W2W :: Chelsie Hill :: Rollettes Foundation

Chelsie Hill is the CEO and Founder of the Rollettes and the Rollettes Experience, the world’s largest women’s empowerment weekend for women and girls with disabilities. After a spinal cord injury at 17 left her paralyzed from the waist down, Chelsie transformed her love of dance into a global movement that celebrates connection, confidence, and possibility. Today, she’s a mom, content creator, and founder of the Rollettes Foundation, dedicated to showing that disability and ambition can absolutely coexist.

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How did you get to where you are today?

After I became paralyzed at 17, I had to rebuild my life and my future. Fortunately, dance remained my constant. I figured out how to dance in a wheelchair and started connecting with other women who felt alone. Over time, what began as a small group grew into the Rollettes Wheelchair Dance Team and the Rollettes Experience. Today, it’s the world’s largest women’s empowerment weekend for women with disabilities. Along the way, I got here by listening to my community, saying yes to scary opportunities, and doing the hard work behind the scenes. Ultimately, I chose to rewrite the story I was given after my injury—for me and for others.

What do you think has helped you the most with your success?

Community and mindset. After my accident, I could’ve accepted that my life would be smaller. Instead, I chose to see my wheelchair as part of my power. That shift, along with resilience and support from my friends and family, changed everything. I created the Rollettes from a desire to feel seen. From there, I let our community guide every decision I make. Ultimately, success isn’t just about what I’ve built. It’s about the lives we’ve impacted because I didn’t give up.

What has been the biggest challenge you have overcome to achieve your goals?

The biggest challenge has been building something sustainable for a community the world often overlooks. Raising money for the emotional impact of our work—like confidence and community—is hard to quantify. Our Give for Good campaign is critical. Donations fund scholarships, accessible venues, and mentorship. Meanwhile, my ongoing challenge is turning praise into financial support to keep this work going. Ultimately, meeting that challenge is key to creating opportunities for more women to join the Rollettes.

What are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of building a community where women and girls with disabilities feel powerful, not just included. Seeing someone arrive shy and leave with confidence, friends, and a sense of belonging at Rollettes Experience fills me with joy. I’m also proud that we’ve expanded that impact year-round through scholarships, mentorship, and our Give for Good campaign—helping change lives beyond just one weekend.

Three pieces of advice for readers:

1. Turn “why me?” into “what now?” Life won’t always go as planned, but you choose how to respond. Let the hard moments hit, then decide what you’ll do with them.

2. Find your people and pour into them. Community is a lifeline. Confidence and courage grow fastest when you’re supported.

3. Ask for support, including financial support. Life-changing work deserves resources. Boldly inviting support allows your mission to grow and reach more people.

Who inspires you?

Women and girls who show up, try new things, and let themselves be seen inspire me the most. I also draw inspiration from anyone using their platform or resources to make a tangible difference for people with disabilities—it reminds me that we’re not doing this alone.

Sassy saying or quote that inspires you:

“Don’t just take up space, own it!”
As a woman with a disability, I roll in, take up space, and create space for others—on the dance floor, online, or in rooms where decisions (and donations) happen.

Anything else for readers?

Supporting organizations like mine doesn’t just fund an event—it changes lives. Donations to our Give for Good campaign fund scholarships, accessible venues, and mentorship so more women can experience community, confidence, and belonging. If you’ve ever thought, “I love what you do,” take the next step: ask, “How can I support this so more women can experience it?”