We were lucky to catch up with Danielle Connolly recently and have shared our conversation below.
Danielle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Becoming a content creator and posting publicly online felt like a risk for me because I was never actually a social media person. I dabbled in tweeting for a few months in high school, but besides that, my Facebook had a profile picture updated every few years and my (original) Instagram stopped posting new pictures after a few months. I’m a certified meme queen, so I kept the accounts to keep up with the latest in pop culture, but I never had the urge to post. One time, I was going to start posting on Instagram again. It was during the beginning of college, but I realized that I was only posting the picture to make it look like I was thriving at my new school. The truth is, in many ways, I wasn’t. Ultimately, I decided not to make that post and I’m glad that I didn’t go down that rabbit hole of posting for validation. Even though I likely would have grown faster if I started my accounts during the social distancing days, I am glad that my idea to create content came when it did because I have confidence in what I have to say, and I am finding the whole process fun. It has been genuinely enjoyable connecting with people, seeing how my content is appreciated, and watching the seeds of my ideas grow. Of course, I would like to grow more, but I became involved in many things in the disability and rare disease communities since creating the accounts, so the successes or flops of the likes and views haven’t impeded my enjoyment of the process.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I was born with a muscle disease, and the genetic origin of the disease is still undiagnosed, so my life has been rather interesting. I have always been an ambitious person who strives to make the world a better place, but before I made changes in my life, this ambition at the expense of what was fulfilling and healthy for me. I originally thought that the way that I needed to make a difference was directly within the medical field, but after obtaining my bachelor’s degree, I decided to stop pursuing this path. Although I knew that I was making the right choice, it took me some time to find my next path. Eventually, I obtained my MBA degree and started volunteering for various causes in the disability and rare disease space, but I still felt a void. I have always loved creativity – especially editing videos. After taking my first trip to Walt Disney World as an adult with friends, I was able to conclude with confidence that I am more capable of travelling than I gave myself credit for. Once I got home from the trip, I swiftly got my own mobility scooter and started planning more adventures. Then I thought, why not document this? I started filming some local trips, and then I started thinking of short-form content ideas based on experiences in my life. I realized that I had something unique to say.
Thus, Daniellevates was born! Daniellevates is a play on my name combined with “elevates” because the content is all about elevating ideas about disability and rare disease. My YouTube channel features vlogs of my adventures in the Boston area and beyond, including my trips to Walt Disney World, the Disney Cruise, NYC, and San Diego. These vlogs feature accessibility reviews and also serve as an example of someone living with a disability and rare disease who can adapt and have fun! On Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube shorts, I post short-form content that is humorous, educational, or thought-provoking.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
A story from my journey that illustrates my resilience is my response to trolls. I knew that if I posted online that I would have to be prepared for the possibility of trolls, but I never expected them to arrive so soon! In some ways it’s a good thing, because it’s a sign that my content is reaching various audiences. I’m still a developing account, so while I’m now feeling prepared that if a video gains traction that they could pop up, their vitriol still surprises me! I’m not going to lie and say that the comments don’t sometimes get under my skin; however, I have found them even more motivating. The ignorance in the comments just shows how much more work needs to be done! I have been proud of my responses. While I may add a little sass for humor sometimes, I don’t go low and make it personal. I honestly try to educate at all costs or point out how silly the response is with some sarcasm. Some people will never change their mind and are set on being hateful, and in those cases, I don’t keep responding. It does bother me to see the abuse that other disabled creators face, and I know that some disabled people will not post online out of fear of being trolled. All of this happens, and yet most people aren’t even familiar with the word “ableism” or the history of disability rights.
I advocate in a way that is fair and leaves room for people to grow, so to receive hate in these situations is motivating to continue educating more people so that the scales are tipped in favor of people who are educated. The internet will likely always be a haven where the trolls of the world will go to seek some sort of sad satisfaction, but the more positivity, education, and realness that is put out, the more that progress will overpower this hate and ignorance. I aim to be a part of that change.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Aside from the goals that I have previously mentioned, I have other goals that fall under the overall mission to elevate ideas about disability and rare disease. Combining my advocacy focus as both rare disease and disability was a choice from the start. In some ways it would have made more sense to focus on one or the other; however, both causes are important to me and my content reflects my presence in both communities. While I have gained more “material” dealing with society from a disabled point of view, the rare disease community needs to be on the map more so I definitely want to contribute towards that visibility. Additionally, I think that it is important to acknowledge that its okay to advocate for research and treatments for rare diseases without feeling like you are betraying the concept of disability pride. I say this because my advocacy on both sides is ultimately about representation and living our best lives. Representation is essential; it lets people see how others live their lives in an authentic way. Not to mention, it increases pride and confidence in children seeing others who are like them in media, and it creates jobs in the process that should be going to the people with the lived experience in the first place! I want to get to a place where people expect to see disabled people in all places – education, work, dating, etc. Right now, many disabled people will attest that their presence feels jarring or unwelcome or some spaces. That needs to change.
I am also a huge proponent of accessibility. I want society to get to a place where accessibility is the cornerstone of new design. I really feel like accessibility reviews should be commonplace even if the person giving the review isn’t disabled. One of the complications is that accessibility truly means something different to everyone. In my content, I try to give people a better understanding of what accessibility means because a lot of the time most people don’t think about it unless it affects them. I accomplish this by pointing out design that is accessible when I see it, but I also show the obstacles that I run into when I wing it. Disabled people will tell you that it is tiring to always be planning ahead, and it is even more frustrating when you do try to plan ahead and then the place or activity isn’t as accessible as it was said to be.
I think that humor is a great educator – it disarms people in many ways – so I try to incorporate it whenever possible. Even if I am voicing a personal opinion, I truly mean well by all my content. I am trying to make a difference, but I’m also having fun with this and really enjoying connecting with people! I welcome you to follow me along on the journey!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_daniellevates/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@daniellevates
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@daniellevates email for collaborations or speaking opportunities: [email protected]