The Art of Resilience: Amanda Peters on Chronic Creativity

Follow Amanda's journey on Instagram @chronically._.creative and discover how art becomes both healing and revolutionary in the hands of someone determined to increase representation through creativity.

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From the 2025 Abilities Expo in Chicago comes a powerful SpeedCast that packs an emotional punch in just under eight minutes. Meet Amanda Peters, the creative force behind "Chronically Creative," whose journey through over 100 surgeries has transformed into an artistic mission to increase wheelchair representation in digital art.

Amanda candidly shares her life with spina bifida, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and hydrocephalus—challenges that kept her frequently hospitalized yet sparked a creative awakening. "I started getting into design once I entered a bit more of a healthy era," she explains, noting her disappointment at the scarcity of wheelchair-inclusive artwork despite millions of Americans who use mobility devices. 

What makes Amanda's art distinctive is her digital approach. Using an iPad with a stylus, she overcomes hand tremors through digital filtering tools, allowing her to create whenever inspiration or health permits. This adaptive technique emerged during COVID when she found herself with fewer surgeries and more creative energy. Her mother introduced her to crafting as therapy—a way to focus on creation rather than pain.

Perhaps most striking is Amanda's perspective, summed up by her t-shirt: "Chronically ill, I prefer medically fascinating." This outlook culminates in her parting wisdom that resonates far beyond disability communities: "Try to take different risks and do new things, even if you're not quite sure you're going to be able to do it, because chances are you're going to be surprised at what you actually are capable of." 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's up, guys?
As you can see, we're not inthe studio at home.
We're actually at the AbilitiesExpo in Chicago and this
podcast is going to be a littledifferent.
It's going to be like aspeedcast.
The sound is not going to be asgreat because of how wide open
this space is, but I hope youguys enjoy it.

(00:22):
Please enjoy this.
Lif to the Max speedcast.
What's up, everybody?
It's Life to the Next Podcastand we are at the Abilities Expo

(00:46):
in Schaumburg, illinois.
It is June 20th, friday 2025.
And today I am here with AmandaPeters and she's trying to
launch You're trying to launchan art for iPad type thing art

(01:07):
for ipad type thing.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
Well, yeah, I um started getting into design once
I entered a bit more of ahealthy era.
Before that I was always in thehospital and unable to really
do much, and I was kind ofdisappointed that there were so
few decent designs and interestin stuff with wheelchairs and as
well as drawings of just peoplein such wheelchairs, especially

(01:30):
when there are millions ofpeople in america alone with
wheelchairs could you explain alittle bit your your health
problems?
I have spina bifida, along withall the other included diseases
like ehlers, danlos andhydrocephalus and a bunch of
others, and, from a comedy oferrors, is this because of the

(01:55):
hole in your spine.
Yeah, as I've kind of mentionedbefore, I've really dumb luck
and ended up in a lot ofcomplications that weren't
typically normal or common.
I mean from having ananaphylactic reaction to
sunscreen on our first day onvacation after many years to

(02:17):
having the oxygen concentratorbreak in the middle of when
we're moving in wow, that's andthat's.

Speaker 1 (02:25):
I admire you, coach, I really do oh, it's mostly from
my mom.

Speaker 2 (02:31):
She's taught me to be well, not only to be strong,
but she does not let me, uh,really wallow in self-pity.
What uh?

Speaker 1 (02:42):
I'm really sorry about all that has happened to
you, but I admire yourperseverance and like I hope
people like that are listeninglike get, like, like realize
that life is precious and likeit could always be worse oh yeah
, it could always be worse yeah,well, in my too, it's also a

(03:03):
very brave to share, all like totalk and to share among so many
people.

Speaker 2 (03:09):
That it's well.
I don't kind of think I wasborn in the wrong generation,
because I'm not very big on, uh,emailing, texting, social media
, so it's a bit of a still kindof a work in progress.
But I, my mom, had I she usedto work in preschool and until
she quit her job to become mycaregiver, um, but she had like

(03:33):
this, like the cricket, and soshe started.
She had it.
So then, once I started, once Iwas doing a bit better, I
started doing that to makethings to do in my free time
rather than, like when you justsit around doing nothing, you're
like, oh, my head hurts, oh, myback hurts, oh, this is
horrible, this is bad.
And so I started doing thatjust for fun.

(03:56):
Then I started doing it forgifts, and then after that, I
got into the design part On aniPad, correct?
Yeah, usually I have likedifferent tremors and stuff in
my hands, so doing it usually onmy iPad with the pencil, I
could use the different settingsto like help filter it out, so

(04:17):
it's not, like you know, allshaky and wavy, yeah, so, and
then plus I don't have to worryof like doing, like getting out
pencils and everything if I feelgood, or have inspiration, I
can just take it out and startat any moment.

Speaker 1 (04:33):
What got you into it?

Speaker 2 (04:35):
I've always been interested in art.
When I was at RIC I did a lotof art therapy with the art
therapist.
A few times I was there anddoing other things like that.
That's awesome.
But then I really didn't havelike I was.
I wasn't really doing well andfeeling well and it's kind of a

(04:56):
lot to take out.
You know paints and like colorsand markers and you know you
have to be, have like that, notonly the time but the energy and
the ability to do it.
So I think, it was sometime,like in the middle of like COVID
, that I started to do a bitbetter and was no longer going

(05:16):
in for like brain surgery everyfew months and I wait, you have
brain've had over a hundredsurgeries.

Speaker 1 (05:26):
You've had over a hundred surgeries.

Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yes, most likely we didn't really keep track, but
they made a list of like themajor ones a few years ago and
it was somewhere over 50.

Speaker 1 (05:39):
For everybody listening.
Do not fucking complain.
This person had a hundredsurgeries, okay, and I'm blessed
to be sitting here talking.
Do not fucking complain.
This person had a hundredsurgeries.
Okay, I'm blessed to be sittinghere talking to her.
What does your t-shirt?

Speaker 2 (05:53):
say Chronically ill, I prefer medically fascinating.

Speaker 1 (05:58):
It's perfect.
I used to say handicapable.

Speaker 2 (06:04):
That's what I would say instead of handicapable.
I like the sticker on yoursRespect the Chair.
Respect the Chair you willdefinitely get one.
Yeah, for sure For what you'vebeen through.

Speaker 1 (06:11):
I will definitely give you a Respect the Chair and
also what's your Instagram page.

Speaker 2 (06:17):
Chronically Creative, but it's
chronicallyunderscorecreative.

Speaker 1 (06:22):
Blow up her page.
Follow it.
Follow.
Chronically Creative.
Chronically Creative.
She deserves it and she Followit.
Follow Chronically.

Speaker 2 (06:27):
Creative.

Speaker 1 (06:28):
Chronically Creative.
She deserves it and she'll getit, and I admire your courage.
I really do.
I'm a person.

Speaker 2 (06:36):
Well, thank you.
Like I said, I've been.

Speaker 1 (06:39):
You're honestly living life to the max.
I'm happy, obviously, to talkto you about this.
I wish your conversation.
Is there anything you wouldlike to say out there to the
people?
Okay, I'm happy, obviously, totalk to you about this short
conversation.
Is there anything you wouldlike to say out there to the
people?

Speaker 2 (06:53):
That to try and take the different risks and do new
things, even if you're not quitesure you're going to be able to
do it, because chances areyou're going to be surprised at
what you actually are capable of.

Speaker 1 (07:06):
Perfect Amanda Peters , everybody.
Are you're going to besurprised at what you actually
are capable of?
Perfect amanda peters,everybody.
And make sure to follow herpage.
Chronically creative,chronically creative.
We will leave that in thehandle below.
Blow up her instagram, messageher if you want art.

Speaker 2 (07:23):
She's amazing well, thank you please like, comment
and subscribe that was an honorand a pleasure.