Woman crowned Ms. Wheelchair Pa.
HARRISVILLE — A Harrisville woman, Jen Gilliland, was crowned Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania March 22 at the First Church of the Nazarene in Bradford.
“I look forward to being a voice for the voiceless and a role model for the disabled community,” Gilliland, 33, said following her crowning. “It is such an honor to be chosen to serve is this awesome way.”
During her yearlong reign, Gilliland will appear and speak at numerous engagements. In August, she plans to represent Pennsylvania at the 2015 Ms. Wheelchair America pageant in Long Beach, Calif.
Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania is dedicated to increasing public awareness so that all Pennsylvanians will be able to lead productive and meaningful lives.
Gilliland is a Harrisville resident who graduated from Slippery Rock High School in 1999 and from St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, N.C., in 2004. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and currently works as a program analyst at the Office of Personnel Management in Boyers.
“When I was 15 years old, I got a rare virus, transverse myelitis, and it left me paralyzed from the waist down,” Gilliland said.
“I remember I felt a burning in my legs at high school, and then I collapsed at school,” she said.
Taken to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, Gilliland learned the virus strikes 2 out of 10 million people for unknown reasons.
“I had had the flu,” she said, “but they are really not sure what caused it. The virus caused a reaction in the spinal chord.”
Transverse myelitis is an inflammatory disease causing injury to the spinal cord with varying degrees of weakness and autonomic dysfunction, according to Sandy Siegel, president of the Transverse Myelitis Association.
“There are 1,200 to 1,400 new cases a year and about 34,000 nationwide with the condition,” said Siegel.
Gilliland, who is married and drives herself in a specially equipped minivan, meets the mission of the Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania Program: to give women with physical disabilities throughout the state a platform to promote the achievements as well as the needs of mobility impaired people.
Megan Abrams, president and coordinator of Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania, said, “I think she will do a fantastic job. She has already lined up a few events and is working on fundraising to go to the national competition.”
Gilliland said she plans to participate in the Energy for Life Walk in Pittsburgh April 26.
Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania began in 2000 as a way to find the most accomplished and articulate spokeswomen for people with disabilities throughout the state.
This year's contestants participated in a full day of workshops and seminars culminating in a formal ceremony that allowed the contestants to present their platforms to the judges and to determine the new Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania.
Gilliland's platform was awareness of hidden and unseen disabilities.
“I know so many people with invisible disabilities who have received bad treatment,” Gilliland said. “It is my goal to promote acceptance.”
During her reign, Gilliland will travel throughout the state 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, churches, businesses and governments.
“It's not about the crown and sash,” Gilliland said. “It's about making a difference, being an awareness advocate, being a voice for those without hope, those afraid to speak up.”
