Kalamazoo proclaims Disability Pride Month, recognizes Renita McGuire as Miss Wheelchair Michigan

The Kalamazoo City Commission on July 21 issued a proclamation recognizing Renita McGuire of Kalamazoo as Miss Wheelchair Michigan 2025 and acknowledged July as Disability Pride Month.

The proclamation, read by Commissioner John Cooney, cited McGuire’s advocacy and life story, noting her work as an adjunct fine arts professor at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Kendall College of Art and Design and her national advocacy platform. Mayor David Anderson and commissioners presented the proclamation in the commission chambers.

Renita McGuire told the commission the Miss Wheelchair competition is an advocacy contest judged on “what you've done with your life as a person with a disability and your advocacy contributions to the disabled community.” She said her platform, “adversity to advocacy, becoming the Role Model I Never Had,” aims to “educat[e], empower[], and encourage[] young and newly disabled people to believe in themselves and reach for their dreams.”

McGuire described her advocacy goals as both supporting people with disabilities and “educating non disabled people to help smash stereotypes and combat ableism,” and urged the city to consider an annual Disability Pride celebration in Kalamazoo. The proclamation notes McGuire will represent Kalamazoo and Michigan at the national Miss Wheelchair competition in August.

The commission’s formal recognition also referenced the 1990 passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and a community event organized by Disability Network later in July to mark Disability Pride Month.

The presentation concluded with a brief photo opportunity and thanks from commissioners to McGuire for her advocacy work.