| About Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2006 |
Autumn Grant was selected at the first annual Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Pageant as Ms.
Wheelchair Massachusetts 2006 on April 8, 2006. She wowed the judges during her one-on-one
interviews and with her platform speech presentation on "Independence Through Education". Autumn
wasted no time getting to work as Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2006. She made her first appearance
at the Massachusetts State House a few days later at a PCA rally supporting a bill that would grant
rights and higher wages and benefits to Personal Care Attendants for the disabled. She continued to do
Massachusetts proud when she was crowned Ms. Wheelchair America 2007 in Little Rock, Arkansas last
August. She recently crowned her successor, Kristen McCosh, Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2007 and
will continue her reign as Ms. Wheelchair America until this July.
Autumn Grant was born, raised and continues to live in Attleboro, Massachusetts. She is a graduate of
Attleboro High School. Autumn received a BA in Humanities with a concentration in Classics from
Providence College, graduating Summa cum laude and with the Directors Award for Excellence in the
Humanities in 1996. She also received a MA in Higher Education Administration from Boston College in
2000. Autumn hopes to begin working on an Ed.D in Higher Education Administration at UMass Boston
focusing on college students with disabilities in the fall of 2007.
Autumn currently serves as the Director of the Center for Academic Achievement at Stonehill College.
As such, Autumn coordinates services for students with disabilities, runs a college wide tutoring program
and a summer program for “at-risk” students. In addition, Autumn advises undecided students and
teaches 1-2 classes each semester.
Autumn was diagnosed at the age of 10 with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy; this came as quite a
shock since she had been very physically active, especially in dance. In 1996, shortly after graduating
from college she started using a wheelchair. Grant soon learned that her wheelchair was actually her
key to a more independent life.
Autumn’s hobbies include reading, traveling and spending time with her fiancé Kenny Bergeron and
their “babies”, a dog and three cats. Autumn is an active volunteer with the Muscular Dystrophy
Association and received a MDA State Personal Achievement Award in 2002. She also serves as a tutor
with the Literacy Center in her hometown. In addition, Autumn is involved in many professional
organizations and enjoys presenting at regional and national conferences.
As Ms. Wheelchair America 2007, Autumn will promote her platform “Independence through
Education”. In her own words, she believes, “The statistics regarding women with disabilities with college
degrees, full time employment and those living below the poverty level are startling.” Autumn feels that
education is the first step towards obtaining independence and will spend her year working to eliminate
barriers keeping people with disabilities from becoming involved in post secondary education. She also
hopes to demonstrate that “Independence through Education” is possible by sharing her own personal
story with those she meets.
Wheelchair Massachusetts 2006 on April 8, 2006. She wowed the judges during her one-on-one
interviews and with her platform speech presentation on "Independence Through Education". Autumn
wasted no time getting to work as Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2006. She made her first appearance
at the Massachusetts State House a few days later at a PCA rally supporting a bill that would grant
rights and higher wages and benefits to Personal Care Attendants for the disabled. She continued to do
Massachusetts proud when she was crowned Ms. Wheelchair America 2007 in Little Rock, Arkansas last
August. She recently crowned her successor, Kristen McCosh, Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2007 and
will continue her reign as Ms. Wheelchair America until this July.
Autumn Grant was born, raised and continues to live in Attleboro, Massachusetts. She is a graduate of
Attleboro High School. Autumn received a BA in Humanities with a concentration in Classics from
Providence College, graduating Summa cum laude and with the Directors Award for Excellence in the
Humanities in 1996. She also received a MA in Higher Education Administration from Boston College in
2000. Autumn hopes to begin working on an Ed.D in Higher Education Administration at UMass Boston
focusing on college students with disabilities in the fall of 2007.
Autumn currently serves as the Director of the Center for Academic Achievement at Stonehill College.
As such, Autumn coordinates services for students with disabilities, runs a college wide tutoring program
and a summer program for “at-risk” students. In addition, Autumn advises undecided students and
teaches 1-2 classes each semester.
Autumn was diagnosed at the age of 10 with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy; this came as quite a
shock since she had been very physically active, especially in dance. In 1996, shortly after graduating
from college she started using a wheelchair. Grant soon learned that her wheelchair was actually her
key to a more independent life.
Autumn’s hobbies include reading, traveling and spending time with her fiancé Kenny Bergeron and
their “babies”, a dog and three cats. Autumn is an active volunteer with the Muscular Dystrophy
Association and received a MDA State Personal Achievement Award in 2002. She also serves as a tutor
with the Literacy Center in her hometown. In addition, Autumn is involved in many professional
organizations and enjoys presenting at regional and national conferences.
As Ms. Wheelchair America 2007, Autumn will promote her platform “Independence through
Education”. In her own words, she believes, “The statistics regarding women with disabilities with college
degrees, full time employment and those living below the poverty level are startling.” Autumn feels that
education is the first step towards obtaining independence and will spend her year working to eliminate
barriers keeping people with disabilities from becoming involved in post secondary education. She also
hopes to demonstrate that “Independence through Education” is possible by sharing her own personal
story with those she meets.
