STILl not over rollettes experience
Apologies for being a day late with this newsletter! I just travelled for a reunion at my family cottage and have been spending some much needed time with my family.
I promised you an update on Rollettes Experience — so here it is!
It's been almost a week since I got back from Rollettes and I think I'm still recovering. And I mean that in a great way.
Spending four whole days with ~250 women and gender-non-conforming folks that use wheelchairs and mobility devices blew me away. I genuinely think that it has changed my brain chemistry, in that it's transformed how I feel about taking up space as a disabled woman. And that's pretty special.
Keep scrolling for an overview of what I got up to every day at the conference.
DAY 1
The first day of the conference (Thursday) was the Boundless Talent Showcase. For four hours, 51 different disabled performer gave it their all on the stage.
The first category was the kids category, and my heart grew three sizes as I watched a troupe of little girls in wheelchairs dance the song away in their sparkly pink costumes.
As I sat in the audience, which was filled with other wheelchair users, I thought to myself: “the kids are alright.” If we keep showing up like this for young disabled people, they are going to know from the get go that they deserve to take up space on stage and everywhere else.
Day 1 was also the day that I met up in person with many of the women that I had connected with on Instagram, but never in real life. I had my first of many wheelchair hugs, which I was SO nervous about before the fact. (What if I didn't do it right?!)
At the end of the night, we came together for a beautiful reception event. Hearing more about the ethos behind Rollettes Experience and what it is that the team has created made me realize that I was exactly where I was meant to be. Plus, we got a surprise performance from Tony-award-winner Ali Stroker (!!) and she serenaded us with her life story.
DAY 2
Friday started with one of the keynote panels: “Pioneering Possibilities: Disability Entrepreneurs Leading Change.” Once again, Ali Stroker took to the stage, and she moderated the panel of amazing disabled entrepreneurs. This included:
Hearing each of their stories showed me just how much disabled women can do. It reminded me that I'm not delusional for wanting to reach for more and do more. I'm in great company.
Pumped up from the panel, I went to my very first wheelchair dance class! Led by Conner Lundius, the “Intermediate” class was a great way to try out something new, while laughing with the other girls as we consistently messed up some of the steps.
After attending a couple of other sessions, including a fantastic connection group on disability and motherhood led by Lindsay Ulrey from Wheel Good Motherhood, it was time to change for the first Y2K-themed event of the weekend: Game Night!
The Grand Ballroom was filled with different games and activities, including Mario Kart on a big screen, UNO, and a bracelet-making station.
DAY 3
Saturday had one of my absolute highlights of the whole weekend. I was invited to speak on one of the panels: Beyond the Vows: Exploring the Realities of Marriage and Disability. I got to talk about how much I love my marriage and the partnership my partner and I have built. I shared how our relationship has taught me that it's OK to ask for help — in fact, it's a gift.
What was most special, however, was sitting there with a group of women that I respect so deeply, and realizing that they get it. They understand what it means to be in partnership with a non-disabled individual and the dynamics that come with that. They have experienced a lot of the same things that I have. And as I listened to them answering the questions that were posed by the inimitable Alycia Anderson, I couldn't help tearing up.
It's such a beautiful thing to share space with other people who can deeply and genuinely relate to your story. I felt held in a way I hadn't before.
We closed off Saturday with a really fun Y2K party filled with music, games, candy, and dancing — lots of dancing! Plus, there was a T-shirt airbrushing station, and I came away with my very own Boundless Babe tee. (Pictures soon!)
DAY 4
On the Sunday, everyone that was still around gathered for a last party by the hotel pool. It was a lovely way to say goodbye to new and old friends, and we also got a massive poolside group photo!
Once the party was done, I went back to the hotel to lie down. It had been a full, rich, EXHAUSTING four days, and I could hardly move. But it was so worth it.
Like I said at the beginning of the email, I think I am forever changed after this event. Before starting my journey with Seated Perspectives, I held a lot of internalized ableism that kept me at a distance from the disability community. And even since then, most of my interactions have been online. Rollettes has helped me to fully normalize these relationships and interactions, and now I want more.
