CPAK

I co-presented today at the College Personnel Association of Kentucky Annual Conference. Our presentation, Empower Disabled Student Success in College" addressed the issues disabled students face when transitioning to post secondary education, and offered solutions for ensuring greater inclusiveness in Student Affairs programming.

Job Shadowing-Larry Clark

I had the opportunity to spend the day with House Speaker Pro Tem and my Representative, Larry Clark today. Larry is in his 25th year of representation of my district. He was as interested in my advocacy efforts and genuine in his concern for constituents as they come, and the day was a true pleasure.

Larry attended several private meetings about the budget during the day, during which time I became well aquainted with his staff. What great people!

I had the opportunity to sit next to Larry during the session, was recognized on the House floor and chatted with several other representatives including Greg Stumbo and Dottie Sims.

Networking with A Networker

A platform like "Building Connections to Tranform Perceptions" necessitates that I network regularly, engage in lots of conversations and find the most efficient and effective ways to share my message so that it spreads across the Commonwealth.

Today's meeting with Melissa Mershon, Director of Neighborhood Initiatives for Louisville Metro Government, was the perfect example of "Building Connections" in action, and served as a terrific model for how community leaders network, share and empower communities. I left her office energized about my cause, and invigorated by the possibilities we created. I left with a two-page list of new contacts, and ways to share my story as Ms. Wheelchair Kentucky.

Kentucky Center for the Arts

Martha Newman is responsible for Access Services for the Kentucky Center for the Arts. We met today to discuss the services the Kentucky Center provides for disabled patrons, their educational initiatives and the ways Ms. Wheelchair Kentucky and the Kentucky Center might benefit from partnering with one another.

Martha is truly a champion of inclusiveness, and a connector, so our personalities meshed well. I hope the introduction was the beginning of a long relationship.

Sharing Time with Veterans

I spent two hours today touring Louisville's VA Hospital, and it was time incredibly well spent. I chatted with each patient, learning a great deal about history, meteorology and Kentucky geography. I'm hoping the experience brought as much joy to the men I visited as it did to me.

I promise to post many of the pictures here so my new friends could show off the fact they "met a beauty queen." As soon I get clearance to post their photos, I'll add them.

Push America Board Meeting

My first encounter with Push America came my sophomore year in college, when I paused on the long jaunt from the TCU student newspaper office to my dorm, to cry. Pain in my arms, caused by torn cartilage and further exacerbated by my stubbornness, was making it impossible for me to traverse the campus in my manual wheelchair. As I was sobbing, a friend of mine and member Pi Kappa Phi stopped to console me. I confided in him that unless I purchased a motorized scooter soon, not only would I lose function in my hands, but I would also have to forgo a pending semester as a Washington Center intern. As a dual major in journalism and political science, the thought of losing my chance to live in D.C. and receive college credit was almost more than I could bear.

He helped to my room and then prompted rallied his fraternity brothers to raise the funds needed to purchase a scooter. That summer I met the Journey of Hope 2000 cyclists and crew at the steps of the U.S. Capitol, and I collected a check to fund my motorized ride. I also witnessed first-hand the transformative nature of the JOH experience. Even as Push America mourned the death of Jason Tirado and Todd Porterfield, they celebrated their lives of service to others, particularly people with disabilities.

How could I not be part of an organization that does such tremendous work? I joined the Push America Board of Directors in 2006, and am forever grateful not only for the work they do, but for the example our participants set on college campuses.

This weekend our board met with the National Council of Pi Kappa Phi. I think the ideas and strategies shared will help shape a remarkable future for fraternity and Push. I presented information about my Ms. Wheelchair Kentucky platform to the Push America Board, and thank them in advance for their support.

Meeting Governor Steve Beshear

The Commonwealth's Governor Steve Beshear has been under fire since his budget address for proposed cuts in every major state department including dramatic decreases for funding of services for the elderly and disabled, and slashing higher education by 12 percent.

So, when I had to opportunity to meet the Governor today, I made sure he understood how thrilled I am to represent the state's disabled, but also how disappointed I am that he perceives cuts to human services and higher education as necessiary to resolving Kentucky's fiscal crisis.

My arguement to him was that by cutting services for the disabled, merely identify funds in the short-term, but do long-term damage to past gains that furthered independence for so many citizens. I maintain that cuts to higher education institutions stiffle one of the state's most valuable economic engines. By tying the hands of Kentucky's university and college officials, you would not only endanger potential enrollment increases, but you also hinder efforts to keep the best and brightest students in-state. Cuts to higher education will hit disabled students hard because on most campuses the funds needed to ensure programs are inclusive and accommodated will be shifted.

While I was honored to meet Gov. Beshear, I am anxious to see how the budget situation is resolved in the House and Senate. It should also be noted that I battled ice and snow to keep my appointment with the Governor because I think the financial choices being made in Frankfort right now, are critical to the future economic viability of the Commonwealth.

Disabled Students and Residence Life

I presented today at Louisville's Bellarmine University for the Kentucky Association of Residence Halls Annual Conference about the issues disabled college student face related to residential, on-campus living. My program was entitled, "Hall Social, My Room...Wheelie Contest." I got some very positive feedback, especially for my 9 a.m. time-slot.

Integrity Foundation

Specially thanks to Shannon Main from the Integrity Foundation for meeting with me today. She is helping make Louisville's MVP Zone a reality.

Shannon is incredibly supportive of the Ms. Wheelchair Kentucky program, and I look forward to a long partnership.