When Josie Badger, 27, was asked to describe herself as a sound at the 2011 Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania competition, she said, “The wind. Always present, sometimes a whisper, but always there.” For years, Badger (who has muscular dystrophy) has been using that gentle voice to empower youth with disabilities throughout both Pennsylvania and the nation. And now that she’s won the crown of Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania, she will continue to increase public awareness of the achievements and needs of mobility impaired persons.
A strong competitor, Badger told few people she was applying for the Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania program – including her boyfriend Mike Novitski. He only found out when asked to send the application check. She was urged by 2010 Ms. Wheelchair PA Kristin Durniok, 29, a close friend from Pittsburgh, to compete.
“It’s tough going in knowing you may or may not win,” said Badger, a Wampum, PA native. “But it’s definitely a way of learning about your strengths and being a good competitor.”
With her Ph.D. coursework completed, Badger felt she had time to compete for the crown – and it paid off. She was announced the winner at an April ceremony after a full day of workshops and seminars that culminated into a formal ceremony where contestants presented their platform speeches. According to friends and family, Badger excelled.
“She was asked questions like, ‘If you were a candy bar, what kind would you be? She did really well,” said Novitski. But for Badger, it wasn’t about the fancy dresses or answering questions correctly.
“I’m just me. I may come out and look all special, but it’s just me,” she said.
Badger’s
platform speech focused on youth involvement for individuals with
disabilities, a topic she’s been working on through school and her
position as youth coordinator at the Parent Education & Advocacy
Leadership (PEAL) Center, a parent training and information center
serving families and youth in Pennsylvania. Her dissertation will focus
on the ethical obligations for physicians to prepare youth for
adulthood.
During her yearlong reign, Badger will travel
throughout PA to make public appearances. She will give speeches and
presentations on disability awareness, educating the public about the
contributions that people with disabilities can make to society. She
will visit schools, organizations and businesses and governments. She’s
already spoken to an eager group of 35 western Pennsylvania girl scouts
at a Drug and Awareness day and has feature events scheduled.
In
August, Badger will represent Pennsylvania at the 2012 Ms. Wheelchair
America pageant in Grand Rapids, MI. The event will be set up similarly
to the competition in Erie. There will be workshops, non-stop
interviews, platform speeches and onstage questions – along with formal
wear. Badger will compete against 32 women who use wheelchairs, with
ages ranging from 21-69. She is currently raising $2,000 to fund her
travel for the event through fundraisers and donations.
Although
Badger is excited to hold the crown, it’s more about spreading the
message of awareness. Her goal has been, and continues to be, empowering
youth with disabilities. After completing her Ph.D., Badger hopes to
impact youth through the PEAL Center.
Ms. Wheelchair PA isn’t the
first award Badger’s been given. In 2006, she was named Glamour
Magazine’s “Top College Women.” She has served as president and vice
president of the National Youth Leadership Network and is a founding
member and former president of the Pennsylvania Youth Leadership
Network. She also works with Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on the
family forum. Badger holds a bachelor’s degree in disability law and
advocacy from Geneva College and a master’s degree as a certified
rehabilitation counselor from the University of Pittsburgh.
For more information on the Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania Program, visit http://mswheelchairpenn.org/.
