Alicia Deal was the fine arts librarian for the Dallas Public Library’s Downtown Branch. She is the co-founder and former president of the Disabilities and Accessibilities Employee Resource Group (DAERG) within the City of Dallas. She is also a former chair for ALA’s Bridging Deaf Cultures Interest Group and for the Peggy Barber Tribute Grant Committee. Alicia was a member of ALA’s 2023 Emerging Leaders Cohort and was chosen to be one of Library Journal’s 2023 Movers and Shakers.

Currently she is focused on disability advocacy and is a volunteer with several disability related organizations, including the U.S. Gender and Disability Justice Alliance and the Disability EmpowHer Network. She is also a current cohort member of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities’ Advocacy Corp which teaches those with disabilities how to advocate for oneself at the public policy level.