Inclusion is “the way”

My story of overcoming my adversities to create a life based in authenticity may be the most “Meisner” thing to have happened to me. I wouldn’t have it,
any other way!

Advocacy Endeavors in Yoga and Media Representation

Public Speaking Engagements

I’ve spoken to and with institutions & organizations including: Medtronic, Stockton College, Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts, & more.

Creative Content Collaborations

I ‘ve created an accessible & adaptive yoga programs for: Aerie by American Eagle, Lucky Fin Project, Challenged Athletes Foundation and more!

Behind the scenes

Advocacy means more than volunteer work, it’s a lifestyle! As a disabled model, performer, actor, etc. it’s easy for others who dont know my will, to underestimate me, yet they can’t stop me now. You can find me on air at QVC or currently organizing large scale adaptive yoga & meditation appearances—like I’ve done at FOX— as I’m currently a registered yoga teacher

I’m also the host of Amplitude Media Group interview series “Little Miss Representation” which focuses on the representation ofpeople with disabilities in the media

Competing in & being on 2 winning teams for Easterseals Disability Film Challenge has allowed me to wear many hats:

  • Performer

  • Producer

  • Director

  • Editor

  • Screenwriter

  • Marketing Manager

Adaptive fashion & universal design have come to mean the world to me. And I’ve consulted on brand accessibility on multiple products, in the past. The fun has only just begun!

Image description: Melanie on air at QVC, selling Selma Blair’s collaboration with Isaac Mizrahi. Both womens fashions are adaptive. Melanie is wearing blue wide leg dress pants with a twofer sweater & blouse with elastic around the sleeve ends to keep them lifted. Selma is dressed head to toe in dressy black. Her blazer has hot pink sleeves

Photo description: A campaign for Aerie by American Eagle, where Melanie is sat on a wooden deck overlooking a pond. To the left we see her tan Beagle-mix, looking on, as her Rottweiler-Pit-Mix kisses Melanie’s cheek. She smiles. She has a right arm limb difference and her left hand hugs the dog to the right of the screen.

Photo description: Melanie, sat on the floor is wearing her myoelectric “Taska” prosthesis. Her pants are a faded pink with tear marks, her forearms resting on her knees. Her prosthessis is clear with fairy lights in the forearm component with a blue socket. The hand itself is white and gray with stockers on the back of the hand with a T for Taska.

Her top is a satin green button up with a checkered Nike top beneath it. Her sneakers are Nike adaptive.

I live with both an obvious physical disability and I also happen to be autoimmune, as well.. lucky me! While I was originally misdiagnosed with lupus, I have since been diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Anxiety/ Depression and more.

Being transparent about my health is directly related to my formula for healing.