| ABOUT MS. WHEELCHAIR MASSACHUSETTS 2005 |
Laurel Elizabeth Labdon of Brewster, Massachusetts was selected as Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts by the Executive Board of
the Ms. Wheelchair America Program in January of 2005. The program, on both the state and national levels, provides an
opportunity for women of achievement who utilize wheelchairs to advocate for individuals with disabilities. Massachusetts did
not have the Ms. Wheelchair Program until Laurel was selected as an Independent Delegate in 2005. As Ms. Wheelchair
Massachusetts 2005, she was a finalist at the national pageant held in Albany, New York in July of that year. As the founder
of the Massachusetts Program, after serving as Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2005 for 16 months, she became the
Program's State Coordinator and is now in charge of hosting annual pageants to select a new titleholder each year.
Laurel devoted 2005 to public speaking, education and working on behalf of those with disabilities. She continues to work on
behalf of the disabled community in both her professional and personal life.
Laurel's disability, a C-5, 6 level incomplete spinal cord injury, has not dampened her love of traveling, sailing and enjoying
the beauty of Cape Cod. She is empowered by her disability and uses her experience to advocate for disability issues on local,
state and national levels.
As Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2005, and to this day, she is devoted in her passion to help others, and committed to the
many issues presently being discussed and debated by our lawmakers, such as medical research, social security reform, and
the Medicare Prescription Drug Bill.
the Ms. Wheelchair America Program in January of 2005. The program, on both the state and national levels, provides an
opportunity for women of achievement who utilize wheelchairs to advocate for individuals with disabilities. Massachusetts did
not have the Ms. Wheelchair Program until Laurel was selected as an Independent Delegate in 2005. As Ms. Wheelchair
Massachusetts 2005, she was a finalist at the national pageant held in Albany, New York in July of that year. As the founder
of the Massachusetts Program, after serving as Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2005 for 16 months, she became the
Program's State Coordinator and is now in charge of hosting annual pageants to select a new titleholder each year.
Laurel devoted 2005 to public speaking, education and working on behalf of those with disabilities. She continues to work on
behalf of the disabled community in both her professional and personal life.
Laurel's disability, a C-5, 6 level incomplete spinal cord injury, has not dampened her love of traveling, sailing and enjoying
the beauty of Cape Cod. She is empowered by her disability and uses her experience to advocate for disability issues on local,
state and national levels.
As Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2005, and to this day, she is devoted in her passion to help others, and committed to the
many issues presently being discussed and debated by our lawmakers, such as medical research, social security reform, and
the Medicare Prescription Drug Bill.
Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Laurel grew up on Cape Cod,
Massachusetts, where she still lives with her family. An avid sailor all of
her life she lived for a year with her family on their beloved sailboat and
traveled from Cape Cod to South America. This experience led her back to
Colorado to study Political Science and Third World Development at the
University of Colorado at Boulder. Finishing her last two years of college
after her injury proved to be a crash course in disability advocacy as Laurel
was the first wheelchair user to study full-time for an undergraduate
degree and live on campus. The university responded and upon her
graduation in 1996 the Boulder campus is much more wheelchair friendly
and they now have an truly accessible dormitory.
Massachusetts, where she still lives with her family. An avid sailor all of
her life she lived for a year with her family on their beloved sailboat and
traveled from Cape Cod to South America. This experience led her back to
Colorado to study Political Science and Third World Development at the
University of Colorado at Boulder. Finishing her last two years of college
after her injury proved to be a crash course in disability advocacy as Laurel
was the first wheelchair user to study full-time for an undergraduate
degree and live on campus. The university responded and upon her
graduation in 1996 the Boulder campus is much more wheelchair friendly
and they now have an truly accessible dormitory.
| Photograph by Paul Blackmore of Blackmore Photo |
| Laurel Elizabeth Labdon hopes to reach new heights as Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2005 |
| Laurel, a devoted Red Sox fan, at a championship series game against the reviled Yankees with her brother Justin. Go Sox! |
Laurel's advocacy endeavors did not stop there. She worked for
eight year's as a teacher's aide and a counselor's aide at a local
elementary school. She focused her attention on the children in
most need of her encouragement and special attention. As a
counselor she ran social groups to facilitate relationships and
healthy behaviors between students with disabilities and their
peers. Despite her love for the kids and the fulfillment she found
in working with them, she moved on to become an Independent
Living Advocate for the non-profit agency, the Cape Organization
for the Rights of the Disabled. (CORD). She then founded her
own disability consulting and advocacy business, C.A.L.L
(Consulting & Advocacy by Laurel Labdon) to assist others,
particularly wheelchair users, in gaining independence and
self-sufficiency.
As Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2005 she was able to address
many of her local concerns, such as vocational opportunities for
the disabled and accessible housing and transportation. On a
broader state and national level her focus was bringing a disability
perspective to medical research, social security reform and the
future of Medicaid and Medicare. Laurel will also continue to try
to bring attention to the medical and fiscal benefits of raising the
standards of reimbursed durable medical equipment. Fortunate
enough to own a power standing wheelchair herself, she will seek
to raise the awareness of the benefits of the advancements in
wheelchair technology...and work until this type of equipment
becomes, not the exception, but the rule.
eight year's as a teacher's aide and a counselor's aide at a local
elementary school. She focused her attention on the children in
most need of her encouragement and special attention. As a
counselor she ran social groups to facilitate relationships and
healthy behaviors between students with disabilities and their
peers. Despite her love for the kids and the fulfillment she found
in working with them, she moved on to become an Independent
Living Advocate for the non-profit agency, the Cape Organization
for the Rights of the Disabled. (CORD). She then founded her
own disability consulting and advocacy business, C.A.L.L
(Consulting & Advocacy by Laurel Labdon) to assist others,
particularly wheelchair users, in gaining independence and
self-sufficiency.
As Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2005 she was able to address
many of her local concerns, such as vocational opportunities for
the disabled and accessible housing and transportation. On a
broader state and national level her focus was bringing a disability
perspective to medical research, social security reform and the
future of Medicaid and Medicare. Laurel will also continue to try
to bring attention to the medical and fiscal benefits of raising the
standards of reimbursed durable medical equipment. Fortunate
enough to own a power standing wheelchair herself, she will seek
to raise the awareness of the benefits of the advancements in
wheelchair technology...and work until this type of equipment
becomes, not the exception, but the rule.
| Laurel's Redman Standing Power Wheelchair provides not only medical benefits but functional benefits as well. |
| Laurel at work as a Disability Issues Specialist. Her consulting business, C.A.L.L., provides skills training, peer support and information referral to others with disabilities |
Laurel is very involved in her community. She was active in planning the Bicentennial celebration of her hometown of Brewster, and she
continues to participate in sailing programs by volunteering at the Hyannis Yacht Club as a race scorer. Ms. Labdon's love of reading is
something she is passionate about passing along to young children. She has volunteered at local museums and schools as a guest reader and story
teller. After one of her many public appearances at local schools as Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2005 she received a well deserved
acknowledgement of her continued commitment to making reading a priority for children.
continues to participate in sailing programs by volunteering at the Hyannis Yacht Club as a race scorer. Ms. Labdon's love of reading is
something she is passionate about passing along to young children. She has volunteered at local museums and schools as a guest reader and story
teller. After one of her many public appearances at local schools as Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2005 she received a well deserved
acknowledgement of her continued commitment to making reading a priority for children.
| Laurel is also passionate about medical research...and she puts her money where her mouth is! She recently completed a 31 week Spinal Cord Injury Pain Study at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. Her participation in the study not only provided significant benefits for herself but she was also able to see firsthand the passion and dedication of the research staff. She has also been is involved in a Spinal Cord Injury Pain clinical trial. A strong believer that there is a way to marry medical research with medical ethics that will allow the United States to remain the standard bearer for medical research and innovation, Laurel strongly encourages any one who is able to participate and support medical research. "There are so many people out there dedicating their time, money and, indeed, their life's work to study and gather information that could be beneficial to the disabled, I feel that my participation is the least I can do." If you would like to learn how you can participate in a study please LEARN MORE about studies currently underway. This is an opportunity to help yourself and others! |
Laurel is often asked why she decided to become involved in the Ms. Wheelchair America Program and bring it to Massachusetts. "I felt
that 2005 was an especially opportune time to become involved as many issues affecting the millions of Americans with disabilities were in
the spotlight. I feel that it is very important to bring a disability perspective to the stem cell research debate, social security reform and
the future of the healthcare system in this country." By becoming involved in the national pageant and bringing the program to
Massachusetts, Laurel hopes that women with disabilities will use this unique forum to lend their voice to issues they feel passionate
about. "I have always felt that the accomplishments I have achieved have been reached, not in spite of my disability, but because of my
disability. Living with a disability gives you a unique knowledge and understanding that can't be taught, and I truly believe that this
knowledge and understanding can positively affect public policy." She is also hoping the pageant experience will foster confidence, focus
and motivation to become involved. "Last year's pageant theme was 'United We Roll. Together We Rock.' and I was so impressed by that.
2005's theme was 'Women Making History'. I feel that if we are united we absolutely have the potential to make history."
that 2005 was an especially opportune time to become involved as many issues affecting the millions of Americans with disabilities were in
the spotlight. I feel that it is very important to bring a disability perspective to the stem cell research debate, social security reform and
the future of the healthcare system in this country." By becoming involved in the national pageant and bringing the program to
Massachusetts, Laurel hopes that women with disabilities will use this unique forum to lend their voice to issues they feel passionate
about. "I have always felt that the accomplishments I have achieved have been reached, not in spite of my disability, but because of my
disability. Living with a disability gives you a unique knowledge and understanding that can't be taught, and I truly believe that this
knowledge and understanding can positively affect public policy." She is also hoping the pageant experience will foster confidence, focus
and motivation to become involved. "Last year's pageant theme was 'United We Roll. Together We Rock.' and I was so impressed by that.
2005's theme was 'Women Making History'. I feel that if we are united we absolutely have the potential to make history."
| The latest obstacle Laurel has worked to overcoming is driving independently after almost 16 years. "Having sustained my injury in an automobile accident, getting behind the wheel again is an emotional hurdle. When I realized that I couldn't accomplish all that I wanted to without being able to independently transport myself...I went for it. My desire to help people and get more deeply involved in advocacy efforts was stronger that my fear." After purchasing a Toyota Sienna minivan, the MASSACHUSETTS REHABILITATION COMMISSION is funding both structural modifications and high-tech electronic hand controls. "My vocational rehabilitation counselor and MRC have been, not only generous in their investment in me but in their support of my future goals as well. I certainly couldn't fund these modifications and hand controls myself, so they have been invaluable to me." UPDATE!!!! On June 8, 2007 Laurel passed her road test and received her driver's license! Her new found independence has allowed her to increase her advocacy work and follow up on the great contacts she made during her reign as Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2005. |
| This van is very similar to the one the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission is modifying for Laurel. She strongly advises everyone to take advantage of the doors MRC, and equivalent programs in other states, can open. |
Laurel at work in her
home gym. "I should
work out more! I do try
to do all that I can to stay
healthy, and so far so
good!"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
home gym. "I should
work out more! I do try
to do all that I can to stay
healthy, and so far so
good!"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
| Committed to maintaining her health, Laurel is as physically active as she can be, although, like everybody else, she admits to not being as regimented as she should be. By living an active life, watching her nutritional intake and supplementing her diet with vitamins, Laurel hopes to be physically ready when a cure is discovered for spinal cord injury...and in the meantime anticipates living a long and productive life. |
| The University of Colorado nestled in the andFoothills of the Rocky Mountains. An already beautiful campus made more beautiful by increased access! |