About

CripSpace began in late 2024 here in Charlotte, North Carolina as a small group of disabled people wanting community. It has since grown past once a month meetings and now we host movie nights, book club, and art projects. We strive to make a an accessible community for all disabled people.

The Board

ID: Mallory sits in a manual wheelchair on a paved path with trees and grass in the background, looking over their shoulder toward the camera. Mallory wears a light green button-up shirt, patterned green pants, oversized square glasses, and bracelets, while the wheelchair frame is decorated with colorful stickers. End ID

Chair and Founder, Mallory Kay Nelson

Mallory Kay Nelson (no pronouns) has been developing the idea of CripSpace for decades, imagining a place that belongs to all disabled people. When Mallory finally started a community meeting, people showed up, and that idea became a reality. Mallory is a Disability cultural curator working across costume design, visual arts, and scholarship, continually weaving the Disability lens throughout Mallory’s creative work.

Co Chair, Matti Pala

Born in Poland and raised in New Jersey, Matti Pala (they/them) is dead-serious about being CripSpace co-chair and very silly about everything else. They love reading books, making art, helping people, and replacing the batteries in their hearing aids.

Chris, a white man, sits in a green wheelchair in a gazbo. He is wearing sunglasses and smiling while making peace signs with both hands. End ID

Secretary, Chris Hoag

Chris (he/they) is an autistic and physically disabled trans man. He joined CripSpace because he needed a space where he could authentically be himself. Chris brings to the board several years of secretary experience, social media management, and the perspective of someone who is only partially verbal.

ID: Brynn is a white, non-binary presenting, freckled person with short red hair and aviator style blue and gold glasses. They have a glasses chain that features polyhedral dice. They are wearing a button down shirt with sun and moon designs. They are using a silver power wheelchair and sitting in front of a backdrop that features a dragon. End ID.

Treasurer, Brynn Montgomery

Brynn (they/them) is a physically and neurologically disabled, non-binary person who is passionate about disability advocacy, education, accessibility, and role-playing games. When they are not being a badass Dungeon Master, they can usually be found working to make spaces more welcoming, accessible, and inclusive for disabled and marginalized communities. Brynn believes that accessibility is about creating environments where people can show up as their whole selves, have their needs respected, and participate without having to apologize for taking up space.

ID: A white person with long light brown hair, large acrylic glasses that are black on top and fade to clear on the bottom, wearing a red dress shirt, red tie with black, red, and cream square patterns, and a black blazer standing in front of a white building with a dark grey slanted roof. End ID

Daniel Kuntz

Daniel (he/she) joined CripSpace right after his first diagnosis. It was such a welcoming space, and connecting with people that understand made everything easier. She joined the board to help make sure CripSpace can stay that safe space long into the future. He is a musician and visual artist, and when she feels well enough Daniel loves to cycle on Charlotte’s green ways.

ID: Haze, a white person with short blonde hair and round black glasses, looks into the camera smiling. They have a daisy behind their left ear and are wearing a black and white striped tank top. Behind them are green trees and a river. End ID

Haze O'Carroll

Haze (they/them) is a physically disabled autistic D.I.D. system with a passion for disability rights, queer rights, and free expression. They have been involved with the disabled community for their entire lifetime, first to support their sister and now fully embracing their place in it. Haze's main hobby is art, but they have many special interests.

Emily Porges

Emily Porges (she/they) finds joy in learning something new, creating, fixing, solving, and tinkering. Retired from being a RN, curiosity, advocacy, and working collaboratively have brought meaning and fulfillment to their life.

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