On July 31, women from around the country will gather on stage at the Richmond Marriott in Virginia for the grand finale of four unforgettable days together. They will have two things in common: Each uses a wheelchair for daily mobility, and each is vying for the 32nd annual Ms. Wheelchair America crown.

This isn't your typical, pageant competition. There's no talent show, no swimsuit parade and there's not much of an age restriction; contestants can be anywhere from 21 to 60. And its called "Ms. Wheelchair," because
marital status is not a consideration.

Begun in Columbus in 1972, the focus of the Ms. Wheelchair America competition has focused on achievement, public speaking ability and capacity to be a spokesperson for others with disabilities. Pat O'Bryant, Ms. Wheelchair America's unpaid executive director, says that, while there are always some contestants in their early 20s, the contest tends to draw more mature women. Some, because of afflictions from birth defects, have used wheelchairs nearly all their lives. Others have become paralyzed because of drunken drivers, disease or other trauma.

The current Ms. Wheelchair Ohio, Rosemarie Rossetti of Gahanna, is hoping to add the national title to her long list of accolades. In 1998, Rossetti and her husband, Mark, were riding bikes when part of an 80-foot-tall aging tree broke and fell on her, injuring her spinal cord. Rossetti, who earned a Ph.D. in agricultural education from Ohio State University, has become a motivational speaker, trainer and entrepreneur.

At 50, she says she has taken her life back, has found new ways of doing things and wants to inspire others. If she wins the national crown, she will be doing just that, traveling around the country, speaking from experience on how to eliminate barriers of architecture and attitude.

Inspiring one another, in fact, is part of what the contest is all about. "Every year there's an epiphany or two," O'Bryant said, "one or two women who thought that life was over. It's often the younger women - they're so fearless - who get that across to the older ones, but it happens at any age." She cites as example a "shining star" in her own state, Kentucky. "She was a shy young lady who became quadriplegic in a cheerleading accident. Now, (after competing in the pageant) she flies all over the world delivering used wheelchairs to disabled people in other countries."

This year's contest had drawn 26 contestants - not all states have developed a Ms. wheelchair program - and every one of them has a story to tell. They will be judged on public-speaking ability, achievements and their personal interviews.

While l wish them all well, there's something in this that feels a little wrong to me: Why just women? What about the remarkable men who use wheelchairs? What about women or men with other disabilities? O'Bryant says I'm not the first to ask. But, she says, as an all-volunteer program, the organization has all it can handle.

Maybe this year's pageant will spark someone to start a Mr. Wheelchair America. It's a big responsibility, speaking for 50 million other Americans with disabilities, and the more ambassadors there are to do it, the better. Ms. Wheelchair America is definitely on the right track by making irrelevant a woman's age or marital status or bra size, and giving some real attention to the criterion of inner beauty.

To learn more about the upcoming pageant, go to www.mswheelchairamerica.org. To learn more about Rosemarie Rossetti, Ms. Wheelchair Ohio, go to www.RosemarieSpeaks.com.

Deborah Kendrick is a Cincinnati writer and advocate for people with disabilities.
dkkentrick@earthlink.net