| Massachusetts State Pageants |
| Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2006 Pageant "A Prescription for Opportunity" April 8, 2006 |
| Being the first Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Pageant,this pageant was extra special! As with all new things, we started out small...but that certainly didn't mean that we didn't start out well! Please meet our two amazing contestants! |
Lori Frankian, is an accomplished advocate on behalf of the disabled community. She has lent her very
accomplished voice to many causes to better the lives of individuals with disabilities. She is also an
accomplished businesswoman and runs her own consulting business for actors.
She has worked within the entertainment industry as an actor, model, television host and arts
administrator since 1984. After graduating from Northeastern University in Boston with a major in
Communications, she followed her passion for this business and set out to open doors to wonderful
opportunities for herself and those around her. She has handled publicity for local theatre, managed a
Boston band and worked at WZLX, WRKO / WBMX & WRBB in positions both on and off the air.
From 1991-1995, she held the position of Public Relations and Membership Director at StageSource,
The Alliance of Theatre Artists and Producers. While at StageSource, she formed some very special
relationships with individuals from talent to director. Due to these strong bonds, she began
independently casting projects for theatre and film producers. Providing actors the opportunity to
obtain work and producers with fabulous talent is enormously rewarding.
The corporate experience she attained began at Bain & Company one of the world's largest Global
Strategy Consulting firms. At Bain, she acquired the solid business etiquette that she lives by to this
very day.
As an actor, she has worked and studied in Boston and New York and hold credits on stage, in film and
print. Any down-time she may have is spent public speaking on the importance of the "business" of
acting as well as on disability issues.
accomplished voice to many causes to better the lives of individuals with disabilities. She is also an
accomplished businesswoman and runs her own consulting business for actors.
She has worked within the entertainment industry as an actor, model, television host and arts
administrator since 1984. After graduating from Northeastern University in Boston with a major in
Communications, she followed her passion for this business and set out to open doors to wonderful
opportunities for herself and those around her. She has handled publicity for local theatre, managed a
Boston band and worked at WZLX, WRKO / WBMX & WRBB in positions both on and off the air.
From 1991-1995, she held the position of Public Relations and Membership Director at StageSource,
The Alliance of Theatre Artists and Producers. While at StageSource, she formed some very special
relationships with individuals from talent to director. Due to these strong bonds, she began
independently casting projects for theatre and film producers. Providing actors the opportunity to
obtain work and producers with fabulous talent is enormously rewarding.
The corporate experience she attained began at Bain & Company one of the world's largest Global
Strategy Consulting firms. At Bain, she acquired the solid business etiquette that she lives by to this
very day.
As an actor, she has worked and studied in Boston and New York and hold credits on stage, in film and
print. Any down-time she may have is spent public speaking on the importance of the "business" of
acting as well as on disability issues.
| Lori Frankian |
| Autumn Grant |
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.
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.
| Images of the 2006 Pageant |
| The first annual Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts Pageant was held at the Federated Church of Hyannis, in Hyannis, Massachusetts, on beautiful Cape Cod. Although churches are exempt from the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Federated Church is not only historic, but accessible as well. A perfect place to celebrate the achievements of individuals with disabilities! |
| Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2005, and the program's founder and State Coordinator gives her farewell address as the contestants and audience await the judge's decision on who will become the new titleholder. |
| MS. WHEELCHAIR MASSACHUSETTS 2006 IS...Autumn Grant! |
