Ms. Wheelchair Ohio

Ms. Wheelchair Ohio Pageant, a part of the Ms. Wheelchair America program was held
April 11 - 12, 2008
at Recreation Unlimited in Delaware, Ohio, which is about 20 miles north of Columbus.

2008 Ms Wheelchair Ohio
Shari Cooper is 35 and lives in Dayton Ohio. Her long list of achievements include Disability Hall of Fame Award, Goodwill Industries Achiever of the Year, and an Associate of Applied Sciences degree in Disabilities Intervention Services. While not serving on the Consumer Advisory Commission Service, Board of Dayton Advocates, Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council, and as Secretary of the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council, she enjoys shopping and spending time with her four brothers and sisters. Shari will go on to the 2008 Ms. Wheelchair America pageant hosted in Rockville Maryland July 21-27, 2008. This national event is never easy, for the competition Shari will face is very competitive, but she is ready for the challenge and represent Ohio like a champ.

Krista Baron of Strongsville
Shari Cooper of Dayton
Margaret Long of Cincinnati
Elizabeth Shank of Newton Falls
Danielle Brown of Danville

All of these ladies were awesome candidates and very promising individuals. There were no last place positions. Everyone who participated had a very dynamic personality and were already ambassadors to disability awareness. Best wishes to everyone who supported this event and continues to educate and enhance others that live their lives on wheels.

If you are interested in participating in the 2009 Ms Wheelchair Ohio, below are the guidelines and contact information for the event. Keep in mind that the pageant will be in Delaware Ohio in April of 2009. Thank you for your support.

Any woman between the ages of 21 and 60 who uses a wheelchair for her daily mobility is encouraged to compete.

Contestants are judged through two interview sessions with our panel of friendly but knowledge-able judges, the contestant's presentation of a 2-minute speech without notes, and their on-stage presence as they are asked an impromptu question during the crowning ceremony. They must demonstrate that they have adapted to their own disability and have a grasp of issues faced by others with disabilities. Knowledge about legislators and laws affecting Ohioans with disabilities is also helpful. A willingness and commitment to travel throughout Ohio as much as possible during their one year reign, on behalf of the Ms. Wheelchair America/Ohio program is crucial.

I was chosen as Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2006, at the age of 57 - so it is never too late to discover what an awesome adventure it is to receive the title and proudly wear the crown as you travel the state encouraging other wheelchair users!

Please pass any or all of this information to any interested prospects, or let me know if you or your agency would like to help our planning committee formulate our final plans.

I will send an application immediately, or whatever information your business or agency needs.

The cost for entering is $50. Contestants who cannot afford the fee can have their first fund raising challenge: finding a sponsor.

Perhaps that sponsor is you!

Sincerely,
Carol Tolson
Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2006
New Ohio Coordinator (pending final notification by Ms. Wheelchair America, Inc.)

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Janni (Jan) Mitchell, a 41 year old from Canton, believes that our obstacles and problems shape us for our ultimate destiny. Her lifes ambition is to bring understanding to the word disability with an emphasis to the word "ability". She advocates on the Ohio Governors Council for People with Disabilities and has received recognition from the Internal Association of Assistance Dog Partners. America Online featured her in 2004 in honor of her work for the disabled and with service dogs.

Danielle Brown

Danielle Brown, a 23 year old from Danville Ohio, plans to attend school to pursue a career in Administrative Sciences. She has participated in Special Olympics to win gold and silver medals in swimming.

Danielle describes herself as
a survivor, persistent, optimizing, caring and sensitive.

Elizabeth Shank

Elizabeth Shank, a 33 year old from Newton Falls, is a peer mentor for others with a SCI. She has participated in several of the Ohio Wheelchair games where she has won gold medals in Air Pistol and enjoys the 5k races at Hillside Hospital. Beth's favorite hobby is cross stitching but also enjoys turkey hunting and watching bull riding.

Elizabeth looks for the beauty in everything and hopes to convey to others that she can do the same things they can, albeit from a lower altitude.

2006 Ms. Wheelchair Ohio winner Carol Tolson
opened the pageant ceremony and introduced show MC Don Johnston.

Don Johnston MC's the Pageant introducing the candidates, judges, and sponsors.

Click on thumbnails to enlarge picture.

Candidates pose on stage for group photo.

Stacy Hubbard has coordinated the show for the last 8 years and believes that is is an important project that supports community awareness of those who live in wheelchairs and face challenges.

Congratulations to everyone who participated with the 2007 Ms. Wheelchair Ohio pageant and has devoted their lives to help expand knowledge throughout the Ohio community of those who depend on wheels.

Stacy Hubbard, Ms. Ohio Wheelchair coordinator, states that this pageant is in no way a beauty contest, but a competition to select the most accomplished and articulated spokesperson for the millions of Americans with disabilities. The selected representative must be able to communicate both the needs and the accomplishments of her constituency to the general public, the business community and the legislature.

Ms. Wheelchair Ohio was established in 1972, in Columbus Ohio by Dr. Philip Wood. In 1974, the first Ms. Wheelchair America event was developed. Since then this non profit program brought together the most enthusiastic women in wheelchairs to promote awareness and break barriers that many of America's disabled face.