Ms. Wheelchair Oklahoma 2008-2009
Elizabeth Marie Reeve
CREATIVE…
INTELLECTUAL…
AMBITIOUS…
HOSPITABLE…
GENEROUS…
Lives in Tahlequah, Oklahoma with her husband
Certified Special Education, Elementary (1-8), and English as a Second language Teacher
Received a Bachelor of Art degree in Business Administration from Northeastern State University and a Bachelor of Art degree in History from Tarleton State Univeristy
Founder of Wheelchair and Friends, an ADA support group at Northeastern State University
Spinal Cord Injury due to a lifting accident; Sarcoidosis; Spina Bifida Occulta
Enjoys spending time with her husband and animals
To Live the Dream and then go on to serve
As I look at tomorrow and prepare for tomorrow, I know that this year has passed so quickly. Last year, I sat and thought about the year I had ahead and everything I could do in order to help the individuals with special needs. Little did I know that it would open my mind to seeing things I had overlooked. I had given up on my first dream before being offered this, and was working on my second dream. I never thought of ways that I could put my first dream to use in order to go on and serve the individuals with special needs. However, along came the opportunity to serve through Ms. Wheelchair America as Ms. Wheelchair Oklahoma. My first thought was this real? Am I being given an opportunity to grow? Is this a come on to take advantage of those with special needs? I soon found myself having to let go of me, and for the first time in a long time having faith in the unknown. At first, it was hard for me to go around and let everyone know I was Ms. Wheelchair Oklahoma and this was what the program was about. Those who had heard of the program had negative thoughts about it, and those who had never heard about it questioned rather or not I had lost my mind and making this up to draw attention to myself.
I was given support by many, and was able to make enough money to go to Maryland. I was unsure of rather or not this too was real. I kept questioning about what I might find in Maryland. Several times, I came close to turning around, and just going home. However, my faith prevailed and I gave it over to God. I asked God to show me the direction he wished for this to go, and I followed him blindly into a change of life.
In Maryland, I did allot of soul searching, and found that where I had given up on myself for dreams I had let go, I had let go way too soon. One of the workshops about living your dreams was the most life changing. A I sat there and listened to Judy speak about living the dreams, I began to realize that I could go back to school and get my Masters and Doctorates in Special Education in order to become a professor of students who desire to devote their lives as educators of Special Education. My first dream came back into focus, and I have now started my Masters Program at Western Governors University.
Further, they had service dog and therapy dogs available at the pageant. I started to get some hints about how to go about getting a service dog. When returning to Oklahoma, I did even more studying about getting a service dog. I learned that we could actually take stray dogs, and turn them into service dogs as long as they were started young enough. I could actually help cut down with the stray population and help individuals with special needs obtain a service dog. Although this is still in the works as to when I might be able to help others, I have accomplished obtaining a wonderful pup who is becoming an excellent service dog.
Yes, looking back over the year at the people I met, the adventurers of meeting 26 wonderful ladies from other states as well as the staff of Ms Wheelchair America, and having the opportunity to grow as an individual towards having a servant attitude for others, it has been a great year.
For the two candidates that will be competing for the title of Ms Wheelchair Oklahoma 2009-2010, I wish them the best year. Take each moment by moment, and strive to learn something from the reign. Both young women are wonderful and have much to offer the program; however, allow the program to have an effect on you as well. It can be life changing, if you allow it to be. Good luck to both Ms Wheelchair Tulsa and Ms Wheelchair Tahlequah!
Your Oklahoma State Coordinator and Ms Wheelchair Oklahoma 2008-2009
Elizabeth Marie Reeve
Delaware News recognizes Elizabeth as Ms Wheelchair Oklahoma 2008-2009
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Cherokee Nation recognizes Elizabeth as Ms Wheelchair Oklahoma 2008-2009
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Elizabeth and NSU- Giving a presentation as Ms Wheelchair Oklahoma
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Ending of Reign as Ms Wheelchair Oklahoma
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February 11, 2010 12:35 pm
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Imagine sitting in a quiet library and suddenly hearing the loud bark of a dog.
Not what you might expect – but this isn’t just any dog.
“She’ll bark at [other people] because it helps me out with knowing someone is behind me,” said Elizabeth Reeve, who owns a service dog.
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires prohibits businesses and facilities that serve the public – such as restaurants, stores, or theaters – from discriminating against individuals with handicaps. This means businesses must allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals wherever customers are generally allowed.
Reeve, who uses a wheelchair, said her service dog, Sassy, helps with her balance and retrieving items.
Reeve also has a type of tunnel vision, so Sassy lets Reeve know when someone is around her.
When a person with a dog enters a business, people working there are allowed to ask if it is a service dog. If the owner says yes, the dog must be allowed inside. Some service dogs are dressed with special collars or harnesses, but these are not required.
“A second question is, ‘What does the dog do for you?’ If the person can’t answer, then it probably isn’t a service dog,” said Reeve.
A service animal is defined by the ADA as “any guide dog or signal dog or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.” If an animal falls under this definition, the ADA recognizes it as a service animal, regardless of whether it has been licensed or certified.
Reeve has actually experienced complaints about her service dog at church, school and in other public places.
“I’ve gone into restaurants and people still tell me I can’t have a service dog,” said Reeve.
Tahlequah Mayor Ken Purdy acknowledges that situations like these have arisen before.
“We have helped facilitate better understanding with business owners with the ADA,” said Purdy. “As a city, we are always cognizant of what our facilities need to be for people with disabilities.”
The most recognized type of service dog is a guide dog, or a seeing-eye dog, although there are several types of service animals. Dogs, and sometimes other animals, are now trained for hearing alerts, seizure alert and response, medical alert, and autism service.
“Around here, because service dogs are so new to people with mobility, most people know guide dogs and don’t recognize mobility dogs or PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] dogs,” said Reeve.
Reeve said dogs are currently being issued to soldiers coming back from the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan who are dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. The dogs will help them get out, go in public and if blackouts occur, alert them or help in other ways.
Alerting help is another reason Reeve is thankful for Sassy.
While preparing to be in a parade, Reeve hit a hole and was overturned in her chair. Her dog was able to alert help.
“She was able to get me help, and with that help, I didn’t have to be in that position for that long. Without her, I would not even take the chance to get out,” said Reeve.
For more information on the rights of service animals in places of business, visit the ADA website at www.ada.gov, which can also be found through a link on www.cityoftahlequah.com.
“We were able to post on our website information specifically related to service animals. We’re hopeful we can facilitate better understanding,” said Purdy.
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