Ms. Wheelchair America 1999—Christina Gilmore

July, 1999

Christina Gilmore, a native of Kenosha, Wisconsin and currently of Kerrville, Texas, was crowned 1999’s Ms. Wheelchair America at the National Pageant in Charlotte, North Carolina last year. Christina has graciously agreed to make time in her very busy schedule for this interview.

Christina is also a proud owner of a Pride Legend Scooter. First, Christina will be answering a few questions about her Legend and then we’ll move into Christina’s “Year to Remember” as Ms. Wheelchair America, 1999!

Pride: Hi, Christina! Welcome to the Pride Owner’s Club site and let me thank you first for your fine representation of a Pride Product.

Christina: I’m honored to be here and speak with you today.

Pride: You use a Pride Legend 3-Wheel Scooter, is that correct?

Christina: Yes.

Pride: What is your disability that necessitates the use of a Scooter?

Christina: I have cerebral palsy.

Pride: How did you decide on a Pride Scooter?

Christina:Actually, the Pride Scooter came about from questions that my dealer, Bella Home Medical in Kenosha, asked with regard to how I would be using the Scooter. My answer was primarily that I use it outdoors a lot, especially with my job, Assistant Dean for Activities and Leadership Development for Schreiner College. Also, I do a lot of running around and the Scooter is very fast—I can get from one end of campus to the other in a couple of minutes if need be. From those discussions with my dealer, I was able to determine that the Pride Legend was right for my needs.

Pride: What are your favorite features about your Scooter?

Christina: It runs very smoothly and it’s very quiet compared to my first scooter which made a lot of noise. And it looks nice…that’s what I really like about it!

Pride: How did you originally hear about the Ms. Wheelchair America Pageant and what prompted you to get involved?

Christina: I originally heard about it when I was 15…on the Maury Povich Show and then I forgot about it until a college class where my professor mentioned that the college student with a disability is probably the most forgotten among the student population. She made a statement that I very strongly agreed with and that was that there needs to be much more of an educational push to make the point that disabled students are just like anyone else and have the same needs, wants and desires as anyone else.

There are a lot of stereotypes associated with being a college student with a disability and these stem from studies done primarily by able-bodied researchers. There just haven’t been any real development studies done from the perspective of people with disabilities and I hoped to further that effort. 

Pride: What has been your platform during the year?

Christina: Positive mentoring for younger college students and youth in general (from ages 12-23) who have not grown up with the strong support system needed to prepare them for success.

Pride: What has your reception been like as you’ve traveled?

Christina: The reception has been phenomenal. I’ve met so many different people in so many different places. I can’t say that I’ve ever had a speaking engagement where I didn’t feel that I inspired someone and that they inspired me in return.

Pride: Considering the passing of the A.D.A., what things do you notice that, in your opinion, still need to be improved upon?

Christina: I definitely think the A.D.A. has helped in terms of architectural, educational and employment barriers; however, I still think the biggest problem is attitudinal barriers. I am still disturbed that sometimes I go to dinner with a friend and the hostess will speak with my friend instead of me.

Pride: What were the highlights of your reign?

Christina: Ski for Light (a program in it’s 20th year, held in Deadwood, S.D., where disabled skiers are charged a very nominal fee for a week’s worth of skiing with instructors and the finest adaptive ski equipment available) was definitely the highlight. I never would have skied if I hadn’t won this title and got to participate in this program.

Also, I got to help with the Abilities House—a project in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity and Ability Magazine. It was the first project of this type where the house was built to be 100% accessible and it was built primarily by people with disabilities. I so enjoyed getting to speak there and help build the house that will enable a couple (the husband uses a wheelchair) to enjoy their own home.

Pride: What’s the most interesting thing you’ve been asked this past year?

Christina: If I have a boyfriend!  That’s the most common although I don’t know if it’s the most interesting!

Pride: What do you think is the key to better education on disability issues?

Christina: I think that one of the mistakes that people make is that when they ask this question, they think that there is a way to understand totally how to relate to people with disabilities. My response is to say that asking that question is like asking someone who has curly hair what it’s like to have straight hair. You just can’t fully understand until you’ve been there. So I always say if you really want to have as close an understanding as possible you have to put yourself in their shoes…use a wheelchair and go to the mall or go up to a counter with a friend and see how the conversation proceeds. Talk to someone with a disability—ask and listen about their positive experiences but ask about their negative ones too. Some of my best experiences of an educational nature have been when I have been able to be 100 % honest about what my experiences have truly been like—good and bad.

Pride: What can people, those with disabilities and those without, do to help this educational process be more of a success?

Christina: For people with disabilities—don’t let society beat you. Get out and live your lives as you would even if you didn’t have the disability. Take risks. The more you get out and live your lives, the more other people without disabilities will start to see that you’re just like everyone else. Also, you will be a good role model for other people with disabilities who haven’t reached that level of comfort yet.

For people without disabilities—Don’t make assumptions.  Instead, ask questions. Usually if you assume, you assume wrong.

Pride: From your experiences, what daily living advice can you give to others with disabilities? Any especially helpful tips as far as travel, schooling, housing, and general independence in daily life?

Christina: The one thing that comes to mind in my situation is stress relief.  Get the rest you need. If you just try to keep going when your body is not in top form, your disability becomes even harder to deal with.

As far as daily living, get what you need, even if you have to fight for it. Do what you have to do for you; to take care of yourself.

Pride: For what do you most want to be remembered?

Christina: My compassion.

Pride: If you could give one piece of advice to people in general about the beauty of diversity, what would it be?

Christina: The beauty of diversity is just that differences are a beautiful thing. If we all had the same lives and abilities we wouldn’t be able to learn from one another and we’d be bored out of our minds. We can learn so much from each other and acquire compassion from this and that is what I consider the true beauty of diversity.

Pride: Christina, on August 8th, you’ll be on hand to see the crowning of Ms. Wheelchair America 2000. What are your plans once you’ve passed on the crown?

Christina: I want to continue public speaking and just educating people. That’s an important aspect of who I am. I believe that if we have the ability to teach, we should do so.

Pride: Good advice, Christina! Thank you so much for your time and we wish you continued success in all your endeavors.