On June 6th I attended the Massachusetts Hospital School Commencement. It was amazing. I was able to spend some time with Megan Mamaty who is Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2011, and Susan Houston who is on the board of the Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Foundation. They are both alumni of the school and I was able to get a sense of the history of it and its progress over the years. Megan made a very empowering alumni speech. I was able to meet the students and some of the staff and alumni as well. The theater where the commencement was is an amazing example of total accessibility. Wheelchair users can sit in any row they prefer along with everybody else. Many entertainment venues could learn a lot from its design.

Last week I was interviewed by the editor of "Wareham Week." We talked about The Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Foundation, what the Pageant consists of and what it was like for me. We also discussed my platform, "Creative Perseverance." We also discussed my eager anticipation to attend the Ms. Wheelchair America 2013 and Leadership Institute.

This past weekend I also attended a reunion from my years as a young adult attending an MDA sleep away camp. Even though this is not a Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts appearance, I decided to share it here anyway because it has to do with life as a person with a disability. From 1974 to 1979 MDA was able to use a camp in Rhinebeck, New York for their sleep away camp. I grew up in New York but I did not wear my sash and crown out of respect for the reigning Ms. wheelchair New York, Pam Hall. But I wanted to share it here anyway because I think many of you might have attended something similar. People who volunteered as teenagers to assist us folks with disabilities were at the reunion as well. We had all become very good friends and some of us had not seen each other in 30 years. Attending the camp was an amazing time in my life and is definitely part of what shaped me. The biggest thing I wanted to share is that at camp the line between people with disabilities and people without disabilities simply vanished. I remember as a young adult wondering why the world was not more like this. We have come a lot farther in present day making that line fade little by little. The Ms. wheelchair Massachusetts Foundation plays a large role in this. Is important for people with disabilities to participate in life as much as they can and educate people by their presence, advocacy, and mentoring. This July I will be making an appearance at the New England MDA camp. It will be great to see all those young faces experiencing what I did many years ago.

Many thanks to Sarah MacIsaac who is doing a "Tastefully Simple" fundraiser for me at the present time. I still need to raise some more money for the Ms. Wheelchair America Pageant. You can go to the link www.tastefullysimple.com/web/smacisaac to order some delicious ingredients for some tastefully simple meals and desserts. Just be sure to put "Ms. Wheelchair" as the first name and "Massachusetts" as the last name.

I am very saddened by the loss of Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2009 Ashley Speicher. She was a wonderful young woman and advocate and lived her shortened life to the fullest. She was very kind to me the day of the pageant as she escorted me to my judging sessions. We spoke on the phone the other day and she gave me some encouragement and advice about my reign and competing in the nationals.

On May 23 I was invited once again to sing at another Triangle Gala. This time it was their Employability Employee of the Month award dinner. It was held at the Putnam Club at Gillette Stadium. I sang with Richard Mirsky again. I also sang a song from my band's album with my husband's guitar accompaniment, "The Way I See It." You can see additional pictures of this event on my fan page at www.facebook.com/MsWheelchairMassachusetts2012.

Wednesday night, June 6 is the Massachusetts Hospital School graduation ceremony. I will be making an appearance there. Ahe former Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2011, Megan Mamaty, will be making a speech. She is an alumnus of the school and I'm very proud and honored that she invited me to attend. That is where the Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2012 Pageant was held as well, so it will be a walk down Memory Lane for me!

The National pageant date, August 6-12, is fast approaching. I sent in the first part of my application along with half of the fee. I am still short of my goal for the entry fee and hotel accommodations fee. If you would like to donate and have your name in the pageant program as a sponsor please go to www.paypal.com. I am really looking forward to meeting the other contestants and learning and sharing. Not only is it pageant week but it is also a week of leadership and advocacy workshops. I am also eager to meet Ms. Wheelchair America 2012, Josie Badger.

Within the next several weeks I am going to begin posting some YouTube videos talking about things of importance to me. I will post the link here once I start. I think it will be an interesting way to get the word out about the Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Foundation as well as the Ms. Wheelchair America Foundation. It will give you an "inside view" of what it's like to be Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2012. Feel free to comment under the videos as they are posted.

Remember, life has plenty of opportunities for you to exercise Creative Perseverance!