My After- School Special

  

The next stop on my Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts, 2013 journey took place on April 11th.  I got to partake in a disability awareness talk and discussion at the Plymouth Boys and Girls Club in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  Not to play favorites but I think this was my most successful event to date.  The reason I say this is I spoke to 30 to 40 children between 2nd grade to about 7th grade levels.  This was particularly special because I had a range of children who had different experiences with their exposure to disability culture.  This made for a very rousing question and answer period because the kids shared their experiences with me just as much as I shared my experiences with them.  For example, I had one particular girl who has a sister who is hard of hearing and she expressed how sometimes her disability can make her feel different than the other children her age.  This started an open dialogue for another boy who explained his different view of the world after being a wheelchair user for 8 weeks due to broken limbs.  He realized how certain things that people who can walk take certain obstacles in every day life for granted.  My particular favorite child (even though Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts should not play favorites) was a little boy named, Jamari, he kept me on my toes making sure that I gave him quick answers as well as relating my story as the reigning queen of Massachusetts to a story that he was reading in school.  This tugged at my heart strings because with these kids I felt like giving them an opportunity to see that disabilities relate to many different areas of your life even if you do not have one yourself.  It is because of these kids at the Plymouth Boys and Girls Club that I want to reach out to many more after school programs because clearly my mission was accomplished here.

Until next time, my friends, "Advocate, Educate & Empower".

Back to Laker Land!

For a change of pace I got to go back to my high school, Silver Lake Regional High School in Kingston, Mass.  I spoke to Ms. Jamie Schweer's sociology classes.  We talked about stigmas associated with being a wheelchair user.  We also spoke about discrimination against wheelchair users as well as current legislation that is in place to assist wheelchair users in the state of Massachusetts.  This question and answer period was far more candid than the age appropriate discussions that I am used to.  Students were more interested in what my college experience was like having a disability.  They wanted to know what my future held as far as romantic standings, starting a family, and what uphill barriers I may face in getting married and having children.  Being surrounded by such great Ms. Wheelchair Sisters it was quite easy to impart to them that having a family and getting married is just as attainable as an able-bodied person.  Although I answered a plethora of different questions, I think the hardest question for me to openly and honestly answer was what year did you graduate because suddenly I realized that I am 13 years removed from this wonderful place that  helped me form my identity as a strong woman that happens to be a wheelchair user.  There was one particular student that was more than willing to ask anything and it is so nice to not have a person who is afraid to ask a question without fear of offending the person.

It is ironic that 13 years later I would be presenting in front of Ms. Schweer's class because her sociology class is one that I took my senior year at Silver Lake and I remember thinking 13 years ago, I wonder if I will make a difference with stigmas regarding disabilities.  I finally got to accomplish one goal as Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts that I set 13 years prior without even knowing what the Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts program was.

In closing, I just want to say, once a Laker, always a Laker.  I want to extend my love and gratitude to the Silver Lake staff, especially Principal Richard Kelley, who is pictured above with me.  You guys will always hold a special place in my Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts journey.

Until next time, my friends, "Advocate, Educate & Empower."  
Before I forget, GO LAKERS!

Camp Rice Moody & the Inclusion Patch!

First off I want to apologize for the delay in blog posting.  This has been a really busy time for me as Ms. Wheelchair Mass. because I have been sending out fund raising materials so that I can get to Nationals as well as I have been very busy booking appearances to fill up my summer before and after I go to Houston.  I want to be a very well rounded candidate when I go to compete for Ms. Wheelchair America.

Being asked by Kerryn Martin who is the inclusion specialist at Girl Scout of America of eastern Mass. to help girls in Reading, Lynn, and the surrounding areas was a very enjoyable experience.  Not only did I get to help these girls get their Inclusion Patch but I also got to give these girls a quick age appropriate lesson in disability history.  We talked about everything from 504 and the beginning of disability rights all the way to the Americans With Disability Act.  It is a humbling experience to share disability history with kids that would not otherwise get to experience this information on a regular basis.  They seem to enjoy it very much.  I also want to tip my hat in gratitude to the senior Girl Scouts who took it upon themselves to lead the younger Girl Scouts, Brownies, and Daises in activities that help these children understand the importance of recognizing that differences can make you more alike than most people first assume.  This goes along so well with how much I want to impart this message with young people with advocacy of my platform.

The retreat took place at Camp Rice Moody in Reading.  It was so nice to have such a large group of girls to talk to.  We also had a very innovative question and answer period.  As much as I can say that I taught these girls something about disabilities I think that they taught me how eager children of this age are to soak up knowledge about differences.  Yesterday, I got a really cool email from Kerryn saying that one of the troops made me a matching purple and pistachio T-shirt. This t-shirt is a sign of membership in their troop and they wanted to make me an honorary member.  How flattering is that?

Until next time, my friends, "Advocate, Educate & Empower."

Wheelchair Willie Take 2

So Wheelchair Willie made his second appearance of the week.  This time at West Bridgewater Public Library, West Bridgewater, Mass.  For ten o'clock in the morning the children were very energetic.  Each one of them wanted to hear what I had to say, which is very refreshing.  One thing that was special about this group of children was that the book sparked questions and the children were not afraid to ask them.  I got questions like: "can you feel your legs, do you have pain in your legs, do kids treat you different, and my favorite of the hour, do you get to wear a gown as Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts". Suddenly I was having flashbacks to onstage questioning by the judges at Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts.  I had to be on the ball with my answers because I had some very stiff judges, between the ages of two and seven.  Moving on to everybody's favorite part, the craft.  Again the children made individualized wheelchairs to their liking.  My particular favorite was one little boy's spy wheelchair complete with night vision goggles and a vending machine filled with chips and salsa.  Come to think of it that would have been a million dollar answer on pageant day.  This same particular boy has decided to have a career in movie making and after my visit he decided that he would create a wheelchair using super hero for his movies.  I give this kiddo 5 stars for imagination and creativity.  It is little anecdotes that remind you why it is so much fun to be a title holder.  It is moments like this throughout the year that one never forgets.  
           Pictured above with me is  Miss Nanette, who is the head children's librarian at West Bridgewater Library.  She is perhaps one of the most animated and genuine people that I have met on my journey thus far.  She helped me so much today to get my message across to the children in a fun and understandable manner.  They say that you meet people along your way as a title holder that renew your faith in people wanting to understand and hear your platform.  For me thus far it has been Miss Nanette.  I know even after my reign is over I will go back and experience these great kids again.  So Miss Nanette a thousand thank yous to you.

Until next time, "Advocate, Educate, and Empower".

Story Time AKA "Willie The Wheelchair"

Today was one of the most lighthearted days I have had since being crowned.  I attended story and craft time at Hingham Public Library in Hingham Mass.  It was a great experience because I got to read to about ten children between the ages of two and six.  Like I said in my platform, I wholeheartedly believe that it is so important to start children's awareness of physical disabilities at a formative age so that they are not fearful of people with physical disabilities.  Thanks to Mala from National Seating and Mobility for lending me such age appropriate books for preschool age.  Willie the Wheelchair was a smashing success with the little ones. They were so captivated by the fact that Willie the Wheelchair was the hero of the story.  It sparked such curiosity in the children that I could tell that a simple hour with me and seeing that I was just like them made them more comfortable with the idea of  physical disabilities.  It was also great because I got to show off some of my adaptive toys so that the children could see that even in the toy world they have toys that look just like me.  Even though we are different there is something that always makes us special.  Beyond my wheelchair and my title I am special because I am Nicole and they do not make any more like me.  If you ask the kids, however, the highlight of the day for them was decorating their own personalized wheelchair.  There were so many blinged out wheelchairs with the amount of glitter that was used, I decided that I want my wheelchair to sparkle as much as theirs did.  The kids tried to mimic the monogram that I have on my wheelchair that I thought was particularly cute.  At the end of the session the kids got to see how my wheelchair moved, touch it, feel it, etc. As much as I want to say that I taught them something today in all reality they taught me the importance of teaching children about differences at an age where their mind is capable of absorbing such knowledge without bias.  I also want to extend my gratitude to Anna, the head children's librarian, who made this event possible.

Until next time my friends, "Advocate, Educate, and Empower."