Ashley Wool - Broadway Actress, Autism Advocate

About this episode

Ashley Wool discusses her role in Broadway and her advocacy for autism and inclusion.

This weekend's 1 in 31: Autism Today guest is Ashley Wool. Ashley is known for originating the role of Jessica in the groundbreaking Broadway musical How to Dance in Ohio. She has established herself as a uniquely vibrant and dynamic storyteller, and one of the entertainment industry's leading voices in autistic advocacy. Ashley made her Broadway debut in 2023 in the musical 'How to Dance in Ohio', in which she played one of seven autistic characters that were cast with autistic actors. This was a historical first for autistic and disability representation in the media, and behind the scenes, Ashley helped to craft a work environment that prioritized accessibility and inclusion in ways that no commercial theatre production ever had before. Ashley joins us to discuss authenticity in casting, creating an accessible work environment, modifying existing practices to be more inclusive to neurodivergence and other disabilities, and more. Tune in to learn more or visit: https://www.ashleywool.com/

People in this episode

Host: Anderson Center for Autism

Guest: Ashley Wool

Topics covered

• autism advocacy
• Broadway
• inclusion
• accessibility
• neurodiversity
• storytelling

Keywords

• autism
• Broadway
• inclusion
• accessibility
• neurodiversity
• advocacy
• storytelling

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: How to Dance in Ohio

More episodes of 1 in 31: Autism Today

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• Kimberly Popolizio - i2Evolve Art Studio · May 15, 2026 · 24 min
• Jan Schlueter - Neurodiverse Technologies · May 8, 2026 · 25 min
• Alex Astrella - Blu Star Productions & Film Festival · May 1, 2026 · 24 min
• Mariel Piña - Rockland County Department of Mental Health · April 24, 2026 · 25 min