A TRIAL OF SORTS: Ms. Wheelchair Pageants Seek DC Contestants

[Birde]

Ms. Wheelchair Pageants Seek DC Contestants; National Pageant to be Held in Maryland


WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Ms. Wheelchair DC Inc. is seeking dynamic women to participate as contestants in the upcoming Ms. Wheelchair DC and Jr. Ms. Wheelchair DC Gala 2001.

Ms. Wheelchair DC and Jr. Ms. Wheelchair DC raises public awareness in the District of Columbia about the abilities of persons with disabilities. They also serve as role models to empower people with disabilities, and as a spokesperson, they may appear before schools, businesses, civic groups and religious organizations to speak about disability issues, such as individual rights and accommodations.

Ms. Wheelchair DC and Jr. Ms. Wheelchair DC will be selected during a closed competition Oct. 13-14. The selection process includes participation in empowerment seminars, the delivery of a platform speech and judged interviews. The finalist of the Ms. Wheelchair DC will compete in the Ms. Wheelchair America pageant to be held in suburban Maryland.

Eligible contestants for Ms. Wheelchair DC must be women between the ages of 21-60 and Jr. Ms. Wheelchair DC contestants must be women between the ages of 18-21. Each contestant must also be a U.S. citizen, use a wheelchair or scooter for primary mobility, have a permanent disability and be a resident of the District of Columbia.

The deadline for applications is Sept. 15, 2001. For an application and further details on how to obtain tickets, contact Jeri Wasco at mswheelchairdc(At)aol.com or call 301-593-6988 anytime and leave a message indicating whether the application should be sent via email or regular mail.

Contact: Jeri Wasco, 301-593-6988 or 301-681-0947 (fax); email: mswheelchairdc(At)aol.com