If you ever want to feel like you could accomplish anything, participate in the Rollettes Experience. It packs a powerful punch of motivation and energy that is downright contagious!
What began as a wheelchair dance group back in 2012 by Chelsie Hill to meet other women with disabilities, and create a safe place to dance together, the Rollettes have become the embodiment of #GirlPower. They have created a flourishing and ever-growing community that stretches across twenty different countries through dance classes and mentorship programs. Every summer, the Rollettes host what they aptly call an “Experience” and let me tell you what an experience it really it really was!
As a C5 quadriplegic (I had a spinal cord injury way back in 2005), I was beyond thrilled to be able to attend this year’s Rollettes Experience in the infamous Los Angeles, California, a mere 4,300 km (more than 2,600 miles) from where I live in Ontario, Canada. As a Permobil power wheelchair user and avid traveler, I know what to expect when travelling with a disability: the unexpected. Transfers from my wheelchair to the aisle chair and then to the window seat of the airplane are always interesting. Sometimes the staff listen properly, and sometimes I start to tip over because the person who swore not to let go of me has let go of me. Sometime the little old ladies Accessibility Services sends down to manually lift me out of the airplane are too fragile to lift all 180lb(-ish) of me, so my caregiver and a lovely flight attendant decide they are tired of waiting and fireman-carry me out themselves. Sometimes the airplane slides on an icy tarmac and the plane gets emergency evacuated on the runway and the pilots carry me down the stairs to my broken wheelchair (that last one did not happen this trip, but it did happen to me).
We also watched my wheelchair get put on it’s side on the conveyor belt into the luggage compartment of the airplane while we recorded it from our seat constantly repeating “No. Nono, no, no, no, NO!” as the luggage men excitedly realized we were recording and began smiling and waving. Turns out it was too tall to fit through the door and no one knew how (or thought to ask) how to recline my backrest like they did on the flight home.
Metaphorical (and some physical) little travel bumps were more than worth it to get to the City of Angels, which lived up to its official tag line: Los Angeles brings it all together. The individuals that were brought together for this annual event were incredible. People of all ages, identities and disabilities took over a Sheraton hotel that had been bedazzled by the Rollettes. It kickstarted with a delightful talent and award show where countless people from the community highlighted their singing, dancing, and performance skills.
Sponsors, like us at Permobil, had booths set up all weekend that allowed wheelchair users as well as their friends and family to see and try out a few of our products like the new MVS standing wheelchair and the award-winning TiLite CR1 manual wheelchair. I loved being able to interact with fellow Permobil product users, many who have customized their chairs in bright colors and hydrographics, light-up casters and wheel covers which allows their mobility devices to be YOU-nique. As I (with my Popstar Pink shroud and rainbow elephant decals) always say, “if you can’t stand up, stand out.” By far, the product I saw the most people utilizing all weekend was the SmartDrive power assist device. I have never seen so many SmartDrives in one place before. So many people expressed how it was a vital part of their wheelchair, not only for big (carpeted) events, but for everyday use.
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Of course, there were also lots of energizing dance classes and performances that absolutely make you feel like a natural woman (shout out to the talented @AliStroker) and fun activities for those with diverse abilities that went on throughout the weekend. There was also a raging Y2K-themed After Party (where I excitedly got to rock out space buns). However, the events that made the most powerful impact on me were the guest speakers, the panels and group discussions. I was fully immersed in the raw and vulnerable truths these women shared and encouraged others to share, myself included. It is rare to find a safe place to share fears, embarrassing stores, curiosities, life experiences, and to learn that others have “been there” and “done that” when you thought these struggles were your own. It does more than create a community. It creates a family.
The Rollettes Experience truly “welcomes you to partake in this life-changing bundle of moments,” where you encounter countless motivational strangers that become instant friends, create lifelong bonds, and leave feeling as though you can achieve your wildest dreams. As a bonus, you also learn some pretty badass dance moves.
Katie CharboneauSocial Media Consultant - Permobil Americas
Katie has been a contract Social Media Coordinator for Permobil since 2017 for Canada and 2022 for the US. She became a certified Social Media Strategist in 2014. Katie went to Queen's University where she was the co-chair of Accessibility Queens for 7 years. Currently, she serves as a mentor on the Lived Experience of Disability course at Queens. Katie is an avid public speaker, having given keynote speeches at Keynote speaker at the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists Conference, Canadian Spinal Research Organization and Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation's After & Beyond Neurotrauma Conference. She's also received the Steve Cutaway Accessibility Award as well as the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award. Katie also loves to travel in her free time.