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April 12, 2005
No Standing Ovation, Please!
As I was reading through the news, I came across a very interesting, humorous story! This is probably one of the most intriguing stories I’ve ever read in the news! This news headline makes me wonder why they are holding “Ms. Wheelchair” pageants, further defining someone’s disability. I speculate “Ms. Wheelchair” pageants will cause a plethora of new competitions such as “ Ms. Cripple”, “Ms. Quadriplegic”, “Ms. Electric Wheelchair”. Taking someone’s crown away that actually has a condition that restricts the individual to a wheelchair is like taking a medal away from a Special Olympics participant for scoring 2 points over the minimal IQ Test requirement! Enjoy!
MILWAUKEE (AP) - A new Ms. Wheelchair Wisconsin has been crowned after pageant leaders stripped the original winner of the title when she appeared in a newspaper photograph standing up.
The announcement of the new winner Tuesday came amid a storm of protest over pageant officials' decision last week to take the crown away from Janeal Lee, a high school teacher and muscular dystrophy sufferer who uses a scooter as her main way to move around but said she can walk up to 15 meters on a good day and stand while teaching.
During the furore, the runner-up refused to accept the crown out of protest. Lee's sister, who also has muscular dystrophy and was named Ms. Wheelchair Minnesota, dropped out of the competition in that state. And the co-ordinator for the organization's Minnesota program stepped down from her job to "stand up for Janeal Lee."
"I no longer feel comfortable supporting an organization that instead of working towards creating a positive change, chooses to perpetuate stereotypes and requests its participants to hide their abilities while in public," said the sister, 26-year-old Sharon Spring of Rochester, Minn.
Ms. Wheelchair Wisconsin officials stripped Lee of the crown after the 30-year-old was shown standing in her classroom in a photograph carried in a supplement to the Post-Crescent newspaper of Appleton, Wis.
The organization said candidates for the crown have to "mostly be seen in the public using their wheelchairs or scooters."
The eventual winner was second runner-up Kim Jerman of Waukesha. She did not immediately return a call Tuesday.
Pat O'Bryant, the national program's executive director, confirmed Jerman had accepted the Wisconsin crown but refused additional comment.
"We are not getting into a he-said, she-said, situation. I think we've said enough," she said.
"I'm very sorry all of this is happening."
The crown went to Jerman after first runner-up Michelle Kearney of West Allis refused to accept it.
"Who is to say who is more disabled and less disabled than another person?" Kearney told the Post-Crescent.
"Had I accepted, it's as if I had been saying I'm OK with the decision. I thought they educated and advocated about disabilities."
The co-ordinator for the group's Minnesota program, Jen Onsum, also quit her job in protest.
"I feel I must now stand up for Janeal Lee and against an organization that has discriminated against the very people they strive to advocate for," Onsum said, in a statement included in a link on the national program's website.
The winners of state Ms. Wheelchair contests go on to the national competition July 19-24 in Albany, N.Y. The program is designed to spotlight the accomplishments of women who use wheelchairs.
Ms. Wheelchair America: mswheelchairamerica.org
Posted by ande4192 at April 12, 2005 2:27 AM | Laughs!
Comments
OMG, the lady was from my town. Wow how I love being from Wisconsin. We are just so classy. But I do agree with your view on taking her title away, I mean how cruel! Why don't they just kick her while she is down.Posted by: Grace at April 12, 2005 1:04 PM
hahahahahaha...kick her while she's down....it's funny because she's in a wheelchair...*shifty eyes...runs away*Posted by: Ashley at April 16, 2005 12:59 AM
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What, no pictures? I really hope you would add some pictures here. I want to see the contestantsPosted by: wcl at August 10, 2007 8:53 AM