Representation in pop culture is a constant struggle for those who don’t “fit the mold”
As a young woman with disabilities, I have often felt misrepresented. One of the most challenging and painful experiences growing up was having few disabled role models. I saw my friends having big dreams and aspirations, following in the footsteps of those who inspired them. It left me feeling as though I would be unable to work a job I was passionate about and support myself financially. I craved to put my mark on the world in a meaningful way but didn’t feel equipped to do so.
By the time I got to university, I was fortunate enough to discover a world of phenomenal creatives. I was invigorated by industry professionals in arts and culture who were paving the way for disabled voices.
This article highlights some of my favourite people in pop culture who I wish I had known about when I was young. They aren’t just impressive because they have disabilities, but because they are powerful individuals contributing great things to improve the world.
Mayaan Ziv
Maayan is a photographer, an award-winning entrepreneur in the tech industry, and an incredible advocate for the disabled community.
As a person with muscular dystrophy, Maayan has a visible disability. This has only propelled her to create revolutionary technology to improve life and create unique works of art that captivate audiences around the world.
You can read more about Maayan Ziv here.
Why I love her:
I discovered Maayan’s work in my first year of University. At the time, I was wheelchair-bound and frustrated by my limitations. Feeling stuck and stagnant, I complained to my mentor about the barriers I was facing keeping me from my potential. She stopped me and turned her computer screen to show me a set of stunning portraits taken from the perspective of a wheelchair user.
Maayan also created an app called “Access Now”: a program that identifies accessibility and barriers globally. The application is the first of its kind, improving life for those struggling to navigate an inaccessible world.
Steve Saylor
Steve Saylor, also known as “The Blind Gamer”, is a content creator, accessibility advocate, consultant, and media editor. He is visually impaired and is a loud voice for the disabled community.
Why I love him:
Steve has a Youtube channel devoted to everything about video games, including their accessibility. He has an amazing sense of humour, is incredibly insightful and educational. Steve brings a unique perspective to an activity that is often inaccessible to individuals with physical limitations. He has worked alongside IGN, Gamespot, Xbox, and many others.
You can read more about Steve Saylor here and listen to my recent interview with him about accessibility in gaming here.
Elohim
Elohim is a singer, musician, performer, producer and in addition to all this, an outspoken advocate for mental health.
Elohim uses her platform and her voice to open up about her struggles, even the scary ones. It is rare to see artists let down their walls and have the same level of vulnerability that Elohim has with her audience. She regularly goes live on Twitch to engage in real time with her fans and interacts with her audience on a variety of platforms. In addition to all this, Elohim runs her own social media platforms and choses to her genuine thoughts and feelings whenever she has the opportunity.
Despite how intensely her mental health interferes with her career she continues to pursue it, bearing her raw emotions for all to see through creative expression.
She is constantly reminding people they are loved, and only continues to find new ways to engage as her audience basis rapidly expands.
When writing this article, I considered whether or not I would include someone with mental illness. Over the course past couple weeks I’ve reflected on times when my mental health was absolutely crippling me. I would be remised to not include one of my biggest inspirations.
Why I love her:
I was first introduced to her music in a really dark time in my life. She released an album called “Braindead”; a collection of songs that articulate the complex and overwhelming experience of living with mental illness. The music is unapologetically raw and honest.
I have never felt more connected to an artist and I highly encourage you to check out Elohim’s music here.
Frida Kahlo
Last, but certainly not least, Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón was a Mexican artist born in the early 1900s. She was famous for her paintings inspired by nature and the human experience.
Why I love her:
While I’ve looked up to her my whole life, I didn’t know she struggled with a debilitating disability. I’ve always felt very connected to Frida and her work. At first I assumed it was because of the shared experience of dark and fluffy facial hair, but recently learned that she spent much of her life in constant pain.
Not only did Frida lose the use of her right leg from polio as a child, but she was also in a near fatal accident as a teenager where she fractured several bones in her body including her neck and spine. She has over 30 surgeries and truly started to express herself artistically while in a full body cast.
Her suffering impacted her both mentally and physically, but it also pushed her to created more than 140 paintings. She explored her understanding of life and herself and built a career out of what she could not control.
Frida was a strong feminist and pioneer in the art world, and in learning of her disability, the connection to her life and work only grew stronger. I value her because she celebrated life despite its hardships, and she continues to fuel my passion for art and hard work.
Some final words from the crippled kid...
These are exceptional humans, not because they are disabled, but because of who they were at their core. All of these individuals have made significant contributions to pop culture. They took their circumstances and improve life with their unique talents and skillsets. I hope to put my mark on the world in a similar way and maybe show a young person like me that you can fit the mold if you break it first.
Very well articulated Elle Marie. Never allow yourself to be consumed by things you can’t do. There is always a path forward if you remain strong enough to crack open new doors. Opportunities wait to be explored.