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Juliette Rizzo: Ms. Wheelchair
America 2005
Find your courage,
Share your vision, and
Change the world
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Content below is archived
Juliette Rizzo
From covering national news stories as a
journalist to carrying the Olympic torch, Juliette has proven that
personal dreams and goals are within reach for people with disabilities
when the appropriate supports are in place. With the support of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program, Juliette
was able to pursue an academic dream of a Master's degree in Journalism from the
University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from
Texas A&M University. She also is a graduate of Partners in Policymaking, a
competency-based national leadership and training program for adults with
developmental disabilities.
Working daily to encourage the mainstream press to
promote a positive image of people with disabilities, Juliette believes, as her
favorite quote reads, that “one cannot sit down to write until she has stood up
to live.” |
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A visible leader and speaker at the state and national levels, Juliette stays
connected to the disability community at the grassroots level as well, serving as
an appointed commissioner to the Montgomery County Maryland Commission on People
with Disabilities and the board of the Arthritis Foundation Metropolitan
Washington D.C. Chapter. With an Italian flare for food and fashion, Juliette also
is passionate about accessible container gardening, sailing solo and looking for
that elusive Elvis PEZ dispenser to add to her over 200 plus collection. Juliette’s
favorite thing to do, is to go where she has never been before and to ask others
to roll with her. |
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Ms. Wheelchair Maryland 2004 to Appear In Segment
of Discovery Health Channel’s National Body Challenge Series
Bethesda -- April 5, 2004 Ms. Wheelchair Maryland
2004 Juliette Rizzo will make an appearance on the Discovery Health channel’s
upcoming National Body Challenge series. Rizzo’s segment will air during Episode
III on Monday April 12, 2004, at 9:00 p.m. The series begins with the first two
episodes today at 9:00 p.m.
Rizzo, one of 300,000 people who took the challenge
across the country, participated personally in the challenge from January 10
through April 3, 2004, and achieved great results as a person with a disability
who previously experienced weight loss challenges due to limited mobility.
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The National Body Challenge is a 12-week nationwide
initiative that challenges Americans to improve their health and shed extra
weight, while adopting a healthier lifestyle. The National Body Challenge provides
a weight loss and fitness program personalized to every individual free of charge
and was developed under the advisement of Pamela Peeke, an internationally
recognized expert in the fields of nutrition, metabolism, stress and fitness.
Rizzo decided to take the challenge in response to
a question she was asked by a judge during the Ms. Wheelchair Maryland competition
last fall. When asked what one thing she wanted to change about herself, Rizzo
answered that she wanted to change her personal commitment to her health and
fitness.
As an ambassador who communicates the needs and
achievements of Maryland’s 1.5 million people with disabilities, Rizzo also
shared that she took the challenge to elevate that people with disabilities have
the same health and fitness needs as anyone else, a message often overlooked in
the mainstream media and health and fitness arenas.
Rizzo made an initial appearance on a Discovery
Health Newsbreak for the National Body Challenge on February 14, 2004.
Rizzo also will compete for Ms. Wheelchair America
2005 in Richmond, Virginia, July 27 - August 1, 2004.
For additional information on Rizzo’s involvement
in the National Body Challenge, contact Ms. Wheelchair Maryland State Coordinator,
Robert Watson or Juliette Rizzo.
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The Ms. Wheelchair Maryland organization emphasizes
one’s advocacy and public speaking skills, as well as personal perception and
projection. The Ms. Wheelchair Maryland “Pageant” is open to all women who use
a wheelchair on a daily basis, are permanent residents of Maryland and who are
between 14 and 60 years old. The Ms. Wheelchair Maryland program is a sisterhood
of dynamic women who are dedicated to promoting disability awareness, education,
and empowerment. The person selected to hold the title serves as a spokesperson,
whose responsibility it is to speak to the general public and the disability
community about her life as a person with a disability, the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), and a platform issue of her choosing. Moreover, Ms.
Wheelchair Maryland competes nationally with other state titleholders in the
annual Ms. Wheelchair America Pageant.
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To invite Juliette Rizzo to speak to your group or organization, or to provide
sponsorship for her, please contact
State Coordinator Robert Watson.
Ms. Wheelchair Maryland is made possible by
donations from individuals and organizations. Donations should be sent to Ms.
Wheelchair Maryland, 7830 Wisconsin Ave. Bethesda, MD 20814.
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