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Caitlin McConnell

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The Most Inclusive Event of 2026? Rollettes Experience LA

Here are some highlights from the Rollettes Experience LA 2026, where we celebrate the power of inclusive community.

I captured the best moments from the red carpet to the dance floor, showcasing the energy and connection that define this event. Whether you are part of the disability community or looking for inspiration, this recap brings you right into the heart of the action. #rollettesexperience #wheelchairusers #inclusion #womenempowerment #takeupspace

The Most Inclusive Event of 2026? Rollettes Experience LA

Here are some highlights from the Rollettes Experience LA 2026, where we celebrate the power of inclusive community.

I captured the best moments from the red carpet to the dance floor, showcasing the energy and connection that define this event. Whether you are part of the disability community or looking for inspiration, this recap brings you right into the heart of the action. #rollettesexperience #wheelchairusers #inclusion #womenempowerment #takeupspace

Getting back to yourself after a major health setback is the hardest challenge.

I spent 18 months struggling with my health and motivation, but attending @rollettesexperience changed my perspective entirely. This is the story of how I finally started feeling like myself again. #healingjourney #selfdiscovery #personalgrowth #lostmyself #mindsetshift

Getting back to yourself after a major health setback is the hardest challenge.

I spent 18 months struggling with my health and motivation, but attending @rollettesexperience changed my perspective entirely. This is the story of how I finally started feeling like myself again. #healingjourney #selfdiscovery #personalgrowth #lostmyself #mindsetshift

4 Mobility Aids That I Use Every Day As a Disability Person

My wheelchair is the mobility aid that I use the most. It has given me the freedom and ability to do things on my own that I never thought I would be able to do!

I use my crutches when I have to walk short distances. The hardest part about using my crutches is not being able to carry anything.

I also use a walker to walk. I have found that when I use the walker I am able to carry things and be more efficient on my feet.

The Permobil Smart Drive is a revolutionary, lightweight power assist device for manual wheelchairs. I use my Smart Drive for longer distances in my wheelchair. It is especially helpful for sidewalks and going up hills. #ambulatorywheelchairuser #wheelchairuser #mobilityaids

4 Mobility Aids That I Use Every Day As a Disability Person

My wheelchair is the mobility aid that I use the most. It has given me the freedom and ability to do things on my own that I never thought I would be able to do!

I use my crutches when I have to walk short distances. The hardest part about using my crutches is not being able to carry anything.

I also use a walker to walk. I have found that when I use the walker I am able to carry things and be more efficient on my feet.

The Permobil Smart Drive is a revolutionary, lightweight power assist device for manual wheelchairs. I use my Smart Drive for longer distances in my wheelchair. It is especially helpful for sidewalks and going up hills. #ambulatorywheelchairuser #wheelchairuser #mobilityaids

Living with a disability is often framed as something to be fixed but my experience is different. This perspective challenges common assumptions about cerebral palsy and the search for medical solutions. #factormith #debunkingmyths #medicalmyths

Living with a disability is often framed as something to be fixed but my experience is different. This perspective challenges common assumptions about cerebral palsy and the search for medical solutions. #factormith #debunkingmyths #medicalmyths

I Live With Cerebral Palsy and Made My House Accessible!

When I walk up the stairs, I grab the bar that is right next to the hand rail and I cross the stairs. Once I get up stairs, I have two bars on each side that also helps me cross the stairs. I use a shower chair when I take a shower and my bathroom, including the bathtub is surrounded by handrails. I have a microwave drawer in my kitchen that is at my height when I am sitting in wheelchair. My Dad created a pulley for the garage door so that it would be easier for me to close the door behind me. Once I get into the house, I am able to pull the string and the door is able to close on its own. I have a foldable ramp in the garage that helps me get in and out of the house with my wheelchair.#accessiblehome #accessibledesign

I Live With Cerebral Palsy and Made My House Accessible!

When I walk up the stairs, I grab the bar that is right next to the hand rail and I cross the stairs. Once I get up stairs, I have two bars on each side that also helps me cross the stairs. I use a shower chair when I take a shower and my bathroom, including the bathtub is surrounded by handrails. I have a microwave drawer in my kitchen that is at my height when I am sitting in wheelchair. My Dad created a pulley for the garage door so that it would be easier for me to close the door behind me. Once I get into the house, I am able to pull the string and the door is able to close on its own. I have a foldable ramp in the garage that helps me get in and out of the house with my wheelchair.#accessiblehome #accessibledesign

How A Dog, A Wheelchair, and A Fireplace Nearly Cost Me My Life!

It was an average Friday night and I had just finished my dinner and then my dog decided to get into the garbage. This is a very normal occurrence for her to get into things because she is still a puppy. I saw her go into the garbage and I immediately followed her. She went over to the big dog bed by the fireplace where she is notorious for putting things. I went over to her to grab the garbage and my caster wheel got stuck in the dog bed and I fell out of my wheelchair into the stone fire place. I felt the blood immediately.

I was able to call my mom from my Apple Watch and she ran down stairs and applied pressure to my wound and call 911. My Apple Watch is not just a regular device,it is a medical device and it has saved my life multiple times. #er #applewatch

How A Dog, A Wheelchair, and A Fireplace Nearly Cost Me My Life!

It was an average Friday night and I had just finished my dinner and then my dog decided to get into the garbage. This is a very normal occurrence for her to get into things because she is still a puppy. I saw her go into the garbage and I immediately followed her. She went over to the big dog bed by the fireplace where she is notorious for putting things. I went over to her to grab the garbage and my caster wheel got stuck in the dog bed and I fell out of my wheelchair into the stone fire place. I felt the blood immediately.

I was able to call my mom from my Apple Watch and she ran down stairs and applied pressure to my wound and call 911. My Apple Watch is not just a regular device,it is a medical device and it has saved my life multiple times. #er #applewatch

How I travel with Cerebral Palsy

How I travel with Cerebral Palsy

Mono-skiing with Cerebral Palsy, my biggest Challenge

Due to my cerebral palsy, I have always struggled with doing multiple tasks at the same time. It is very difficult when you’re trying to learn to mono-ski to manage several things at the same time. For example, when you are mono-skiing, you have to be able to keep your balance by staying centered and pushing on the outriggers; you need to turn the outriggers to know where you’re going; and you have to manage what gravity is doing to you so you don’t go too fast. So when I had my lessons in Park City, UT, we agreed that I should use a bi-ski, which has two skis on the bottom instead of one, and still use my outriggers on my hands. This helped me to focus on learning how to use the outriggers without having to worry about keeping my balance. It was also very helpful to have had another mono-skier as one of my instructors. I am a very visual and auditory learner, so watching him do what I was supposed to do was very helpful. After my lesson that day, I hopped back into my mono-ski to give it a try and skied with my father. I was able to apply what I learned in the bi ski to my monoski, and I made a lot of progress.

Mono-skiing with Cerebral Palsy, my biggest Challenge

Due to my cerebral palsy, I have always struggled with doing multiple tasks at the same time. It is very difficult when you’re trying to learn to mono-ski to manage several things at the same time. For example, when you are mono-skiing, you have to be able to keep your balance by staying centered and pushing on the outriggers; you need to turn the outriggers to know where you’re going; and you have to manage what gravity is doing to you so you don’t go too fast. So when I had my lessons in Park City, UT, we agreed that I should use a bi-ski, which has two skis on the bottom instead of one, and still use my outriggers on my hands. This helped me to focus on learning how to use the outriggers without having to worry about keeping my balance. It was also very helpful to have had another mono-skier as one of my instructors. I am a very visual and auditory learner, so watching him do what I was supposed to do was very helpful. After my lesson that day, I hopped back into my mono-ski to give it a try and skied with my father. I was able to apply what I learned in the bi ski to my monoski, and I made a lot of progress.

How my able-bodied twin sister changed my life

How my able-bodied twin sister changed my life

Come with me to the DWTS live tour

Come with me to the DWTS live tour

Flashback to 2016

Flashback to 2016

My life with cerebral palsy.

My life with cerebral palsy.

How my eye doctor found hydrocephalus.

How my eye doctor found hydrocephalus.

Happy new year everyone! I hope you all have an amazing year. Here is my top 9 best Instagram posts of 2025. Cheers to another great year ahead! #newyear #goodbye2025 #hello2026

Happy new year everyone! I hope you all have an amazing year. Here is my top 9 best Instagram posts of 2025. Cheers to another great year ahead! #newyear #goodbye2025 #hello2026

Here are some highlights from my 3rd @rollettesexperience. I had an incredible time, made a lot of new friends and got to catch up with my friends from last year. I am so excited to go back next year!#cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge #wheelchairuser #ambulatorywheelchairuser #instagramreels #reels #rollettesexperience #rollettesexperience2025

Here are some highlights from my 3rd @rollettesexperience. I had an incredible time, made a lot of new friends and got to catch up with my friends from last year. I am so excited to go back next year!#cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge #wheelchairuser #ambulatorywheelchairuser #instagramreels #reels #rollettesexperience #rollettesexperience2025

Here is the story of how I contracted meningitis and had to get my VP shunt removed!#cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge #emergencyroom #er #seizures #vpshunt #shuntlife #hospital #surgery #bacterialmeningitis #meningitis #reels #reelsfyp #instagramreels

Here is the story of how I contracted meningitis and had to get my VP shunt removed!#cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge #emergencyroom #er #seizures #vpshunt #shuntlife #hospital #surgery #bacterialmeningitis #meningitis #reels #reelsfyp #instagramreels

I am finally back after several surgeries and my graduation from college I have a lot to catch you all up on, so stay tuned!

I know I have not been very consistent with posting on my social media platforms over the 7 years that I have been on social media, and one of my goals is to post consistently on all of my social media platforms, even when school is in session. Make sure to leave a comment down below letting me know what content you would like to see from me, having to do with disability and lifestyle and what topics would you like me to talk about on my social platforms. #cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge #collage #collegestudent #collegegraduate #collegegraduation #associatesdegree✔️🎓#lifeupdate #reelsfyp #reels #instagramreels

I am finally back after several surgeries and my graduation from college I have a lot to catch you all up on, so stay tuned!

I know I have not been very consistent with posting on my social media platforms over the 7 years that I have been on social media, and one of my goals is to post consistently on all of my social media platforms, even when school is in session. Make sure to leave a comment down below letting me know what content you would like to see from me, having to do with disability and lifestyle and what topics would you like me to talk about on my social platforms. #cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge #collage #collegestudent #collegegraduate #collegegraduation #associatesdegree✔️🎓#lifeupdate #reelsfyp #reels #instagramreels

Happy 1st birthday Lily! I took myself off the service dog because I realized that I needed a dog more for anxiety than physical help and Lily has done just that! #cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge #1stbirthday🎂 #cavapoo #cavapoopuppy #puppy #dogmom #dogsofinstagram #dogstagram

Happy 1st birthday Lily! I took myself off the service dog because I realized that I needed a dog more for anxiety than physical help and Lily has done just that! #cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge #1stbirthday🎂 #cavapoo #cavapoopuppy #puppy #dogmom #dogsofinstagram #dogstagram

The reality of waking up after surgery!

This was the 25th surgery that I have had done throughout my life. I always forget that it is so crazy when you go under anesthesia, you don’t remember falling asleep or going into the operating room but you can still remember the conversation that you were having before the surgery. This happens to me every time…

I am sharing this video because life is not always sunshine and rainbows, especially with a disability. What I mean by that is it may look or seem like everyone is perfect and not going through any challenges in their life but in reality no one is perfect and you never know what other people are going through in their own lives!

#cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge #hospital #surgery #vpshunt #vpshuntlife

The reality of waking up after surgery!

This was the 25th surgery that I have had done throughout my life. I always forget that it is so crazy when you go under anesthesia, you don’t remember falling asleep or going into the operating room but you can still remember the conversation that you were having before the surgery. This happens to me every time…

I am sharing this video because life is not always sunshine and rainbows, especially with a disability. What I mean by that is it may look or seem like everyone is perfect and not going through any challenges in their life but in reality no one is perfect and you never know what other people are going through in their own lives!

#cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge #hospital #surgery #vpshunt #vpshuntlife

My VPShunt story…..

I had a VP shunt placed at birth but it stopped working when I was 2 years old because my body started to drain the fluid on its own I am very fortunate that this happened to me because if I still needed my shunt, this situation would be a lot scarier then it was. Please keep in mind that this started happening in February of 2022 and I am just getting around to telling the story now. One day I just going about my day and I got this excruciating in my admin. When this first happened I went to the pediatrician at the time because I thought it was my appendix but the doctor had no answers so they sent me to the ER. When I went to the ER, they did an ultrasound and a bunch of tests and diagnosed me with constipation but you could clearly see that my shunt tubing was as tight as a guitar string. I ended up going to a specialist and it turns out that my shunt tubing is calcified inside my body but the doctor said that they could not do anything about it. I am sharing this story to spread awareness and get advice from anyone else who has a VP shunt and has experienced this.
#cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge #youtube #vpshunt #vpshuntlife#hospital #emergencyroom #er

My VPShunt story…..

I had a VP shunt placed at birth but it stopped working when I was 2 years old because my body started to drain the fluid on its own I am very fortunate that this happened to me because if I still needed my shunt, this situation would be a lot scarier then it was. Please keep in mind that this started happening in February of 2022 and I am just getting around to telling the story now. One day I just going about my day and I got this excruciating in my admin. When this first happened I went to the pediatrician at the time because I thought it was my appendix but the doctor had no answers so they sent me to the ER. When I went to the ER, they did an ultrasound and a bunch of tests and diagnosed me with constipation but you could clearly see that my shunt tubing was as tight as a guitar string. I ended up going to a specialist and it turns out that my shunt tubing is calcified inside my body but the doctor said that they could not do anything about it. I am sharing this story to spread awareness and get advice from anyone else who has a VP shunt and has experienced this.
#cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge #youtube #vpshunt #vpshuntlife#hospital #emergencyroom #er

Happy new year everyone! I hope you all have an amazing year. Here is my top 9 best moments and Instagram posts of 2024. Cheers to another great year ahead! #newyear #goodbye2024 #hello2025 #cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge

Happy new year everyone! I hope you all have an amazing year. Here is my top 9 best moments and Instagram posts of 2024. Cheers to another great year ahead! #newyear #goodbye2024 #hello2025 #cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge

Meet Lily Ann, Lily for short!

I am very happy that I was able to name my puppy because I wanted to use the name “Ann,”. My Aunt Terry Ann is a very special person in my life. When i was on the list for a service dog it was not an option to pick my own name because service dogs are trained for a few years before they are partnered with their person so they obviously have a name. When i decided to take myself off the list for a service dog (I had bad luck with the process and it took really long) it did not occur to me that i may have the opportunity to name the puppy, but the breeder family emailed me and asked what name i wanted to use. That night as I laid in bed thinking about the tiny puppy who would be with me in a few months it just came to me: Lily Ann! It was perfect! I wonder if my Aunt Terry put that name into my head - because a lily is my grandma’s favorite flower, too! I took myself off the service dog because I realized that I needed a dog more for anxiety than physical help and Lily has done just that! #cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge #reels #genderreveal #namereveal #cavapoo #cavapoopuppy #puppy #dogmom #dogsofinstagram #dogstagram

Meet Lily Ann, Lily for short!

I am very happy that I was able to name my puppy because I wanted to use the name “Ann,”. My Aunt Terry Ann is a very special person in my life. When i was on the list for a service dog it was not an option to pick my own name because service dogs are trained for a few years before they are partnered with their person so they obviously have a name. When i decided to take myself off the list for a service dog (I had bad luck with the process and it took really long) it did not occur to me that i may have the opportunity to name the puppy, but the breeder family emailed me and asked what name i wanted to use. That night as I laid in bed thinking about the tiny puppy who would be with me in a few months it just came to me: Lily Ann! It was perfect! I wonder if my Aunt Terry put that name into my head - because a lily is my grandma’s favorite flower, too! I took myself off the service dog because I realized that I needed a dog more for anxiety than physical help and Lily has done just that! #cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge #reels #genderreveal #namereveal #cavapoo #cavapoopuppy #puppy #dogmom #dogsofinstagram #dogstagram

The reason why I took myself off off the service dog List …#cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge #reels #servicedog #anxiety #puppy

The reason why I took myself off off the service dog List …#cerebralpalsy #disability #physicalchallenge #reels #servicedog #anxiety #puppy

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@caitlinmconnell

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