Public Appearances &
Schedule of Events
MARCH 2005
MARCH 25

12:30 p.m.-Meeting with State Senator
Robert O'Leary to discuss ways to bring
the Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts
Program to the attention of lawmakers.
MWMass will be collaborating with
Senator O'Leary's office to set up an
event at the State House in Boston to
commemorate Special Needs Awareness
Day in the Commonwealth.
"My first official meeting with a lawmaker as
Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2005 was a
pleasure.  Not only did Senator O'Leary lend
his support and ideas on how to raise
awareness of MWM, but he was also
generous in my access to him and his staff.  
The State House Event on May 23rd is going
bring much needed attention to the issue of
access to assistive technology and durable
medical equipment."
MWMass 2005, Laurel
Labdon after her meeting
with Senator Rob O'Leary.
MARCH 30

4:00 p.m.-Disabilty Awareness
Presentation for the local Daisy Troop
751 emphasizing lessons in courage,
perseverance and kindness.
"I had a greatl time with Daisy Troop 751 and was
able to use their lessons on kindness, courage
and helping others to demonstrate how the
disabled should be valued.  They had some
fantastic answers when I asked them how they
could make the world a better place for someone
like me.  I think I may have found some future
advocates!"
Laurel Labdon, Ms. Wheelchair
Massachusetts 2005, with Daisy Troop 751
after a disability presentation and question
& answer session.
"This experience was a valuable as I thought it
would be.  The panel of incredible women that
included Representative Shirley Gomes,
Barnstable County Commissioner, Mary LeClair,
Barnstable School Committee Member, Dr. Debra
Dagwan and Ms. Paula Peters of the Mashpee
Wampanoag Tribe, were not only informative but
inspirational in their encouragement to become
involved in politics and public policy.  I was
especially honored to meet Representative
Gomes  to thank her for her co-sponsorship of the
Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund Bill.  This bill diverts
money  from moving violation fees to help fund
spinal cord  injury research.  Eventually the fund
is expected to raise $900,000 to $1.5 million!  It
was a great night!"
Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts welcomes the
opportunity to make public appearance, do interviews
and give presentations.  If you are interested in
scheduling an appearance with Ms. Wheelchair
Massachusetts please contact her as soon as possible!

MARCH 28

10:15 a.m.-Disability Awareness
Presentation at Eddy Elementary School
in Brewster, to be followed by a question
and answer session.

















Laurel Labdon with MacKenzie Meads
during a disability awareness presentation.  















---------------------------------------------------
6:00 p.m.-Attending a Women's Political
Summit at Cape Cod Community
College.  In celebration of Women's
History month CCCC is hosting this
valuable event featuring a panel of
outstanding women serving in a variety
of public offices and positions who will
explore women in politics today...the
motivations, barriers and ways to
support a stronger presence of women in
politics and public policy.  It will be a
prime opportunity to meet with powerful
women and to promote the Ms.
Wheelchair America and Massachusetts
Programs as a valuable forum for
women with disabilities.  

"I had a wonderful time with the children from the
Eddy Elementary School in Brewster!  What
wonderful listeners and great questions!  I left the
school feeling that I was able to answer their
questions about being a wheelchair user and
demonstrate to them the importance of being kind
and inclusive to their peers living with disabilities
of all kinds.  I, of course, encouraged them to
study hard so that they may be in a position to
really help the disability community someday."