Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa DiVietri.
Hi Melissa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born with sacral agenesis, a rare physical disability that has shaped the way I move through the world, but it has never defined the limits of my life. Growing up in Michigan, I learned very early that I would have to advocate for myself, adapt constantly, and find strength in situations that were not always built with someone like me in mind. I use mobility devices, including a wheelchair, but I have always had a deep desire to experience life fully, connect with people, and show others that a disability does not take away a person’s purpose, creativity, or ability to lead.
Art became one of the most meaningful ways for me to express everything I was feeling. As an abstract artist, I create bold, emotional work that reflects resilience, movement, healing, love, and the beauty that can come from difficult experiences. Painting gives me freedom. It allows me to turn pain into color, challenges into stories, and moments of uncertainty into something that may help another person feel understood. Over time, my artwork grew beyond the canvas and became a way to connect with communities, host showcases, create live art experiences, and encourage other people to see their own uniqueness as a strength.
Travel has also played a huge role in my journey. I have traveled internationally to dozens of countries while navigating accessibility barriers, language differences, and the realities of being a disabled woman moving through spaces that are not always inclusive. Those experiences have taught me courage, patience, and a deeper understanding of people. They have also made me more passionate about advocating for accessibility, dignity, and equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
My service animal, Oreo, became another beautiful part of my story and inspired me to become an author. I wrote “A Tale of a Service Animal” to help children and families better understand the special role service animals play, while also opening conversations around kindness, inclusion, and disability awareness. I later continued that mission through “The ABCs of Disability Etiquette,” helping children learn how to respectfully interact with and include people with disabilities. Today, I am traveling for bookstore signings, storytimes, community events, and opportunities to share these messages with families across the country.
Alongside my work as an artist and author, I am also building Blue Entity, an accessibility-focused technology initiative created to help businesses better understand digital inclusion and improve the experience of individuals navigating websites with different accessibility needs. My advocacy is rooted in lived experience. I know what it feels like to be excluded from a space, overlooked, or treated as though accessibility is an inconvenience. I also know how powerful it can be when someone chooses to listen, learn, and make room for others.
Where I am today is the result of refusing to let hardship silence me. I am an artist, author, speaker, entrepreneur, and disability advocate, but most importantly, I am someone who believes every person has something powerful within them. My life has taught me that our differences are not weaknesses to hide; they are part of what gives us our voice, our perspective, and our ability to make an impact. Through my art, books, travels, and advocacy, I hope to continue creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and inspired to embrace their own story.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I was born with sacral agenesis, and from the beginning of my life, I have had to navigate a world that was not always designed with my body or my needs in mind. I have experienced medical challenges, mobility changes, physical pain, and the emotional weight of having to fight for access and independence in situations where others may never have to think twice.
One of the most difficult parts has been the lack of accessibility in everyday life. Something as simple as entering a business, traveling, finding appropriate accommodations, or moving through a public space can become a major barrier when ramps, doors, transportation, or basic accommodations are not available. There have been moments when I felt overlooked, dismissed, or treated differently because of my disability and the mobility devices I use. Those experiences are painful, but they have also strengthened my voice as an advocate.
I have also had to grieve changes in my own independence. There was a time when I relied more heavily on my forearm crutches, and over time, my wheelchair has become a more necessary part of my daily life. Learning to accept those changes has not always been easy. There is a real emotional process in letting go of an earlier version of yourself while still recognizing that the person you are becoming is just as worthy, capable, and powerful.
Building a career as an artist, author, and entrepreneur while living with a disability has also come with financial and physical challenges. I often have to plan around my energy, my health, transportation, accessibility, and the additional costs that come with being disabled. Many of the opportunities I have created for myself did not simply appear; I had to push for them, believe in my work, and keep showing up even during seasons when life felt overwhelming.
Through all of these struggles, I have learned that resilience is not about pretending everything is easy. It is about continuing to create, speak, travel, love, and lead even when the road is difficult. My challenges are part of why I am so committed to disability advocacy and inclusion. I want people with disabilities to know they deserve access, dignity, opportunity, and a life filled with purpose. Every obstacle I have faced has made me more determined to use my story and my work to help make the path a little easier for someone else.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a uniquely abled abstract artist, author, speaker, and disability advocate whose work is rooted in storytelling, emotional connection, and inclusion. My art is bold, colorful, and deeply expressive. I specialize in creating abstract paintings that reflect resilience, healing, movement, identity, and the emotions that are often difficult to put into words. Each piece carries a part of my journey as a disabled woman who has learned to transform obstacles into purpose and expression.
What I am known for is the way I use creativity to start meaningful conversations. My work is not only meant to be viewed; it is meant to be felt. Whether I am painting live in front of an audience, exhibiting my artwork, speaking about disability inclusion, or connecting with families through my children’s books, my goal is to help people feel seen and inspired. I believe art has the power to soften hearts, build understanding, and remind people that there is beauty and value in every lived experience.
I am also the author of “A Tale of a Service Animal” and “The ABCs of Disability Etiquette,” two children’s books created to encourage kindness, disability awareness, and inclusion from an early age. Through bookstore signings, storytimes, community programming, and speaking opportunities, I am able to combine my personal story with education and advocacy. My service animal, Oreo, has been a meaningful part of this mission, helping children and families better understand the importance of respect, compassion, and accessibility.
One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is building a career that reflects every part of who I am. I have traveled internationally, exhibited and sold my artwork, created books that represent disability experiences, spoken publicly about inclusion, and continued expanding my work into accessibility-focused entrepreneurship through Blue Entity. I am proud that the challenges I have faced have not stopped me from creating opportunities for myself and opening doors for others.
What sets me apart is that my work comes directly from lived experience. I am not speaking about accessibility or resilience from a distance; I live it every day. I understand what it feels like to encounter barriers, to adapt, and to keep moving forward even when spaces are not built with you in mind. That perspective gives my artwork, books, and advocacy an authenticity that people connect with on a personal level.
At the heart of everything I do is the belief that being different is not something to overcome or hide. It is something to embrace. My unique ability has shaped the way I create, lead, and connect with others. Through my professional work, I hope to continue building a world where people with disabilities are not only included, but celebrated for the strength, creativity, and perspective they bring.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
For me, risk-taking has not always looked like making one dramatic decision. Sometimes the biggest risk has been allowing myself to be vulnerable in a world where people with disabilities are often expected to explain, prove, or justify their experiences.
Being open about my disability, my mobility changes, my pain, my challenges with access, and the emotional side of navigating life as a disabled woman can feel risky. When I share my story, I am sharing parts of myself that are deeply personal. There is always the possibility of being misunderstood, judged, dismissed, or treated differently. At times, I have had to advocate for basic access or accommodations while also feeling like I needed to prove that my needs were real and valid. That can be exhausting and emotionally vulnerable.
At the same time, I have realized that staying silent carries its own risk. If I do not speak about the barriers I experience, then opportunities for understanding and change can be missed. Sharing my truth through my art, books, speaking, and advocacy has allowed me to turn vulnerable moments into meaningful conversations. It has helped other people with disabilities feel less alone, while encouraging families and communities to think differently about inclusion.
Traveling internationally with a disability has also required a great deal of risk and trust in myself. I have traveled to dozens of countries while navigating mobility barriers, unfamiliar environments, and situations where accessibility was uncertain. I have learned that taking a risk does not mean ignoring the challenges; it means preparing the best I can and still believing I deserve to experience the world.
Building my own path as an artist, author, advocate, and entrepreneur has been another major risk. There was no simple roadmap for creating a career that combines art, disability awareness, storytelling, and accessibility. I have had to trust my ideas, invest in my purpose, and keep showing up even when I did not know exactly how everything would come together.
Today, I view risk-taking as choosing authenticity over hiding. It is the willingness to be honest about what I go through while still showing the world everything I am capable of creating and contributing. My vulnerability is not a weakness; it is one of the strongest tools I have for building connection, creating change, and reminding others that they should never have to justify their worth or their right to belong.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.melissdivietri.com
- Instagram: /melissadivietri
- LinkedIn: /melissadivietri
- Twitter: /melissadivietri
- Youtube: /melissadivietri
Image Credits
Miles Young Media
