This Phenomenal Ms. Wheelchair America Wins By Example

by Brandi Bard



Ms. Wheelchair America 1996, Amy Baxter of Euless, Texas has used her reign this last year to spread a message of hope to the disabled and show by example that attitude and laughter can make all the difference in the world.

Amy says, "I've broken so many bones, I've lost count." Amy is a senior representative in consumer relations dealing with physically challenged passengers at American Airlines. She like Nicole Hofhine, the wonderful, beautiful child on our front page a few issues back, has OI Osteogenesis Imperfecta (brittle bone disorder). "My last break was in high school. I was volunteering at the hospital and walking around on crutches when I broke my shoulder." Amy still chuckles when she recalls this memory. "Cracking jokes has often gotten me through some hard times.

Humor has played a huge role in my life, "the 31 year old Texan said. Since she was 6 months old and was found to have this disorder that makes bones so brittle, Amy has had plenty of tough times. She has undergone 10 operations, one of which left her with a metal rod in one leg. Amy has been using a wheelchair since she was age 5. Once when she was in high school and on a national honor society trip to Boston, she was told to get off the bus that all the students were riding on because the driver said that her wheelchair posed a safety factor. Not only did Amy get off the bus but in support of her, six other honor students and a chaperone all left the bus as well. Also as a teenager, a teacher infuriated her by telling her that she must accept the fact that there are some things that she wouldn't be able to do. ' That was a turning point for me," Baxter recalls, "She made me so mad that for the last 15 years, I've tried to prove her wrong!"

In August 1995, Amy Baxter was crowned Ms. Wheelchair America after a five day competition and since that time, Amy has been flying all over the country with disabilities have the capabilities get the job done," Amy says, "We're just like you. We may get from point A to point B differently, but eventually we're going to get there'"

Amy Baxter hopes that the speeches she has been making this last year, will raise awareness about the Americans With Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination in employment and mandates that public places be wheelchair accessible.

Baxter is also a vice-president of the Handicapped Resources Association in Arlington, Texas and is a member of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation.

"As an advocate for the handicapped, Amy is one who really cares," said Amy's boyfriend John Ley. He also added that, 'Her caring is not just on the surface. It's deep down!" A former president of the Handicapped Resources Association, John Dycus said "I'm not surprised that Amy won the title of Ms Wheelchair America. I can't imagine anyone being more representative of the assertive spirit that the title embodies."

The other day Amy told us that great news that soon she will be going to San Antonio, Texas to become part of the Kaleidoscope TV Network staff doing marketing, public relations and some on-camera work as well. Let's keep calling our local cable companies in our grassroots effort to have Kaleidoscope included on our cable network. As you know, this wonderful cable company is by and for the handicapped community. Let's bring it here so that we can watch these special wonderful shows too!