Meet Marisa Conners
Marisa Conners is a visionary, talented, and ambitious fashionista, entrepreneur, speaker, and advocate. She was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has Cerebral Palsy which causes her to act and look differently. She is also nonverbal and hard of hearing. She stated, “Being nonverbal doesn’t mean I don’t have anything to say.“ Marisa uses an iPad to speak to people. She can walk with assistance and stand independently. She also uses a wheelchair to get around anywhere she needs with and without assistance, and she wears leg braces which enable her to coordinate her legs and maintain her strength and posture. Marisa wants you to know that her cerebral palsy never affects her mind at all and she doesn’t have any cognitive or intellectual issues. She understands everything.
Marisa began developing her unique skills and abilities at the age of three. At that time, she started using a computer. She would use a computer every single day. Marisa always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer and entrepreneur since she was about 6 years old while she was playing fashion games on a computer. Therefore, she has developed an exceptional passion and eye for fashion. She also has a special interest in custom adaptive clothing which is designed for people with disabilities. In high school, Marisa learned how to utilize a special graphic design software on a computer. The use of digital technology is essential for her and it helped her find a creative voice and approach to her creative capabilities. That’s exactly why she has a true talent for graphic design and it made another huge passion of hers.
After graduating from high school in 2015, Marisa attended college for two and a half years but she realized that the college didn’t fulfill her career aspirations so she dropped out of college. It was an incredibly stressful and difficult experience for her. After several months of pondering what was best for her career, she decided to teach herself rather than a college degree or formal education to pursue a career in fashion, graphic design, and entrepreneurship. She thought it would be pretty easy for her to teach herself to focus on her path to success. This was the best decision she ever made! She is ultimately thankful to be self-taught.
Marisa started her entrepreneurial journey in 2021 as she launched her namesake inclusive womenswear brand which represents a fashionista’s style and outgoing personality. The brand specializes in inclusive and adaptive fashion. She had two successful fashion shows in high school in her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. Her womenswear brand is currently on a break due to difficult situations in her business. She also has been freelancing as a graphic designer and artist since fall 2022. She started her online graphic t-shirt shop called “Marisa’s Dream Big Tees” via Etsy in October 2023 and it has been successful so far. Her mission for the t-shirt shop is to empower women including those with disabilities to succeed in their lives by accomplishing whatever they want. In the future, Marisa will seek opportunities from fashion organizations she deserves to join.
In addition to her entrepreneurial journey, Marisa excelled in styling and provides her fashion styling advice to help women look and feel their best, especially for special occasions and other events. She is a great trendsetter and she feels confident in her ability to put together an entire wardrobe that makes women feel happy and empowered in their style and aesthetic, based on seasons and trends.
As an advocate for people with disabilities like her, Marisa hopes that her story will inspire others who face similar challenges to pursue their dreams and aspirations, and what is in the way. She proved that her disability never defines who she is but it’s just a part of her story. Despite the challenges of living with CP, Marisa has been determined to chase her dreams, follow the path to success, and live the best life as much as possible. Her two main platforms are to spread disability awareness, especially CP throughout the world and to make the fashion industry more accessible and inclusive. She wants to remind disabled people to never give up everything they want and just speak up for themselves. Together, we strive to make a positive difference in the world, make our voices heard, and break down barriers in every aspect of community and society.
Marisa has her own social media content that focuses on her experiences with cerebral palsy and her journey to success. The content also includes her interests and hobbies. Her content consists of educational, personal, fun, and engaging posts. She also has multiple business accounts that are based on her business ventures. Her favorite pastime activities are exercising, shopping, traveling, and hanging out with friends.
Marisa is currently dividing her time between Cincinnati and South Florida - Best of Both Worlds. She is also passionate about traveling around Florida as she has fallen in love with the warm weather and beaches in the state.
Marisa’s stylish, fashionable, feminine, and friendly personality strives to create acceptance and awareness for everyone including those with disabilities. She is the role model for cerebral palsy and any disability for that matter. With unique, genuine, and meaningful content and perspectives, she appreciates how much her audience reacts to her content and supports her remarkable journey.
