This year marked the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Although I’ve been part of the Disability Community for 16 years I’ve never partook in the festivities held at the Capitol. The weather was beautiful and the vendor selection was a fantastically diverse group. I picked up information on assistance for artists with disabilities to receive grants and signed up for email reminders for important voting dates coming up for the Disability Community.
The Department of Rehabilitation helped put on the event and I took the opportunity while I had the mic to thank DOR. DOR played an instrumental role in my returning to school after becoming paralyzed my junior year of college in a snowboarding accident. I was able to return full time with their assistance and graduate from business school.
DRAIL, disability resource agency for independent living, one of my major sponsors was also there to show their love and support . A special thank you to Barry and Jeff Who played a major role in the position I find myself in today as Ms. Wheelchair California 2018 and Ms. Wheelchair America 2019 2nd Runner Up.
They not only believed in me, they enthusiastically encouraged me to run for Ms. Wheelchair California and offered to be my sponsor. I am so grateful for their ability to see something in me that I didn’t know was there.
I’ve only had the title for five months and I’ve had so many life-changing experiences during my advocacy adventures. Singing at the Capitol in celebration of the ADA’s 28th anniversary beside my sister Robyn while the Sacramento Kings Dancers cheered us on was definitely one of them.