Meet Elly May

“I’m so excited this shower chair is not beige! That’s really exciting for me. I don’t have a neutral. I consider leopard print to be neutral.”

Elly May has a love-hate relationship with assistive technology. She is a disability advocate, musician, and performer. “I’ve lived with chronic pain and learned that the world really hasn’t been built to accommodate people with different needs,” she says.

By sharing her lived experience, Elly May wants others to feel “a little less alone.” For her, “dress ups and colour can really contribute to how you feel about yourself and your mood on the day.” Expressing yourself is about more than style. It’s about feeling seen and valued.

However, colour and mobility aids rarely go hand in hand. “When it comes to mobility aids, I’ve had nightmares about metallic beige things coming for me,” Elly May says. She even tried to “bedazzle an entire walking frame, which took so long because I don’t have fine motor skills.” This story highlights the challenges of adding personality to assistive devices, particularly in Elly May’s case, where limited dexterity adds an extra layer of difficulty.

Colourful mobility aids aren’t just for show. For Elly May, choosing bright and fun designs is a powerful way to feel good. She explains, “To have something ugly and clinical in your home, it just feels jarring and strange.” Every clinical-looking item “reminds you of the negative parts of a disability.” Instead, “you want something that suits you,” a mobility aid that recognises individuality and independence through design.

Elly May’s journey shows that personal expression and assistive technology should go together. Including colour and thoughtful design fosters confidence and pride. Rather than making a space feel cold or impersonal, the right mobility aid can help someone reclaim agency and feel truly at home. “What truly matters,” Elly May emphasises, “is having something that suits you.” When assistive technology feels like an extension of your identity, it supports dignity and independence every day.

Watch full interview below