October is Disability Awareness Month

Read all about it:

http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.media.press.view&news_id=1380

Oct 24th, Environmental Traveling Companion (ETC) Regatta

October 18th, ACT Games 2008

October 13th-16th, Eastern Connecticut State University

Davis Enterprise article

Oct 4th, BORP Revolution 2008

The Bay area Outreach and Recreation Program is a Berkeley-based organization that focuses on outdoor activities for individuals with disabilities. Each year BORP holds a fundraising bike ride in the wine growing region of Sonoma, near to California's Napa Valley. You can read more about this great event at BORP's website, http://www.borp.org/revolution/index.htm

I've had lots of fun with BORP riding hand-cycles in the past, but this year I was invited to help cheer the riders along, a role I accepted with great pleasure. Riders both with and without disabilities took part in the event, which included entries for everything from a 100k ride down to a 10k ride. 2008 Paralympic silver-medal hand-cycle champion Alejandro Albor and several other hand cyclists took-on the century along with many friends and supporters who helped make this fund-raising event a great success.

I helped many of the 10k hand-cyclists get ready for their ride at a beautiful spot in Graton, CA - this site was also about the half-way point for the 100k riders who came through after the 10k riders had set out. I've captured part of the adventure below:

Getting Ready for the 10k Ride:

These kids rock!

Here are some of the 100k Riders stopping in:

There were many beautiful sites along the way, and other amazing people to meet at the finish:

Come participate in this great and fun event next year on the last Saturday of September.

Sep 20th, U.C. Berkeley's Division for Equity and Inclusion in Education, Open House

Gibor Basri, UC Berkeley vice chancellor for equity and inclusion (center) and Berkeley student.

U.C. Berkeley faculty and students.

KCRA Common Ground

Here is a Video of my recent appearance on KCRA Channel 3's Common Ground Segment:

September 13th, Yolo People First

August 22nd-23rd, AccessToCare Expo

Top left: Signing autographs

Top right: Interview

Bottom left and right: Celebrity Wheelchair basketball

The two-day expo held at Bayside Church in Granite Bay featured 60 exhibitors from health to disability-related resources and services. The wealth of information for parents who have children with disabilities and people from all walks of life who have health questions found the event invaluable in the community.

July 30th, California Youth Leadership Forum

Left: YLF delegates
Right: Anthony P. Sauer, Director of Department of Rehabilitation


Left: Senator Darrell Steinberg
Right: Mentors Luncheon

The next day, I spoke to the YLF delegates at the State Capitol about the importance of youth leadership. Then, we went to Senator Darrell Steinberg's office where the delegates got to address issues concerning youth with disabilities. Later, we headed to the convention center for the Mentors Luncheon. It was great to see youth with disabilities taking on leadership roles in the community.

July 29th, Assistive Technology and Resource Fair for the Youth Leadership Forum

Left: Speaking to delegates
Right: Signing autographs

After spending an intense week at the pageant, it was nice to share with 55 delegates from the California Youth Leadership Forum about traveling abroad for people with disabilities and my experience being Ms Wheelchair California 2008 and 1st Runner Up for Ms Wheelchair America 2009. This sparked a lot of interest from the female delegates. I hope to see them in future pageants.

July 21st, Peace Corps Headquarters

While I was in Maryland for the competition, I spent a few hours at Peace Corps Headquarters in DC. I caught up with Karen Chaput, Peace Corps Videographer, who filmed my experience in Paraguay and met with several staff members. I also had the honor of meeting Peace Corps Director Tschetter, who was a volunteer in India. Great news: Peace Corps has a new initiative to recruit people with disabilities to volunteer in Kenya and other countries.

1st Runner Up Ms Wheelchair America 2009

Top: Fun day group photo

Top left: State display trifold

Top right: 1st Runner Up

Mid left: Around the World theme

Mid right: 50's theme night

Bottom left: Comedy night

Bottom right: Crowning night

I want to express a special thank you to everyone for all your love, votes, and support over the last week while I was at the Ms Wheelchair America Pageant. The pageant was a meeting of 25 state representatives and DC, a wonderful and inspiring group of advocates and individuals, all of whom have so much to give and to share. I’ve been blessed by all the other contestants and look forward to working with many of them in the future. After an intensive week of interviews, speeches, workshops, and activities, it was an honor to receive the title First Runner Up for Ms Wheelchair America 2009. I’ve posted a few highlights from my experience at the pageant. I look forward to all the adventures that lie ahead as we continue to empower individuals with disabilities. As Ms Wheelchair California 2008 and First Runner Up for Ms Wheelchair America 2009, I will continue to promote higher education and to develop leadership vision for women with disabilities. Be sure to view my platform speech on this topic below. Finally, I wish to congratulate Michelle Colvard on her new title as Ms Wheelchair America 2009. I look forward to supporting her and all the other state titleholders in all their endeavors.

Ms. Wheelchair America Platform Speech

My Speech (1st Runner Up)







Michelle Colvard's Speech (Congrats to our new title-holder!)







Award Ceremony

Ms Wheelchair America Pageant 2009

From July 21st - 27th, I will be in Rockville, Maryland for the Ms Wheelchair America Pageant 2009. I feel both excited and nervous that I will be going to nationals to represent California. I also look forward to meeting the other Ms Wheelchair state titleholders at the event. Thank you everyone for all your encouragements! By the way, you can also support me by voting for the People's Choice Award on the Ms Wheelchair America website below: http://www.mswheelchairamerica.org/contestants/california2008/

More exciting news--New Mobility magazine published an article I wrote about my Peace Corps experience in Paraguay on the July 2008 issue. Please click on the link below: http://newmobility.com/articleViewIE.cfm?id=11207

Media:

This morning KDRT interviewed me for, "How She Really Does It." I'll post the link when the podcast is available so check back soon.

Also see me on the news - See youtube clip here: