Cheryl Marie Wade

Cheryl Marie Wade (March 4, 1948 – 2013), who was often referred to as the "Queen Mother of Gnarly," was a disability activist born and raised in California. She had rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that severely limited her mobility and led her to be a lifelong wheelchair user. She advocated for disabled people, specifically disabled women, through her art and performances.

Early life and death Cheryl Marie Wade was born March 4, 1948, in Vallejo, California. Due to the severe discomfort and swelling of her joints, Wade began her part-time use of a wheelchair in high school, but it quickly became a full time accommodation. She would later be introduced to the electric wheelchair, a life changing step in her journey. She continued to be a wheelchair user for the remainder of her life. Wade’s shows were written to make people more aware of living as a woman with a disability. Her art was also unique in its use of videos as a form of media. Wade made videos that won several awards at film festivals, and her videos were also featured in New Mobility and Ms. Magazine. Outside of her art, she authored articles and opinion pieces on disability related issues. She often spoke of her experience with doctors, living in poverty, and being ignored or spoken over as a disabled woman. She used plain, yet strong, language to deliver her arguments and talk about her lived experiences.