How can I be an artist and filmmaker when I have invisible disabilities?

I’ve noticed when talking to other artists and crafters, it can be a bit of a hard sell to explain that I make videos too and try to get them involved in my projects.

When I was a child, I had a list of things I wanted to do: write books, become an artist, and have my own TV shows. My dad always said, “Sure, why not?” He told me I could do anything I set my mind to. I know I can’t do everything now, but I can do some things.

I started making videos on YouTube with my husband hosting and helping out, mostly because I didn’t know where to start. We’re almost at 500k views now, which is pretty amazing.

Yes, there are film schools and groups out there, but I couldn’t go the traditional route. A big part of that is because I have an invisible disability, and my days can be completely unpredictable. Some days or weeks are manageable, and others are not. There are times I don’t leave the house for weeks, so I’ve had to learn everything from home.

Because of that, I can’t commit to volunteering on other people’s film sets or attending classes on a regular schedule. What TELUS STORYHIVE offered was something different. It was actually accessible for people like me who want to make film and video but can’t follow a traditional path.

They offer mentorship, one-on-one support, training, and a large community of people who have either solved the problems I’m facing or are willing to figure them out together.

During my first series, I had some major health challenges. My mentor from STORYHIVE helped me through it and made sure I didn’t fall behind. Not many programs would do that. The reality is that people dealing with health issues often need to work on their own schedule. They can still do the work, but their timing might look different from what most people are used to. For me, I tend to feel better later in the day, and not many schools or programs are available in the evening.

I really believe people can be good at more than one thing, and even build multiple careers at the same time, if they feel called to. I’ve always felt called to tell stories through whatever medium I can.

And I actually do a lot of different types of art to keep my mind off my chronic pain and the uncertainty of the future. It’s how I stay present. It’s how I keep going.