July 6, 2001 UNT Inhouse publication: UNT student named Ms. Wheelchair Texas

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UNT student named Ms. Wheelchair Texas Holly Wayman

UNT student Holly Wayman has been named Ms. Wheelchair Texas 2002, the first step to competing in the Ms. Wheelchair America 2002 competition.

Founded in 1972 by a physician in Columbus, Ohio, the Ms. Wheelchair America program promotes achievements and needs of mobility-impaired Americans by selecting an accomplished and articulate spokeswoman each year. Ms. Wheelchair America travels throughout the nation, visits advocacy groups, makes public appearances, assists in establishing programs for people with disabilities, and conducts radio, print and television interviews to educate others about disabilities. State representatives perform these same duties in their states.

Wayman, a senior speech-language pathology/audiology major, is the daughter of Phyllis Wayman of Bedford and a 1997 graduate of Texas Christian Academy, a private high school in Arlington. She will compete in the Ms. Wheelchair America competition in Denver July 31-Aug. 5.

"I'm really looking forward to educating others about disabilities, particularly how to approach those of us in wheelchairs," says Wayman, who was diagnosed with spina bifida as an infant. "There are still stereotypes that people in wheelchairs are mentally inept. In reality, many people with mobility disabilities have no mental disabilities, while many with mental disabilities don't appear physically disabled at all."

Wayman attended Tarrant County College Northeast before transferring to UNT in the summer of 2000. At Tarrant County College, she was president of Comfort Zone, a support group for students with disabilities, and led a toy drive to provide Christmas gifts for a low-income family.

Wayman is a member of the National Student Speech-Language/Hearing Association, a professional service organization, and Rainbow Connection, a sign language choir. She was a teacher's aide for UNT's Child Development Center and volunteers with the UNT Office of Disability Accommodation. Wayman also volunteers at Texas Woman's University by reading to blind and dyslexic students through the Office of Disability Support Services. She is also a member of Helping Hands, a TWU volunteer organization.

Wayman is the third UNT student to be selected as Ms. Wheelchair Texas in the past five years. Jane Vela Jones, who received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from UNT, was Ms. Wheelchair Texas 1997 and placed 10th at the national competition. Jones, now assistant director of UNT's Office of Disability Accommodation, suggested to Wayman that she participate in this year's competition. A third UNT alumna, Shannon Dealie Folger, was Ms. Wheelchair Texas in 1998. She is a 1994 UNT graduate.

After receiving her degree from UNT, Wayman plans to become an audiology therapist.