Today we’d like to introduce you to Maylan Chavez.
Hi Maylan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States with my parents when I was a little over a year old. Shortly after, I was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, or SMA, Type 2. From an early age, my parents taught me that my disability did not determine my worth or my potential. I was fortunate to be given opportunities to learn, grow, and pursue my interests, and I found success in everything I chose to explore because of determination, adaptability, and the belief that I belonged in every space I entered. Sometimes getting there required a little more creativity, a little more advocacy, and a little more persistence, but I never believed that the door was closed to me. Today, that is the mindset I hope to instill in others.
Over the years, I have worn many hats including advocate, public speaker, content creator, podcaster, fundraiser, and community leader. I have served as the South Florida Chapter Leader for Cure SMA since 2019, helping organize events and support families navigating life with SMA. I have also raised funds for research through Walk and Roll and Extra Life, spoken at conferences and panels, and partnered with organizations across the disability and healthcare communities to share my experiences.
One of my favorite projects is cohosting Access Granted, a podcast where we have honest conversations about disability, accessibility, relationships, healthcare, and the everyday experiences of disabled people. I believe storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have for creating understanding and driving change.
Today, much of what I do centers around using my platform to advocate for accessibility, amplify disabled voices, and show that disability is not something to be pitied. It is simply another way of experiencing the world. Whether I am speaking at an event, creating content, mentoring others in the SMA community, or sharing pieces of my daily life, my goal is always the same. I want to help people see disability through a more authentic and human lens while reminding others living with disabilities that they belong, their voices matter, and their dreams are worth pursuing.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth road. The biggest challenge has been accessibility, and not just in one area of life. It touches almost everything. School, doctor’s offices, concerts, workplaces, traveling by air, and even aspects of daily life at home have all presented barriers at one point or another.
What can be frustrating is that many of these obstacles are not caused by my disability. They are caused by environments and systems that were not designed with disabled people in mind. We live in a time when the technology and knowledge exist to make spaces, services, and experiences accessible, yet too often accessibility is treated as an afterthought instead of a standard.
Those experiences have shaped who I am. They taught me how to advocate for myself and for others, and they reinforced the importance of speaking up even when it is uncomfortable. I believe we need to be louder than ever before because disabled people are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for equal access, equal opportunity, and the chance to participate fully in the world alongside everyone else.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work focuses on disability advocacy, education, and creating spaces where disabled people feel seen, represented, and empowered. Whether I am speaking at conferences, creating digital content, or partnering with organizations, my goal is always the same: to make the world more accessible while helping people better understand the disability experience.
One of the projects closest to my heart is Access Granted, the podcast I cohost. Through honest conversations about disability, healthcare, accessibility, relationships, and identity, we explore topics that are often overlooked while giving disabled voices the platform they deserve.
I am also the founder of Motorized Girl, a clothing brand that celebrates disability in a fun, stylish, and empowering way. I created it because I wanted disabled people to see themselves represented in clothing that feels modern, confident, and expressive. Disability representation does not always have to be serious. Sometimes it can be bold, playful, and something you are proud to wear.
What I am most proud of is helping people feel seen. There is nothing more meaningful than hearing someone say they felt understood, gained confidence, or finally saw themselves represented because of something I created or shared.
What sets me apart is that everything I create comes from lived experience. I am not just advocating for accessibility. I am living it every day. That perspective allows me to connect with people in an authentic way while showing that disability is not defined solely by challenges. It is also filled with ambition, creativity, community, and joy.
What’s next?
I am excited about continuing to grow the work I have already started while expanding my impact in new ways. One of my biggest goals is to secure sponsorship opportunities for Access Granted so we can reach a larger audience, elevate more disabled voices, and continue having meaningful conversations that educate and inspire.
I am also looking forward to growing Motorized Girl through larger collaborations with brands and organizations that believe in authentic disability representation. My hope is to continue creating products that make disabled people feel seen while encouraging the fashion industry to embrace inclusion in a genuine way.
Beyond that, I hope to deepen my involvement at the intersection of the SMA and pharmaceutical communities. I am passionate about working alongside organizations that are committed to improving the lives of people living with SMA through advocacy, education, patient engagement, and public speaking. As new treatments and research continue to shape the future of SMA, I want to help ensure that the voices and lived experiences of patients remain at the center of those conversations.
No matter what opportunities come next, my mission will remain the same: to create a world where disabled people are represented, included, and empowered to pursue every opportunity available to them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maythesunrise?igsh=MWFrZG42NXNuMm9pZw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maylan-chavez-891738351?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
- Other: https://motorized-girl-shop.fourthwall.com/
