Finding Beauty and Strength in Disability and Disfigurement

Our photoshoot inspiration usually comes from a conversation with someone who sparks a thought, or idea that we then take and run with. This year it was Erie’s  Deputy Town Administrator, . Wiley is the only disabled woman in an executive-level government role in the entire nation and that fact alone deserves recognition. We reached out to the wider disability community and found an incredibly receptive and helpful group of people who helped make this vision come to life.

We asked each model about a few different topics, but common threads quickly emerged. Each wanted to share their story and to show how their strength, determination, and support network have allowed them to thrive in ways many not thought possible. Fashion is not always an easy topic for a physically disabled person to discuss. We were lucky to have such open and willing participant, each of who has helped inspire so many others, open up about their difficulties and triumphs, favorite outfits, and things they have had to adjust.

One name in particular kept receiving praise over and over again — Craig Hospital. One of the world’s leading medical centers Craig has provided an invaluable support system, mentorship opportunities, and a world of possibilities to families and individuals. Without the enthusiastic support from their community after Yellow Scene Magazine reached out to them, this entire photoshoot and article may not have been possible whatsoever.

In the end, every single person told a story of strength, overcoming adversity, a desire to help others, and the drive to make disability more visible in a positive way. Each model has followed a different road, some have faced disability and disfigurement since childhood, some experienced it at a different stage of life, but each shared the commonality they have found and their individual and group accomplishments.

Cherrie Mellott

“I was 18, snuck out for the first and only time in my life, and ended up in a car accident, and broke my back. This year will be my 34th year of being in a wheelchair. I’m a paraplegic. I grew up in Wyoming, and horses are a big part of my life. I wouldn’t go around horses for 19 years after my accident. But I’m a cowgirl from the start. So through the therapeutic riding center Freedom to Cowboy Up I help other people with disabilities find things they can accomplish.

Fashion wise, as it comes to clothing and that kind of stuff. You know, it’s hard because it’s like, I’m a cowgirl. Recently, they’ve made cowboy boots that have a zipper in the back. I like my moccasins. Clothing has been a challenge. People tend to give up on themselves and tend to put on the weight and that kind of stuff and just a lack of self-care. My biggest goal is to not look like I belong in a wheelchair. I even joke with my therapist “I’m faking this whole injury for the attention.” I found summer dresses work wonderful.

I became an occupational therapist because I had such great therapists at Craig Hospital. I didn’t go to Craig Hospital until 2017 and by that time, I had scoliosis in my back from not having proper wheelchairs and that kind of stuff. Craig Hospital, we’re kind of like the mafia. Once you get in, you’re never gonna get out. I love being there because there are other people with spinal cord injuries. I’m not the only girl in a wheelchair. I like to inspire those new inpatients. I absolutely love Craig Hospital. They’re just the best.

I had three kids all while in a wheelchair. I would take my kids to the store, they’d climb on my lap. I’d ask people for help reaching something, and they would walk by. What I didn’t look at was how inspiring I was to those moms who had kids and they were overwhelmed, and here I’m doing it from a wheelchair. I found that that helped me keep my head up.”

Jenny Siegle

“I was paralyzed at nine months of age from transverse myelitis. I had the flu, and my antibodies mistook my spinal cord for the flu illness and gave me a spinal cord injury. I’ve been able to regain my upper body. I can drive. I own my own home. I work a full-time job as a sports producer, and I also work for the Denver Broncos.

I started attending Craig Hospital when I was 14 in 1996 and I’ve just been very active with the hospital. I started as a peer mentor earlier this summer. I interact with the inpatients and answer whatever questions they have. They’re entering a very different world than what they were used to. I want them to see there’s a lot you can do. It’s a transition, not only for the patient but also for their family too. People come from all over to attend Craig. The people sincerely love what they do there, whether it’s doctors or they’re working in the cafeteria. It is a phenomenal place with phenomenal people. They significantly changed my life.

I’m a petite person so things that actually fit me and look nice can sometimes be a challenge. I love Nikes. Nikes are my jam. But they cause some pressure sores on my feet, so I’ve had to find different ways and get creative. I put an insole in the shoe to make it work. I’m all about sporty, athletic clothes, and hoodies. I also love to dress up, too. I love to look nice. On the fancier side, I dress up for different job obligations and conferences, but then again, I love just rocking a hoodie and Nike high tops.

There’s a big movement to have more inclusivity and that’s important across the board whether that’s, race, disability, or whatever the situation may be. It’s great to see more models who have visible disabilities on TV, in ads, and in movies. I was very blessed earlier in May to be part of the Denver Fashion Week, which was an awesome opportunity. There were a large number of people with disabilities participating in the fashion show, where I feel like, even five years ago, there may have been — if we were lucky — a handful of us. The fact that those opportunities are becoming more mainstream is phenomenal.

I’ve been working closely with an accessible apparel line called No Limbits, and their focus is making fashionable clothes for people with disabilities. So it’s easier to put these clothes on, but they still look really nice. I think that one of the coolest things is just very recently seeing inclusiveness rising for people with disabilities. I think that’s awesome that people want to help the next person be seen. It’s not only about me, it’s helping the next person to be seen.”

Sherown Campbell

I’m not the most fashionable person. My clothing choices revolve around functionality. I have one brand that I tend to gravitate towards which is ASRV, just because it’s more functional workout stuff. Their pants are waterproof. They have some stretch to them, so just especially having a disability, anything that’s comfortable and easy to get on, that I can move around in, that I’m not going to have to worry about getting caught in the rain, is all a huge priority for me.

I kind of just went with the normal stuff that I would wear. I usually walk with crutches. If I were to wear something like slacks or jeans, they’re restrictive, everything is a little bit harder, so just having an elastic waistband, more stretchable clothing, something that’s going to be warm if it starts raining.

It doesn’t really matter if you look good if you don’t feel good. I’m in and out of a wheelchair. I get caught in the rain. I walk through puddles. A lot of things that people have an easier time avoiding, I get caught in the middle.

Craig Hospital is a huge hub for anyone who has a spinal cord injury. I know there’s all sorts of different types of disabilities, some physical some that are not visible, but for me, having a spinal cord injury, they are one of the biggest resources in the state. They did great getting me adjusted to go home. They’re doing a lot of research and trials and studies there at the hospital. So I’ve gone back, even after my injury, to participate in peer mentorship, just to participate in some of these studies research. And it’s been a part of my life ever since the injury happened.

As for the community, I utilize Instagram a lot. You can hashtag pretty much anything, it’s pretty easy to find a community and support group there. So just hashtagging spinal cord injury, I’ve been able to meet people over the years, and we bounce ideas off of each other.

We were joking because when Covid hit, everyone was really used to being inside, doing things online, picking up groceries and stuff like that, instead of going outdoors. And all of us were like, nothing has changed. This is our normal day-to-day life.

There’s only a handful of spinal cord and brain energy specialized hospitals or facilities in the country. Craig is one of the leaders in that space. There’s a big community here within the state, which is also kind of cool, because it’s an outdoor state, and a lot of people don’t associate a disability with getting outdoors and being active. To be in a wheelchair, or on crutches or anything else, and still be able to access the outdoors is huge. If I was stuck in another state, I’d probably be stuck home a lot more.

Melissa Wiley

“I’m the Deputy town manager for Erie. I’m the only facially disfigured woman to lead local government at an executive level in the United States. It can be really hard for people with disabilities to find work, and then to get into a level of leadership. I’m really proud, and I’ve tried hard to be visible so that other folks get used to seeing people with disabilities in executive leadership.

I try to dress kind of classic, a 60s and 70s, and a classic business casual look. I’m facially disfigured. I used to avoid stuff that had a loud print or a loud color because people already stared so much. I tried to dress like everyone else. As I got older, it took me a while to come into my own style. For a long time, my style was just ‘Don’t pay attention to me. Don’t notice anything.’ When you have a visible difference, it can make you feel like you want to hide, and it takes some time to find yourself and your style. As I’ve gotten older, I love pink. I love colors. I’ve let myself love things like patterns and color.

There are all kinds of disabilities. If the whole world can look at you and see that you’re different, you end up attracting attention, comments, and stares. I always hope that someone likes my shirt, and they don’t notice my face for a minute, they just notice something else cool about me. Being complimented, I love it, it makes me feel like a human being. It makes me feel like someone who can join society.

The facially disfigured community is really small. They have more of a movement in the U.K., but it’s not as strong in the U.S. I tend to align more with the disability community just because I have a lot of shared lived experiences with those folks. I grew up in the Boulder area. I’ve never once encountered someone with a facial difference growing up. So while I know that exists I don’t know anyone. I connected with the larger disability community, and that has been great and healing to realize that I have a community in a broader sense. Do I need to find someone with the exact same situation? What I’ve learned is you don’t. I think the place where I’ve found community is with people who have had a disability since childhood.”