TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT
Shawnique Cotton packed her bags with her crown, sash, sparkly dresses, pairs of shoes and lots of excitement as she flew out of Sky Harbor International Airport on Sunday night to compete for the title of Ms. Wheelchair America.
After years of being ill and unable to leave her Mesa home for more than a hospital visit, Cotton, 49, was ready to take on a new adventure. She was crowned Ms. Wheelchair Arizona 2019 in March.
“I knew it was time for me to get out here and contribute to society like I always wanted to, and this stumbled on my lap, and I called about running,” Cotton said.
Now, she’s ready to compete for the national title.
The Ms. Wheelchair America organization is a non-profit program that promotes “the achievements, as well as the needs of, people with mobility impairments” and “recognizes the accomplishments of women who utilize wheelchairs for mobility,” according to the Ms. Wheelchair America website.
The winner of Ms. Wheelchair America will go on to represent, educate and advocate for Americans with disabilities.
‘It’s my turn because God said so’
Cotton started using a wheelchair after she was shot while leaving a night club in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Dec. 28, 1991. She was 21 years old, engaged and pregnant at the time.
She went through rehab after the shooting and was told that she was a T2 paraplegic. But when she later moved to
“I want people to understand that having a disability should never define anyone. It has never defined me as a human being, I am a happy, joyful person, even with severe health issues, I always have a very positive attitude.” Shawnique Cotton Ms. Wheelchair Arizona 2019
Arizona in 2005, Cotton found out she was misdiagnosed and was actually a C7 quadriplegic.
Quadraplegia means “there is limited or absent feeling or movement below the shoulders/neck,” according to the Shepard Center Website. C7 quadriplegia occurs in the low-cervical nerves. Cotton has functional hands and arms, but part of her arms are paralyzed.
Cotton moved to Arizona because of the weather. She wanted to improve her heath, and the quality of life for her children.
Despite numerous setbacks along the way, in 2018, she started to feel like her old self again, and she even felt her body start functioning more. It was during that time that she developed her motto: “It’s my time, it’s my turn because God said so.”
“When you are 21, you are the most excited person. Well guess what, I’m 49 years old, and I am still excited like that because I never got the opportunity until now,” she said.
Cotton said she wants to spread her message across the Arizona, and if she wins the national title, across the United States as well.
“I want people to understand that having a disability should never define anyone. It has never defined me as a human being, I am a happy, joyful person, even with severe health issues, I always have a very positive attitude,” Cotton said.
Becoming Ms. Wheelchair Arizona
It was in November 2018 when Cotton started taking steps to compete in Ms. Wheelchair Arizona. She was convinced to run after talking with Arizona’s previous event coordinator.
With the deadline for the 2019 competition only hours away on Feb. 28, she reached the organization to apply. They informed her that no one was running in Arizona that year, and there was no state coordinator.
So they instead encouraged her to compete for the 2020 title and apply in September, she said.
Still eager to apply for the 2019 crown, Cotton asked them to explain what the application process was to see if she could make the deadline. It consisted of a “tedious application, great references, and a $300 check,” Cotton said.
Cotton, with the help of a neighbor, was able to complete the application in two hours, and three days later the Ms. Wheelchair organization informed her she had been selected for the title.
To help with the costs of her reign, Cotton needed to find sponsors.
Phoenix Paralyzed Veterans offered help. The group gave her the wheelchair that she uses.
The group also contributed money to cover her needs, fees and travel.
Cotton also has worked with Ability360, which has locations throughout the Phoenix area and provides programs to support people with disabilities.
“From the moment she came on the scene attending independent-living classes and getting involved with social recreation activities, she has just been the spark-plug, the light bulb, the bright light of positive energy,” said Darrel Christenson, vice president of Community Integration at Ability360.
“She has been working with other consumers to really be a cheerleader of other folks, to encourage them to great heights of independence,” Christenson said.
Cotton officially was crowned Ms. Wheelchair Arizona on March 29 and immediately started raising awareness for her platform, which includes encouraging people with disabilities to become more involved in government, serving on boards or in elected office. She will devote part of her speech in the national event to this topic.
“She is definitely an example of someone with a disability who acquired it mid-life and did not let it slow her down,” Christensen said.
This year, a total of 26 state titleholders from around the country, including Cotton, are gathering at The Little Rock Marriott Hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas, to compete for the title of Ms. Wheelchair America 2020, all while advocating for their platforms.
“This isn’t a beauty pageant, I just love beautiful clothes. This is more of who is most articulate,” Cotton explained.
Throughout the course of the week, the contestants will be interviewed by three judges and participate in workshops such as “Christmas in July” and the “Fourth of July event.”
Today is speech night. Each contestant gets two minutes and “everyone gets dressed up and goes for it,” Cotton said. This event can be watched live on her Facebook page or the Ms. Wheelchair America page.
At the end of the week, the organization will tally up all the points from the week for each contestant, and Ms. Wheelchair America 2020 will be crowned Saturday.