ABOUT | The Access Wave

The voice behind The Access Wave

Olivia Picard is a dedicated performer, a passionate advocate for inclusion, and a strong voice for her community. As Miss Burrillville’s Teen 2025, she is committed to using her platform to make a meaningful impact, particularly through her work promoting inclusivity and accessibility.

Olivia's love for music and theatre fuels her community work, whether through singing the national anthem at local events or using the arts as a way to bring people together. She believes that her voice, both on stage and in advocacy can inspire change, and she continues to seek ways to uplift those around her.

In addition to her dedication to the arts, Olivia has taken on a leadership role in organizing numerous community events. She has successfully planned fundraisers and performances that bring awareness to important causes that actively improve accessibility in our state. She has also found that inclusion starts with learning, so Olivia has also made it her mission to educate children about inclusion to inspire a more unified future. Through these events, she has been able to combine her love for performing with her commitment to making a difference in the community.

Through her reign as Miss Burrillville’s Teen and beyond, Olivia strives to create a lasting impact. She uses her platform to amplify voices, influence others, and create opportunities for individuals of all abilities.

Miss Burrillville's Teen Instagram

Why create The Access Wave?

Picture yourself going to an into an establishment, excited to participate in an event, only to be stopped by stairs that prevent you from entering. For individuals who use wheelchairs, these obstacles send a painful message: "You are not welcome here." This reality became clear to Olivia Picard in 2021 during her time in community theater when two talented performers cast in Little Women were unable to access the stage due to its lack of accommodations. Watching them deliver their lines from the audience while the rest of the cast performed onstage was heartbreaking and eye-opening—it exposed the harsh truth that even spaces meant to foster creativity and inclusion were not truly accessible.

Inspired by her mother’s unwavering dedication to community advocacy, Olivia witnessed firsthand how change could be made. Partnering with R.A.M.P., a nonprofit dedicated to accessibility, they helped implement an external ramp at the historic Assembly Theatre, preserving its charm while ensuring equal access for all. Seeing the impact of this change, Olivia was motivated to take her advocacy further. She directed "Entertainment For All", a cabaret fundraiser benefiting R.A.M.P., bringing performers of all abilities together on the now-accessible stage. From this experience, The Access Wave was born— dedicated to increasing accessibility, fostering inclusivity, and ensuring that every welcomes individuals of all abilities. It represents a "wave" of change within our Ocean State, one that she hopes to bring all communities into. She has now been working on this initiative for about two years and hopes to one day evolve The Access Wave into a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.