Team Peri Step Out of Line

Elizabeth Mehditach is a living example of what it means to serve your dreams. A survivor of domestic violence, her values as a mother, teacher, and chef are grounded in truth and conviction. When she needed to protect her children, she did whatever it took. We are all stardust (credit to Neil deGrasse Tyson). It’s a miracle we’re here, so we must make the most of our circumstances, move past trauma, and keep going.

This entrepr...

Tiffany Yu’s career journey has been a jungle gym of bold, agile leaps. From Wall Street to becoming a disability advocate, founder of Diversability, entrepreneur, grantmaker, and author of The Anti-Ableist Manifesto, she continues to use her voice to create change. Most recently, she’s taken on para climbing, adding yet another adventure to her story.

At nine years old, Tiffany survived a tragic car accident that took her fathe...

The cultural landscape around disability often overlooks beauty, fashion, and art; they’re seen as “extras,” not essentials. But for many of us in the disability community, those creative pillars are just as vital to identity and self-expression. Xian Horn's nonprofit, Give Beauty Wings, recognizes this truth. Their work reminds the world that inclusion in art and design matters, that everyone deserves to feel seen in beauty.

When you have a visible physical disability, you face two options: spend your energy hiding your differences, or accept who you are—and if people stare, let them. This was the beginning of Angela Yoder Stepping Out of Line and into the life she wanted. As a photographer, she captures people in the moment by interpreting their unspoken thoughts and feelings through the lens of her camera. Yet for years, she didn’t admit what she was...

Dana Arschin is a 3X Emmy Award-winning journalist, mother of two, granddaughter of an Auschwitz survivor, and a dedicated Holocaust storyteller. Her life’s work is centered around one mission: ensuring the stories of survivors are never forgotten. Her dream was to ‘make it’ as a journalist in New York, and that journey began at News 12 in Brooklyn. She later joined Fox 5 NY, where she launched a powerful series featuring interview...

How many times must someone be tested to prove they can handle anything? Ramy Gafni, author, comedian, makeup artist, and CEO of Ramy Cosmetics/Ramy Beauty Therapy has been tested—again and again (3 times because why not?!). From beating cancer to managing type 2 diabetes and surviving a near-fatal moped accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury, his resilience, perseverance, and dark sense of humor have carried him thro...

Seamlessly integrating her passion for adaptive fashion design with her career as a costume designer/wardrobe stylist in the entertainment industry, Lynn Brannelly decided to maximize her superpower for the greater good. Presented with an opportunity to work with models of all abilities at Runway of Dreams with Alexander Andronescu (her now business partner in their adaptive adventure, Sewn Adaptive) at New York Fashion Week. Lynn ...

Turning the Paige and revisiting one of our alum podcast guests, Hayley Paige, on what’s been happening in her life since we first connected. Soon after we posted her original podcast back in 2020, Hayley fought with everything she had, emotionally, intellectually, and monetarily to win her case and along that arduous journey. She discovered she had more backbone, resilience, and fortitude to Step Out of those Lines. Hayley never s...

Being an entrepreneur and director of a casting agency for people with disabilities (visible and invisible) seemed to be a natural fit for Elle Jones Hartman. When her daughter, an aspiring film director became legally blind at the age of 22 as a result of a brain tumor, Elle’s HR/PR background was put to the test. It was then that Elle stepped out of line and opened up the Elle Jones Casting Company, working alongside her daughter...

When you are the subject of a social experiment, your perception of what is considered ‘fair play’ in the quintessential female/male gender roles changes…

Emily Hay was one of the families observed in 2020 & 2021, as she partook in the Fair Play documentary. Produced by Hello Sunshine and based on author Eve Rodsky’s book (who we interviewed in 2023), Fair Play, not only did this experience alter Emily’s familial relationships...

Part of the human experience, particularly for people with disabilities, is to gradually shift mindsets and create a normalcy for disability inclusion. Let’s face it, when you have a physical disability and are in a wheelchair, you’re bound to run into problems left and right. Joci Scott, actor, singer, Rollettes dancer, and disability advocate strives to be the change by showing the world what people with disabilities can do. She ...

Why Hello There Sunshine…☀️ 

Telling authentic stories of women’s journeys is what Hello Sunshine is all about. Sarah Harden, CEO of the multi-million dollar media company, along with its founder, Reese Witherspoon, have more than embraced the Step Out of Line theory in their commitment to highlighting every woman’s journey, with a passion for showcasing those from marginalized populations. Sarah and the entire team at Hello S...

When you're raised by a family with a ‘sink or swim’ attitude, and are treated the same as your siblings, you have no choice but to power through and roll with whatever life brings you, and if you have to shatter a few glass ceilings on the journey, so be it. After years of being in the corporate world and accepting whatever little (if any) accommodations offered to her, Alycia Anderson always felt that she never wanted to rece...

As someone who is constantly unpacking and repacking suitcases in her professional life, Isabelle Noack, Marketing, Sales & Branding at Google, is a global traveler who aims to fight against all of the injustices faced in today’s world. Isabelle is extremely passionate about all matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion, in particular accessibility and creating a world that is more accepting of all. Her background in journali...

We’ve all been there, crying in our cars and feeling alone and insignificant. But how many of us can say that because of that pivotal moment, we were inspired to create social change by Stepping Out of Line? Chelsie Hill, founder of the Rollettes, motivational speaker, author, creator, mother to Jaelyn Bloomfield, serial entrepreneur, and professional dancer is every woman times ten. When she realized that there wasn’t a seat for h...

On and off the plate, women are gaining ground behind the glam and fanfare of the baseball diamond. Particularly in such a male-dominated industry, Brielle Speranzini, a Business Manager in the marketing department at the New York Mets, has seen a notable increase within the organization in the inclusion of female executives. Brielle’s journey to date has had her rely on her gut instinct, take chances, push herself to explore new e...

On the off chance that you don’t have a fireman to rescue you, one has no choice but to rely on their own whits and advocacy efforts. As it is Women’s History Month, Team Peri is giving you a woman who is making history. Emily Ladau is someone that you want by your side while you are fighting to be heard, to be seen, and to be treated as any other individual. 

Emily, a disability advocate and author, started her journey as an ...

Fair Play: Unicorn or Reality? Can women truly ‘have it all’ without having to ‘do it all’?  

Eve Rodsky is a champion of gender equality and disability advocacy. Her aspirations growing up included being a hip-hop dancer for the New York Knicks, President of the United States, and Senator of New York. Today, she stresses the need for women to use their power to step out and into the world and for men to use their power to ste...

You might recognize her as Zelda, the snarky Polish maid slamming potatoes on the dining room table in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, where her sarcasm added color and humor to every one of her scenes. Perhaps, you might just say that she was the glue holding The Weissman family together. ⁠Matilda Szydagis⁠ found her voice and stepped out of line at a young age where despite being bullied in school, she entered, won, and dominated ever...