Wright State senior prepares for Ms. Wheelchair America Pageant

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Wright State University senior Jessica Kelbley is the current reigning Ms. Wheelchair Ohio and is entered into the Ms. Wheelchair America Pageant on July 15 in Houston.

Kelbley and her sister, Missie both have Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a disorder affecting muscular development. Commonly affected muscles are the legs and arms. When muscles used for breathing and coughing become affected, they weaken leading to increased risk of pneumonia, respiratory infections, and breathing difficulties.

Being crowned as Ms. Wheelchair Ohio was a shock, said Kelbley, who had never participated in pageants before.

Being Ms. Wheelchair Ohio keeps Kelbley active; she has the duty of going to events and interviews around Ohio advocating for the disabled. In May she participated in a Walk n’ Roll 5K course around Xavier University.

Kelbley says her favorite part of being Ms. Wheelchair Ohio is “the people I meet.” She’s communicated with many of the national contestants through Facebook.

“In Houston I will get to meet them and I want to hear the stories of what they have been through,” says Kelbley.

Kelbley carries a full load of classes and works as a secretary in the Sexual Assault Prevention Center at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, as an ambassador to the WSU president and as a tutor for Disabilities Services on campus.

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