Michael Dergar’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We recently had the chance to connect with Michael Dergar and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Michael, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Absolutely. Returning to my hometown of Mazatlán filled me with a lot of joy, gratitude, and pride. One moment that truly stayed with me was seeing the smiles and sometimes even the surprised laughter of the seniors, adults, and children who received their new wheelchairs.
Standing there, surrounded by friends, Dory Perdomo, the spirit from the Rotarians from California and Mexico, and our incredible network of supporters, I felt deeply proud. Proud of what we accomplished together, proud of the dignity and mobility we restored, and proud to witness how a simple act of kindness can change someone’s life.
Those moments reminded me why I do this work as an artist. When we help, it makes me laugh, emotional, and above all, the smiles and blessings of people we support it made me grateful to be part of something so meaningful.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello everyone, I’m Michael Dergar, founder of the Academy of Special Dreams Foundation, a proud Rotarian, and an international inclusive artist dedicated to using creativity as a bridge for empowerment.
My work and the mission behind the Academy is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: everyone deserves the chance to be seen, to create, and to shine, regardless of their abilities or challenges. For the last 16 years, I’ve devoted my life to promoting inclusion through art, opening doors for artists with disabilities around the world, and building connections between communities in the United States, Europe, Mexico, and beyond.
What makes our organization special is the heart behind it. We don’t just showcase art we help build confidence, mobility, dignity, and real opportunities for people who are often discriminated for living with a disability. From international exhibitions to mobility-aid programs and cross-border collaborating with Dory Perdomo from BAUPRES Foundation and international Artists Director Zoila Fernández and our international Rotary Clubs, our work continues to grow and impact lives in meaningful ways.
Today, I’m proud to continue expanding these efforts, creating new platforms for creative expression, and championing projects that inspire inclusion, hope, and global community. My journey as an artist and humanitarian has shaped everything I do, and I’m grateful to share this mission with so many generous and passionate people.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I was dreamer! I used to believe that my dreams were “too big” for someone like me that I had to stay quiet, stay small, and not expect too much from life. I thought that the challenges around me defined what I could become. But I never stop believing in what I wanted!
Over the years, through art, community, and the incredible people I’ve met along the way, I discovered that our limitations don’t define us our determination and compassion do. Today, I know that those “big dreams” were never too big at all; they were guiding me toward my purpose. And now, I dedicate my work to helping others see that truth in themselves, too.

Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
Yes… there is something I miss deeply, something very personal that most people don’t know. I recently lost my mother Virginia, and these past two months have been incredibly difficult. There’s an emptiness in my heart that’s hard to put into words.
She wasn’t just my mother, she was the motor of my life, the person who fueled my strength, my dreams, and my purpose. I miss her voice, her advice, her presence… even the little moments that I often took for granted.
Grief is a quiet companion. It shows up in the stillness, in the pauses between my days, in the moments of joy when I wish I could call her and share them. I’m learning to navigate that emptiness with love, gratitude, and the hope that everything I do continues to honor her spirit. I feel that now I will continue her legacy even more! I am who I am because of her!

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
A cultural value I protect at all costs is dignity and with it, inclusion and diversity. To me, they are inseparable.
Growing up, my family taught me that every person deserves to be seen, respected, and treated with kindness, no matter their abilities, background, or circumstances. That belief became the foundation of everything I do today as an artist, as the founder of the Academy of Special Dreams, and as an inclusive artist.
Dignity means recognizing each person’s worth. Inclusion means making sure they have a place to belong.
Together, they create the environment where people can truly thrive.
I defend these values fiercely because I’ve seen their power how dignity restores hope, and how inclusion opens doors that were once closed. Protecting both is my way of protecting humanity.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone is simple:
that I was an artist who painted to help, not just to create.
I hope they remember me as someone who used art and compassion to unite communities across the world, and as a person who worked tirelessly to bring mobility, dignity, and hope to those who needed it most.
My true legacy, I hope, won’t just be in the projects I completed, but in the inspiration I leave behind. I want people to say that my life encouraged others to follow their own purpose, to use their unique talents whatever they may be to build a better, more inclusive world.
And above all, I want them to remember that disability never limits the power of the human spirit.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Michaeldergar.com
• Instagram: Michaeldergar
• Linkedin: Michael Dergar Academy of Special Dreams Foundation
• Facebook: Michael Dergar
• Other: https://www.specialacademy.org

Image Credits
Michael Dergar/Academy of Special Dreams Foundation