Ms. Wheelchair America--The Road to Nationals

John and I are enjoying our first full day of the national experience. Please visit http://www.mswheelchairamerica.org for daily updates and photos about our experiences.

Today's Woman Magazine Honors Ms. Wheelchair Kentucky on the Moving Up Page of the July 2008 Issue

I have my own cartoon strip.

Kentuckiana's Today's Woman Magazine featured me as one of the "Successful Women You Should Meet" on the Moving Up pages of their July 2008 issue.

To pick up your copy of the July issue visit: http://www.iamtodayswoman.com/AdvContactCopy/HowToGetACopy.html

Just Because I Haven't Been Making Appearances Does Not Mean I Have Not Been Busy

I have a confession. I haven't donned my tiara in a while. But I have a few good reasons:

1. I completed my spring semester of graduate school with a 4.0.



2. I finished my graduate assistanceship for the summer with a flurry of interesting and critical projects. (at least I think they were time sensitive and important)



3. I started a spectacular and grueling internship as the coordinator for Parents Orientation offered through U of L's Office of Admissions and New Student Programs.



4. I'm a mom and a wife. Those titles should offer enough explanation. Here are relatively recent pictures of Jenna and Jackson. I am so proud of my adorable, smart kids.

Bluegrass Bash to Support Ms. Wheelchair Kentucky 2008

I will always remember the evening of April 11, 2008, as the night I pulled off a major coup in terms of event planning. Thanks in no small part to the brillant creative genius of Ronda Stumler, and the hard work and dedication of Sue Miracle and Keri Cinotto and my family, my crazy notion for a fundraiser shattered my wildest dreams and will go down in history not as a mere reality but rather a remarkable acheivement. Originally, my goal was to raise awareness about the Ms. Wheelchair Kentucky and Ms. Wheelchair America programs and facilitate my attendance at the national pageant. I envisioned a silent auction and dinner reception open to anyone who felt compelled to learn more about the program and my participation in it. What started, as most great ideas do, as a somewhat casual, dreamy conversation at a friend's kitchen table, evolved into a grand and spectacular affair with thousands of dollars raised from auctioned items and in-kind donations.

The space, part of the Bill Collins Autogroup dealership, was transformed into a trendy, classy and colorful event space. The food, a mix of catered fare from Masterson's and donated items from other establishments, was delectable. The 60 auction packages ranged from movie tickets to a rare whisky barrel head signed by Maker's Mark CEO Bill Samuels, Jr. The nearly 75 participants truly embraced my mission for the evening--to proclaim that it's through relationship building, fun and networking that our society will best deconstruct the attitudinal and physical barriers that divide us.

Special thanks to all who came! You have inspired me to think outside the box about what I can accomplish not only as Ms. Wheelchair Kentucky, but as a woman with passion and ideas about how to make the world a better place. The Bluegrass Bash won't really improve our world in a substantial way, but it will enable me to showcase my accomplishments this summer at Ms. Wheelchair America. Who knows what positive and powerful things might develop from that opportunity?

No Sleep; Good Cause

I won't be pulling an all-nighter, but I was happy to support those who will be.

Tonight I spoke the University of Louisville graduates participating in the third annual Dance Marathon to benefit Kosair Children's Hospital.

Students pay $50 and agree to dance for 24 hours. Activities include a rave, ballroom dancing competition, a live band and community hours where friends and family can make a donation to come in, visit, and cheer on the students. Dance Marathon participants hope to raise more than $50,000.

Homebuilder's Association of Louisville

I crafted the platform "Building Connections to Transform Perceptions" around the notion that its through networking and relationship building that true community change for the disabled is made possible. Since my reign began in November I've served as a catalyst for many conversations about equity issues in the education and employment arena, but the area where I believe the most change is needed is also the area where making connections has been a struggle.

Today I took a huge step toward facilitating education about visitability and easy access living reforms in the housing industry by meeting with Chuck Kavannah, president of the Home Builders Association of Louisville.

The Home Builders Association of Louisville includes more the 2,700 member companies, corporations and individuals involved in the greater housing industry. Its membership encompasses residential and light commercial construction, remodeling and home improvement in the Jefferson, Oldham, Bullitt, Shelby, Trimble, Henry and Spencer county areas.

Kavannah and I discussed the challenges John and I have faced in searching for an existing home or the right builder. It is my hope the meeting is really the beginning of more conversations about how builders could capitalize on a large market of aging residents and disabled adults by adjustng the way they communicate about available plans and training builders and their sales staff about the difference between barrier free living and commercial ADA specification.

Bluegrass Bash Fundraiser Coming Up