Passion for the Ms. Wheelchair Programs

This is an article written especially for the QuadFiles by Ms. Ida Esh’t, Ms. Wheelchair Ohio title holder for 1987-88.  She is now State Coordinator for the Ms. Wheelchair Arizona Program.

Passion for My Wheels

Sandy said, “Ida, this is not like other pageants, in fact the pageant is all about eliminating barriers and creating positive attitudes.”

I started using a wheelchair when I was 27 years old my sons were nine and three.  Soon after my chair arrived we went to the mall and it was there that my three year old son leaned over to me and stated, “Mommy why do people look at you, they look at your wheelchair and turn away?”  Astonished by his observation at such an early age, it was then I had an epiphany, realizing I had to command eye contact for people to see me and take their focus off my wheelchair.