Accessible Hollywood

People Are Going To Stare Mine As Well Make It Worth Their While! Natural Hair Rocking, Model, Actress & Spina Bifida/ Disability Advocate

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The Beauty Of Infinite Inclusion

The Beauty Of Infinite Inclusion

One thing I am passionate about is changing the perception of how society views people with disabilities. All people disabled or not can have times of doubt or low self-esteem, but most people with disabilities have a harder time. We work harder on our confidence and being accepted. My mission is to unite all people by making sure my fellow differently-abled people see themselves in a positive…

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Accessible Technology With Apple!

Accessible Technology With Apple!

Wow! This past month went by so fast. As most of you may know the month of October was packed with multiple celebrations of awareness like, Disability Awareness, Down Syndrome Awareness, Disability Employment Awareness, and of course Spina Bifida Awareness (which you know I rep hard since i have Spina Bifida). This month was full of disability pride and I couldn’t be any prouder. I fight…

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Bezgraniz Couture Revolutionizing Fashion During LAFW 

This past weekend I had the honor of attending the first ever fashionshow for LAFW that featured people with different abilities. Bezgraniz Couture is a fashion company from Russia that makes adaptive clothing for PWD (People with disabilities). Bezgraniz means “Fashion Without Borders”. It was started by Janina Urussowa and a few other partners who I had the pleasure of meeting. During this…

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Being Inspired By Raw Beauty in LA 

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of attending The Raw Beauty Project LA this was an amazing event that was first featured in NY and was a great success The a Raw Beauty Project was founded by Ginny Davis, Dr Susan Solman, and Wendy Crawford. It later came to LA with the help of the amazing Angela Rockwood some of you may know her amazing story from the show Push Girls, how she struggled with…

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Being Shameless In Downtown LA 

This past Sunday I went to an event hosted by one of my fave Youtubers Shameless Maya. She was celebrating her birthday and the anniversary of her YouTube channel and wanted to use it an opportunity for creative people to network. It was such a honor to be among amazing people who have made it to the position I hope to be in some day.  Mayas work ethic is crazy and I admire her for that. I went…

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Hours of Happy At P.F. Changs 

  I’m So one of my favorite spots to hang out for some great drinks and appetizers is PF Changs in Santa Monica. They have awesome drinks for a decent price and the best appetizers, who doesn’t love their famous lettuce wraps. If you go there during their Happy Hour the prices are even better. My fave one to go to is the one in Santa Monica on the famous Wilshire Blvd next to the 3rd Street…

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Hours of Happy At P.F. Changs 

  I’m So one of my favorite spots to hang out for some great drinks and appetizers is PF Changs in Santa Monica. They have awesome drinks for a decent price and the best appetizers, who doesn’t love their famous lettuce wraps. If you go there during their Happy Hour the prices are even better. My fave one to go to is the one in Santa Monica on the famous Wilshire Blvd next to the 3rd Street…

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Update On Browzing For The Perfect Brows!!! 

My last post I talked about how I was dying to try out the queen of brows Ms Kelly Baker Brows, and how when I tried to book an appointment, her studio wasn’t handicap accessible! Well Kelly Baker herself saw my post and reached out to me and said, She agreed that Everyone including people with disabilities needed to have fab brows!!! So I am happy to say she made the notice on her website that…

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Brow-zing for The Perfect Brows!! 

Welcome back for another accessible story. I am a makeup and beauty junky, and one of the things I focus on a lot are eyebrows! I notice people’s eyebrows before anything else and I’m the type of person that my eyebrows have to be perfect. I mean lets be honest a great eyebrow sets off the rest of your face. You can even have on great makeup but if your eyebrows are jacked the look is screwed. So…

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My Ish Tight For New Years!!! 

New Years Eve is my favorite holiday and I had to make sure I partied it up right! Around the holidays I was on Snapchat and I got a snap from my cousin Perry telling me that he and my other cousin Kyle was hosting a NYE party and at this point I still didn’t have any concrete plans for NYE. So I wanted to support my cousins by checking out the event, not to mention it was only 6 bucks and that’s…

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Climbing For The Love Of Music

On November 28th of 2015 I went to Amalfi, an Italian Eatery and a quaint venue for entertainment upstairs called Room 5. It’s on the famous La Brea Blvd in this swanky neighborhood in LA called Hancock Park. I promised my friend Sheldon Botler, an amazing singer, musician, and photographer that I would attend his performance. He is absolutely talented I encourage you to check him out.  I haven’t been to any of his shows in awhile so I was so excited to be able to attend this one. Before I was heading out my mom asked, “It says the event is on the second floor. Do you know if they have an elevator?” I totally didn’t check. Sometimes I forget that some places aren’t up to code and don’t have an elevator or some form of accessibility for the handicap. I’m sure I can speak for most when I say it’s demeaning to have to think about the possibility of not attending an event because of my physical disability.

We called the venue and the lady who answered the phone was very nice but it was obvious she was shocked that the question was even asked, she was not ready. Lol. She replied “I don’t think we have an elevator but let me ask.” She returned and said “I’m sorry we don’t” but her tone was as if she was sorry that I would miss the show. I was not about to miss my friends show that I already bought tickets for. When I, Miss Tatiana Lee, have a mission I find a way to make it happen! So I proceeded to ask her how many steps are their. She said about 10. I know I’m capable of handling that so I let her know that I will still be attending the show. Unfortunately, she didn’t offer any assistance.

When we arrived the hostess who was on the phone earlier noticed me, and she offered no help at all. Two male event goers went up the stairs ahead of me. They didn’t offer any help but honestly I didn’t expect them too. When I assessed the stairs situation it was a lot more than 10 stairs like the woman described. The stairs continued around the corner to another 3 steps. My amazing sister carried my chair while I scooted up the steps without ruining my cute outfit. When I finally made it upstairs there was another person at a host stand to greet us into Room 5. She checked the list for our names then let us right in. The place was packed, which is great because it’s an amazing turn out for my friend. During the performance Sheldon even expressed that this was the best support he has ever received at Room 5. But surely it was not the ideal space for an average wheelchair user. The tables they had were already full. It was very hard for me to maneuver around the room. I wasn’t able to make my way to the bar to enjoy a drink. I had to ask someone to grab one for me. The tables were crammed together so even if a table in front of the stage was available I wouldn’t have been able to make my way there unless I pushed a bunch of tables and chairs out of my way. It would be way too much work. After climbing the stairs and trying to buy a drink there was still no employees that offered their help in any way besides serving us food. Even though my sister had to order the food at the bar.

After the first set was over  Sheldon Botler Music started setting up their equipment. Some of the crowd left as the new crowd including us made our way in. I found a table just like the second hostess informed us might happen. We really had to rush in and take the table before anyone else did. I would have appreciated if there was an employee that made sure I was given a table but just like the rest of my experience here at room 5 I had to take matters into my own hand. I made my way to the table so I can enjoy the show I came for which wasn’t short of amazing. Something you must experience in person.  I must say it was well worth the climb, my friend did a great job along with his band. After the show I had to make my way back to the stairs which wasn’t as bad as coming in because some people had left by now. I still had to maneuver around a few tables and chairs, which can be very difficult especially after you’ve had a few drinks. On my way back down this cute guy offered to carry my chair. (Who Says Shivery is dead?). I enjoyed the rest of my night with my girls with more drinks and fun. It was a pretty good Saturday night. Luckily I have the movement to climb stairs if need be, but what about someone who can’t?! It’s not fair that everyone can’t partake in a good show at this quaint venue. Room 5 has some work to do in the matters of accommodating the differently able. In this day in age an elevator is extremely necessary if you have more than one floor. The furniture should be placed with the intent of space not about how many people you can fit in the room. Or even designated handicap spots, so it can be a lot easier for someone to come up and enjoy the great shows and drinks!!!

Overall I will say Room 5 Lounge is a nice venue that has great taste in the people they pick to perform, that’s why they picked Sheldon Botler Music. But I must say if they made a few changes it would be such a even better, hip, modern hangout spot.

You can find Sheldon Botler Music by clicking here: Sheldon Botler Music 

Also check out a Live Performance Above

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The Start Of Accessible Hollywood

Moving to LA was a huge step in my life. It’s been hard to be consistent with my life goals and dreams dealing with health issues and just life struggles in general. I’m an aspiring model and actress but I’m not your average cute face and great smile that you would see on a beauty ad, well at least NOT YET. I was born with a disability called Spina Bifida, which has caused me to be paralyzed. I’ve had numerous surgeries to correct my deformed feet, and also had a shunt placed in my brain at a month old due to having hydrocephalus. Early this year I finally had it removed due to an infection and doctors determining I no longer needed it.

As a kid I always loved fashion, make up, skin care, and hair just overall beauty. It was a fun hobby for me. I always accepted opportunities to express myself, my art.  I’ve always been told I have an exotic look and a big diva personality to match that made me destined to be a star. Little did I know once I got older society would see something different. Trying to book modeling jobs or sign with modeling agencies alongside girls who stand over 5 ft tall and slim then being rejected because they are closer to society’s image of perfection. This is where great family and friends are important! I have such an amazing support system of encouragement but now is time for me to give back to people that are just like me!

I love to go out to social gatherings and networking events. Being in Hollywood is the perfect place for that. My friends always know where the hot spots are. One night I was at a networking event which I had a great time but UNFORTANTLEY the place was not handicap accessible. Which lead me to want to start this blog “Accessible Hollywood.” It serves as a guide to others like me who need handicap accommodations on a daily bases who come to LA to pursue their passion in the arts whatever that may be. This will show you what events, venues, etc. that are accessible or not accessible and also my experiences. I have a lot of them to share, some good, some not so good. I even did a shoot with a photographer who had a studio on a 2nd floor. She didn’t even think twice after I told her, “I am handicap.”  Who wants to always remind people or call every event you want to attend just to ask, “Are you handicap accessible?’”.  Some people have no idea what you mean when you say that. Yes I’ve had people say “Hold on. Let Me Check,” *insert side eye emoji here* lol. Yes you would think people automatically know, but they don’t and I feel it is my responsibility to show up and show out for our voices to be heard so we (people with disability) don’t always have to go through this. We need to let society know that WE can have just as much fun as able bodied people. What better place to do it then in the city of dreams!

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A Open Letter To Boris Kodjoe ,Nicole Ari Parker & B. Scott from The Spina Bifida Community!!

I am very upset this morning and rightfully so. How can you write and or promote an article about a group of people you are not fully educated about? Now those people are upset and in a uproar, as in the Spina Bifida Community. Nicole Ari Parker & Boris Kodjoe are creating a platform for there own agenda and speaking for people they aren't fully educated about, or talked to. They are making it seem like having Spina Bifida is this horrible disease. It is not a disease its a Birth Defect and it's not horrible and it's not a battle and that was the wording of B Scott who wrote this article. SB is not a battle, it's just a person who has to find other ways of getting through life and there is nothing wrong with that!! 98 percent of people with SB are happy with having Spina Bifida. they just want to be accepted and have the same opportunities as everyone else. We don't feel sorry for ourselves and dying for someone to make a cure!! We just want to live life. Nicole and Boris are making it seem like it's stopping their daughters life and it not a death sentence or stopping her from achieving anything she dares to dream. I grew up with a normal childhood I went to sleepovers, and dances, hung with friends as a teenager, and dated, and I did chores around the house and learned to be independent just like so many others with SB who are college graduates and mothers and fathers among other great things. I feel they need to teach their daughter the same instead of making it seem like her life is so hard. Especially when it comes to cathing herself which is something they stated is such an issue for them. So many people with SB learned to cath at a young age. When I was a kid I learned to cath myself by age 7 and I went to the nurses office and it was none of the other kids business why I used the nurses bathroom. That's what my mom would tell me. Eventually I could cath in a regular bathroom and no one knew the difference and I carried a purse with me with my supplies and my mom just always reminded me a lady goes nowhere without her purse. But my main concern is don't speak for a people because you have a new show coming out and you haven't even reached out to adults who are living it to tell their side. You are speaking from your POV looking at your child who you may think is imperfect but that's life it doesn't mean she still can't be great!! No one knows what it's really like until you live it. Please speak to the SB community and see what there concerns really are and create a platform for that. Their are parents & adults with SB who can't pay medical bills or afford a new wheelchair or medical supplies like catheters, there are people who can't get dental insurance, and people with SB who can't find jobs or housing to live independently and can't get government funding. Young adults with SB who are ready for college and can't afford tuition and want to drive but can't afford hand controls on a car or a accessible van with a ramp, and the list is endless. Create a platform so we can talk about that! We aren't concerned about a cure so we can be "Normal". We were born to stand out!! Who cares about a cure? We Don't, I'm happy being who I am. I hope you guys read this and really understand the negative platform about Spina Bifida you are creating. I'm glad you guys are talking about it because it is a Birth Defect that no one really talks about or supports but ironically it's one of the most common Birth Defects. But please speak with people who have experience with Living with SB not "Battling" or "Suffering" so we can have a real dialogue about what the real issues are!! Thank you, Tatiana Lee A Person Thriving with Spina Bifida