History in the making
Ms Wheelchair America Pageant
Short summary of the
origin of Ms. Wheelchair America
In 1972 a Columbus, Ohio physician, Dr.
Philip K Wood, who devoted his career to the treatment and
rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities, was aware of the
talent, capabilities, determination and courage of people with
disabilities. He established Ms. Wheelchair America as a forum for the
promotion of the achievements, as well as the needs of, people with
mobility impairments. The non-profit program is staffed and coordinated
by volunteers throughout the country dedicated to increasing public
awareness so that all citizens will be able to lead productive and
meaningful lives.
Unlike other pageants, Ms. Wheelchair
America is in no way a beauty contest. It is instead a competition to
select the most accomplished and articulate 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.
As Ms. Wheelchair America, her duties are
numerous. Each year she has the opportunity to travel, visiting advocacy
groups, making public appearances and conducting radio, print and TV
interviews in the fulfillment of her responsibilities. These include
promoting awareness of the need to eliminate architectural and
attitudinal barriers, informing the able-bodied public of the
achievements of people with disabilities across the nation and promoting
Ms. Wheelchair America by assisting in the establishment of programs in
all the states.
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