Zach Anner
Zach Anner
Zach Anner is a comedian, author, television writer, public speaker, and YouTube personality. He grew up in Buffalo, NY, and somehow remained an optimist despite enduring seven-month winters and watching the Buffalo Bills lose four straight Super Bowls. Zach’s YouTube videos have amassed
over 100 million views and have helped change the conversation around disability.
Zach hosted his travel series Rollin’ With Zach on the Oprah Winfrey Network, becoming the first person with cerebral palsy to host their own television show.
He is an ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation and has worked with United Cerebral Palsy’s Wheels for Humanity program to distribute wheelchairs to underserved communities in Nicaragua. He published his memoir If At Birth You Don’t Succeed in 2016, and his work writing for television has been honored with 2017 and 2023 Sentinel Awards for outstanding depictions of people with disabilities on screen. Zach’s memoir, If at Birth You Don’t Succeed, is a hilariously irreverent and heartfelt memoir about epic misadventure and finding your way.
In 2023, Zach was selected for Netflix’s Created By Initiative, and in 2025, he was a fellow for the Inevitable Foundation’s Accelerate Program for screenwriters with disabilities.
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“Hilarious and inspiring, Anner has made a life filled with fans, love, and Internet fame—reminding us that disability is no match for dreams.”—People (Book of the Week)
“Zach Anner is way more than an inspirational figure for anyone who has ever felt impossibly different: he’s also a great f**king writer.”...Read More
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When Life Gives You Wheelchair, Make Lemonade
Two months early, underweight and under-prepared for life, Zach entered the world with cerebral palsy and an uncertain future. By his thirtieth birthday, he had grown into an adult with a career in entertainment, millions of fans, a loving family, and friends who would literally carry him up mountains. With a mixture of hilarity and heart, hear Zach share his miraculous story.
“Comedian with cerebral palsy talks humor, Oprah and giving back”
Review of Rollin’ With Zach
Check out his profile on MyChild at CerebralPalsy.org
Browse Zach Anner’s Youtube channel for more hilarious clips and tips. Learn ifatbirthyoudontsucceed about Zach Anner and his book, and follow him on Twitter.
“Zach was absolutely perfect for our audience of parents of children/youth with disabilities and the professionals who work with them. He was inspirational, funny, and just what we wanted. He even tackled some tough topics that our state is going through and managed to give something to both sides of the controversy. I was a little nervous when he started down that path, but he did an excellent job on it.”
— Laura Warren, Texas Parent to Parent Conference
“Zach did an AMAZING JOB. His presentation was very well received by our diverse audience of educators, administrators, parents, community providers, and individuals with autism. Zach’s presentation was inspirational, instructional, and full of hope.”
— Annette Wragge, Nebraska ASD NetworkPraise for Zach Anner and If at Birth You Don’t Succeed
“Zach makes you want to be a better person, with his humor and his heart and everything he’s had to deal with from the time he was born. I’ve never met anyone like him, and I’ve met a lot of people.”
— Oprah Winfrey
“He’s a unique, creative kid with a smart, edgy sense of humor.”
— Arsenio Hall
“I think I speak for everybody when I say…I want to see more of Zach.”
— John Mayer
“Zach Anner is a truly inspiring and hysterical human being with a warped sense of humor (and body). He’s also an exceptional writer and his memoir is an absolute joy.”
— Rainn Wilson
“Zach Anner is the living definition of ‘giving better than he’s gotten.’ Life dealt him a difficult hand but he managed to beat the house with humor, heart, and a fearless punk attitude. Required reading.”
— Patton Oswalt
“Wonderful. . . Anner’s comedy is the peppy, uplifting sort you’d expect from someone who Oprah says ‘makes [her] want to be a better person,’ such as his elaborate Olive Garden metaphors for the nature of life. . . . Anner remarks wryly that being expected to act as an ambassador for the disabled ‘is a tightrope walk, which is hard on four wheels.’ Maybe so, but with this book, he makes it look easy.”
— Publishers Weekly, Starred ReviewBook This Speaker
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