“Disability is not a brave struggle… Disability is an art.” – Jamey Perry on Adaptive Clothing with Slick Chicks

Slick Chicks, the adaptive clothing brand, has teamed up with Jamey Perry, an adaptive athlete, writer, wife, and mom. Jamey’ story is an inspiration to many, as she has embraced her disability and turned it into an art form.

“Disability is not a brave struggle or courage in the face of adversity. Disability is an art. It’s an ingenious way to live”

– Jamey Perry

Stepping away from the norm

Jamey shares her powerful insight on the importance of following your passion and stepping away from conformity:

“When you are part of the norm, the tendency is to conform and it’s scary to step away from the mainstream. But that is where your passion comes through and the world bends to passion. I always tell my kids, there’s so much fun on the other side of here, and that is something that I learned through disability.” 

A force to be reckoned with

When it comes to sports, Jamey is not one to shy away from a challenge. She is a fan of wheelchair basketball, WCMX WCMX is a sport in which wheelchair athletes perform tricks adapted from skateboarding and BMX, usually performed at a skatepark https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WCMX_(sport) , and sitting volleyball, and is always eager to try out new adaptive sports. Jamey’s passion for adaptive sports is matched by her drive to push beyond perceived limitations and achieve her goals.

Inclusive Design

When Jamey became disabled, she found it difficult to find clothes that fit her new body. “Clothes fit completely differently when you’re always sitting down” she explains, “So I am constantly on the hunt for clothes that work on disabled bodies”. That’s why she partnered with Slick Chicks, a brand that is committed to creating adaptive clothing that is both stylish and comfortable. “Slick Chicks is emblematic of the idea of inclusive design. These clothes are not only for disabled people, they’re just clothes and they fit lots of different types of bodies”.

Empowering Disabled Writers

As a member of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), Jamey is dedicated to advancing the careers of disabled writers and is currently serving as the vice chair of the WGA’s Disabled Writers Committee.

Jamey’ passion for telling her own story as a disabled person is evident in her work as the vice chair of the Disabled Writers Committee. She believes that, “It’s really rare that disabled people get to tell our own stories” and that it’s important to “embrace disability and celebrate it”.

The Gift of the Disabled Community

For Jamey, the biggest gift of her disability has been the disabled community.

“We also learn from your fellow disabled people. So the biggest gift for me of disability is the disabled community here on the footpath. Growing up in kind of a toxic environment, I don’t have a robust family of my own”.

– Jamey Perry

Comfortable in your own skin

Slick Chicks believe that everyone should have access to the tools they need to feel confident and comfortable in their own skin. Their collaboration with Angel City Sports Angel City Sports is an LA-based non-profit that provides year-round free adaptive sports opportunities for kids, adults, and veterans with physical disabilities or visual impairments http://angelcitysports.org/ celebrates accomplished adaptive athletes like Jamey Perry, who is a powerful example of the potential that exists within us all. With Slick Chicks, everyone can feel supported and encouraged to push beyond their perceived limitations and achieve their goals, regardless of their abilities.

Jamey Perry’s story is an inspiration to many, and her partnership with Slick Chicks is a testament to the brand’s commitment to empowering adaptive athletes and creating a more inclusive world.

For more inspiring stories about people with a disability, make sure to check out the BrightVibes interview with Kevin. Having traveled through Europe as a ‘human backpack’, Kevan and his friends challenge preconceptions of what is possible for the differently-abled.