We Got Tired Of Lack Of Disability Representation In Media And Pop Culture So We Created Chair Devils!

My husband and I are both designers and artists. I’m a designer and illustrator on wheels and he’s a concept artist for video game industry. As artists we both love toys, film and media and feel in the inclusive era it’s time for disability presentation in pop culture. Disability isn’t yet normalized because it’s hidden from media and culture. More visibility means more understanding and normalizing what is normal for us.

As an industrial designer I have worked in toy design industry and as an advocate also illustrate moments inspired by the progression of my rare muscle wasting disorder. My husband and I thought it would be fun to draw chibi-inspired portrayals of the disabled community WE know; fun-loving big dreamers who live life to the fullest whether that’s through sports, skydiving, skateboarding, traveling, rock climbing, race car driving, surfing or spirited wheelies living out their dreams.

The disability community is the LARGEST and FASTEST growing minority group in the US (19%) and worldwide (15%). And, yet we are still under constant and prolific discrimination, face difficulty in acquiring jobs and endure constant inaccessibility by a society that overlooks us.

Disability does not mean void of capability. My disability hasn’t stopped me, it just makes ordinary tasks more difficult to achieve.

I’m just different and different is good.

Chair or not, I believe in living life to the fullest. I travel, have skydived, parasailed, skied and scuba dived the Great Barrier Reef. Being in a chair is not sad, it liberates us and grants opportunity to live independently.

We are every bit as “normal” as the “able” bodied world. We dream big and we live big. The future can be accessible...for all.