence Summit, August
- American Society of Journalists and Authors webinar, June
2022
- Self Employment in the Arts, October
- Coffee Breaks for Creatives: Mental Health Conversation for Creatives, January
2021
- American Society of Journalists and Authors Conference: “Landing Bylines with Corporate Publications” with Benita Lee of GoodRx, Jordan Teicher of Contently, and Mary Ellen Slayter of Managing Editor Magazine — panel creator and moderator
- Grapeseed Collective: “Building a Business That Supports You and Your Mental Health!” — workshop
2020
- Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization Global Conference: “Mental Health, the College Creative/Entrepreneur & COVID” — workshop with Mike Veny
- The BrandLab: “Content Marketing Strategy for Tech Brands” — workshop
- Self Employment in the Arts Conference:
- “Creating a Podcast With Impact” — workshop with Mike Veny
- “Breaking Into Freelance Writing” — roundtable
- “Marketing Strategies for Creatives” — panel
- “Self-Management and Freelance Strategies” — panel
- One-on-one mentoring and portfolio reviews - AWAY Chicago: “Celebrate Getting Away Solo” with Sofia Martin of Wanderful, Kehinde Smith, and Chicago Tribune travel editor Lori Rackl
2019
- Self Employment in the Arts Conference:
- “Making a Living in the Literary Arts” — panel
- “The Dos and Don’ts of Freelance” — panel
- “Making a Living as a Freelance Writer” — roundtable
- “Combining Writing and Marketing as a Content Marketing Writer” — lunch breakout session
2018
- Self Employment in the Arts Conference:
- “Mental Health for the Creative Entrepreneur” — workshop with Mike Veny
- “Nonprofits” — panel
- “Eyes on Your Mission” — featured creative and assistant producer
- Branding, marketing, and mental health — one-on-one mentoring
2017
- Chicago Area Families for Adoption Conference: “Meet the Birthparents” — panel
- Chicago Women’s Creative Collective New Year’s Brunch: New Year, New Hope: A Freelancer’s Story of Adoption
Invite Leanna to speak
Planning an event, panel, workshop, podcast, or webinar? Get in touch or connect with Leanna on LinkedIn.