Ms. Wheelchair New Jersey 2009 Named Ms. Wheelchair America Pageant to Be Held in South Dakota in August

Branchburg, NJ - Santina Muha of Branchburg, NJ was named Ms. Wheelchair New Jersey 2009 this past Friday, April 17. She competed via online application, and was chosen as an independent delegate for the state. Muha will represent New Jersey at the national competition this August.

Muha, in her twenties, has a spinal cord injury from an auto accident when she was just five years old. She has been a citizen of New Jersey for her entire life, and has lived in four counties across the state. ’ÄúAs Ms. Wheelchair New Jersey, I will do my best to represent those living with disabilities not only across our state, but across the country,’Äù Muha said. Running on a media platform, Muha plans to work diligently to continue to bring the disability community into the mainstream. ’ÄúThere are people out there doing amazing things, and I believe we should all be recognized for our efforts, no matter what our abilities.’Äù She goes on, ’ÄúI’Äôm not looking for special treatment - I just want to help level the playing field.’Äù

Muha is the Communications Associate for the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA - www.spinalcord.org). She is also a pending member of the New Jersey Statewide Independent Living Council (NJ SILC); an Abilities Expo ambassador; a CNN iReporter; co-host of various online programs including Spin-Off on xable.com; host of SCI News and Views and Rolling Like a Celebrity on EndeavorFreedom.tv; co-host of Breaking Barriers; the east coast correspondent for Tiger Beat and BOP! magazines; a mentor to younger wheelchair users; and a public speaker. In November of 2007 she was the first contestant to use a wheelchair on the gameshow ’ÄúWho Wants to Be a Millionaire?’Äù. Muha also recently appeared in a national campaign for Target stores representing consumers who use wheelchairs.

As the new titleholder, Muha is expected to make monthly appearances. Her first appearance was this past weekend at the NY Metro area Abilities Expo, including an appearance in the Chloe magazine fashion show. She will compete for the title of Ms. Wheelchair America 2010 at the national pageant held in Rapid City, South Dakota from August 24 ’Äì 29, 2009. She is also responsible to continue her duties as pageant coordinator in the following year.

The Ms. Wheelchair America Program, Inc. was established in 1972 and aims to provide an opportunity for women of achievement who use wheelchairs to successfully educate and advocate for all individuals with disabilities.

To help Ms. Wheelchair New Jersey 2009 send a donation of your choice.