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Miss Wheelchair Kentucky urges county to improve accessibility, cites courthouse elevator concerns
Summary
Deborah Robbins, Miss Wheelchair Kentucky, spoke during public comment about normalizing wheelchair use and urged improvements to accessibility in the community, including pointing out a problem with the courthouse elevator.
Deborah Robbins, introduced to the court as Miss Wheelchair Kentucky, told Morgan County Fiscal Court she will spend the year raising awareness about accessibility and normalizing use of wheelchairs.
Robbins said her duties include visiting schools, talking to elected officials and working with local businesses to improve accessibility. She urged citizens to focus on the person rather than the mobility aid. “When I need to get from point A to point B, my legs don’t walk so I use the wheelchair, it’s my mobility aid,” Robbins said.
Robbins said she was impressed by some accommodations she encountered on arrival but asked the county to inspect the courthouse elevator. “When you’re inside the elevator, you can’t get out once someone’s helping you,” she told the court, asking that the county review the elevator’s functionality to ensure safe, independent use.
Robbins described Miss Wheelchair pageants as advocacy-focused rather than beauty competitions and said she will represent Kentucky at Miss Wheelchair America in Grand Rapids in August. She encouraged local businesses to consider sponsorships to help cover travel and advocacy activities.
Ending: The court thanked Robbins for her presentation and said staff would follow up on the elevator concern.
