Zach Anner shared stories from his memoir, “If at Birth You Don’t Succeed,” on Monday at VCU. (Photo credit: Kevin Morley)

VCU hosts comedian Zach Anner for Disability Awareness Month

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Virginia Commonwealth University hosted comedian, TV host, writer and YouTube star Zach Anner on Monday as part of the university’s recognition of Disability Awareness Month.

Anner, the author of If at Birth You Don’t Succeed,” a memoir about his life with cerebral palsy, spoke at “One World, Infinite PossAbilities,” held in the University Student Commons Theatre and hosted and co-sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs, the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity

The Texas-based comedian won his own TV show through “Your OWN Show: Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star” in 2011. His show on the Oprah Winfrey Network, “Rollin’ With Zach,” featured his wheelchair travels. He currently writes for the ABC show “Speechless.” 

Anner, who opened his presentation, “When Life Gives You A Wheelchair, Make Lemonade,” with one of his WorkoutWednesday videos, said he started giving presentations in 2011 and does between 10 and 20 a year.

“I thought it was a way I could connect with people and tell some of the things in my story that I hadn’t been able to express yet,” Anner said. “I found that there was a gap in people with disabilities sharing their stories, and my path has been very unconventional. I wanted to maybe infuse my story with a bit of humor and show people there are different paths you can take.” 

Anner’s mother advocated for him when he was young, he said, and he was the first student with a disability to be mainstreamed in his school district. He said his successes are largely due to people advocating for him before he could advocate for himself. 

“I am constantly reminded that I can’t do it alone,” Anner said. “That’s true for everyone whether they realize it or not.”

Anner focused his presentation on having a support system and asking for help when needed. He closed with a short excerpt from Chapter 15 of “If at Birth You Don’t Succeed.” Anner wrote the section, “Game Changer,” as a way to recognize his adaptive physical education teacher, Mrs. Fatta, who changed his outlook on his disability through sports.

“I think the thing that stuck out to me the most was when he read out loud from his book about his P.E. teacher and how she was encouraging him so he would be pushed to meet her halfway and giving him a new perspective on life,” said Sana Masud, a junior in the School of the Arts who attended the event. 

Anner signs copies of his book following the event. (Photo credit: Kevin Morley)
Anner signs copies of his book following the event. (Photo credit: Kevin Morley)

The message of opportunity was woven throughout Anner’s presentation. It is also a focus of many VCU departments. One of VCU’s missions is to promote diversity that provides a climate of inclusion, a dedication to addressing disparities wherever they exist and an opportunity to explore and create in an environment of trust. Last spring, as an example, a new partnership between the Outdoor Adventure Program of VCU Recreational Sports and the Richmond-area nonprofit organization Sportable provided adaptive sports and recreational opportunities for people with physical and visual disabilities. 

Anner is the first speaker to come to VCU for disability awareness month. Ian Kunkes, director of Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity, says he hopes Anner’s presentation is the first of many. 

“I pitched a couple of different people secretly hoping that Zach would rise to the top and it was pretty unanimous as different offices started seeing the YouTube videos he’s done and some of his speeches — he’s somebody that could just really speak to what VCU is all about,” Kunkes said. 

Comedy connects people of all abilities, Anner said.

“Comedy invites people in,” Anner said. “If I can make you laugh, we’re connected.”