We recently connected with Caitlyn Resch and have shared our conversation below.

Caitlyn, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

In the fashion and entertainment industry, I am automatically counted out when I roll into the casting calls. They see my wheelchair and mentally check out. It’s only when I bring what I have to the table that I am noticed. When people find out my story and just what I have been through, they tend to view me in an entirely different light. I have had to mask as an able-bodied person several times because runways were not safe for my wheelchair. This has led me to push my body PAST its limits. I have also been harassed in stores when I have stood out of my wheelchair to grab something from a high shelf, or to move the cart. Society has a way of judging a book by its cover; and I think we should take the time to have a conversation before we speculate on someone’s situation. I’ve been accused of “faking” my wheelchair use because I fought back from paralysis and now can walk/stand for short distances/times. This mischaracterization can lead to harmful narratives about the disabled community. First, wheelchair use is a SPECTRUM like any other spectrum. Some can walk/stand, others cannot. I think, again, you should ask before assuming. What’s that old saying? It makes an arse out of you and me!

Caitlyn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

In 2019, I collapsed with two rare autoimmunes diseases that destroy the nervous system called CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy) and CIAP (Chronic Idiopathic Axonal Polyneuropathy). Quite a mouthful, aren’t they? From February of 2019 to January 2020, I was paralyzed from the neck down. I could not move, lift my legs or arms, grasp, and at one point, I lost my ability to speak. Through physical and speech therapy, I was able to come back to a new normal, where I am at today. When I became disabled, I began to see how badly the community was thought of and treated. It sparked a fire inside of me to change the stigmas. The disabled do not have full equality, be it income, marriage, or general life. We cannot go to concerts (safely), movie theatres (safely), or even some buildings. We are thought of as a bother and stared at by about EVERYONE in the premise. These things are unacceptable and they have to change. As I began my journey, I realized there was LITERALLY no positive connotative narrative in the entertainment industry concerning the disabled. The disability is portrayed as a death sentence to your social life, among other harsh concepts. This made the fire in my burn brighter.
The community deserves a quality of life. We deserve representation in the media. We deserve to see ourselves on runways, in movies, on stage singing our lyrics, and everything the able-bodied have. I will not stop until I see it change. I will not stop being LOUD until it is equal.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of what I do is seeing the ripple I leave. Whether its making a pair of wings for a cosplayer (I do that too. I run a small knick knack/jewelry shop from my home!) , or someone messaging me to let me know I’ve made a difference and I should keep going, it ripples. When you create joy, the joy creates more joy and it just ends in tons of sunshine. With all the cruelty in the world, we need more love and kindness.

Being someone who can create that? That’s classic and priceless. I cannot thank my support system enough for believing in me and my art.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I first collapsed, I thought I would never dance again. It was something I used to express my emotions, to process my emotions, and kept me healthy. Not to mention, I love to dance and music makes my soul sing. Through trial and error, I began to figure out how to dance again. There were setbacks, of course. My legs could no longer perform as they did before and it took me a while to come to terms with that. However, I knew the joy of dancing again would be worth the fight. Even using ribbons to move my legs, I have found ways to dance, incorporating my wheelchair. Although, I hate being called resilient, I can see how I am resilient. The bittersweet thing about being resilient is, for me, I have no choice BUT to be.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/bubblegumcaitlyn
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caitlyn.resch/
• Other: Tiktok: @bubblegumcaitlyn

Image Credits
Fire Photo/Fairy Photos: Heather Ann Photography (Heather Chavez) Boudoir Shots: Mountain Mama Boudoir/Sabrina Harrison