We had the good fortune of connecting with Marie Dagenais-Lewis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Truthfully, I never imagined myself becoming a multi-hyphenated entrepreneur. I was really forced to create my own career after I lost my former broadcasting one to disability discrimination. I needed to figure something out, so I turned to art and began to create art that spoke out against the Ableist Society we are forced to live in. I started by creating a coloring book I self published through KDP called Chronically Spooky as a way to communicating life with a disability while at the same time providing a distraction that makes someone who lives with one feel both seen and heard. It grew into a series and collection, which features art that amplifies disabled culture with a spooky twist. It was both cathartic and empowering for me to create a career on my own where my disabled experience is an asset. Alongside my art activism, I mentor other disabled creators learn how to use the skills they have to create their own careers too.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It was hard to get to the point where I’m at today, and my art tells that story. My work explores a rare, disabled, neurodivergent experience in an ableist society. I really use my art to cope with my lived experiences as I began my Artist journey after experiencing disability discrimination that rocked my world. What makes me most proud to be an artist is the fact that I can create the representation that was missing when I was a young disabled child….for example, whenever I draw bones I always add bumps to the bones and make them bumpy bones to represent my rare disease Multiple Hereditary Exostoses. It’s more than just art when you live with a rare disability and can see yourself represented in culture.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to definitely give a shout out to Diversability, Clementine Willow, and Crystal Flores. In one of the darkest most transformative times in my life, they were essential to showing me there is a need for anti-ableist advocacy in this world, even if others don’t see it yet.

Website: https://RAREbyMarieDL.Threadless.com

Instagram: @r.a.r.e.advoc8

Linkedin: Www.LinkedIn.com/in/mariedl

Youtube: Www.YouTube.com/chronicnotcontagious

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.