My Superpower

Anna Pakman is a New York City-based writer, producer, and director and an advocate for disability inclusion in the media. Growing up with Cerebral Palsy, Anna had a deep love for entertainment but was dismayed at the lack of people who looked like her represented on screen and stage. She is passionate about creating content that accurately and positively portrays the lived experience of people with disabilities. She currently serves on the leadership team of Lights! Camera! Access!, through which she helps facilitate workshops for and mentors young adults with disabilities interested in pursuing careers in disabilities. She also served on the selection jury for the Reelabilities Film Festival. Anna spent several years working in television at NBC Universal, Current TV, and Al Jazeera America before transitioning to her current role as head of digital marketing for New York State's economic development agency, where she oversees digital marketing and content strategy for the iconic I LOVE NY campaign and helped develop Governor Cuomo's accessible tourism initiative. Anna holds a BS from New York University, an MBA from Columbia Business School, and, most importantly, a certificate in sketch writing from the Upright Citizens Brigade.

Liz Pritchard is an Artist, Autistic, Autism Advocate & Disability Rights Advocate, Author and Video Editor. Liz sees art as a healthy means of communication that can identify one’s emotions when words are too difficult. In the form of autobiographical comic books, Liz explores various psychological conditions, providing a visual representation of the feelings of individuals with mental illness. Her work comes from her desire to help erase the negative stigma that often surrounds these types of conditions. Doing so can enable those who share similar struggles to talk more about their feelings and get the help and support that they need. She is also an accomplished video editor, who has done work for A&E Networks, and most recently served as post-production supervisor for the ADA30 Lead On Celebration of Disability Arts, Culture, Education & Pride, to be streamed on YouTube and Facebook Live. She is also an Art Instructor at Spectrum Creative Arts, an organization offering arts programming to individuals of all abilities. Liz is a native of Rochester, NY and a graduate of SUNY Brockport, where she studied Studio Art & Drawing.