Flower Mound: Ms. Wheelchair Texas vows to lobby for better care

02:22 PM CDT on Sunday, April 30, 2006

By MIKKI KIRBY / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

An eloquent speaker, Kristie Thomas can captivate an audience. People who meet the Flower Mound woman tend to hang on every word.

NATHAN HUNSINGER/DMN

Ms. Wheelchair Texas Kristi Thomas (left) and runner-up Jackie Bartels visited MacArthur High School in March.

She's hoping what she has to say will catch the attention of some higher-ups. Crowned Ms. Wheelchair Texas in March, Ms. Thomas will spend the next year advocating for her peers.

"It is my vision to raise awareness and consciousness regarding attendant care needs and services for the disabled," she said.

Her goal is to lobby the Legislature so more funding and better in-home care are available to people with disabilities, she said.

Although Ms. Thomas was born with cerebral palsy and has limited movement of her arms and hands, her biggest challenge has been fighting the system for quality care.

Without that care, she said, it becomes almost impossible for people with disabilities to be active in the community.

When she was approached about running for the Ms. Wheelchair Texas title, Ms. Thomas initially scoffed at the idea.

"We were like, 'What is a Ms. Wheelchair Texas? Is it a beauty contest?' " said Ms. Thomas' in-home caregiver, Janine Smith. "Then we realized that there isn't a better person to serve in this position."

As Ms. Wheelchair Texas, Ms. Thomas, 26, will have the opportunity to speak with Gov. Rick Perry. Her schedule will be filled with speaking engagements and television appearances to raise awareness.

Ms. Thomas has a degree in biomedical engineering from Texas A&M University and is active in several business endeavors. She recently started a Christian clothing company, has joined a comedy team in Flower Mound and maintains a career as a technical writer and information developer.

But she has her sights set on becoming a politician. Those who know her say she has the drive and charisma to do so.

In July, she will run for Ms. Wheelchair America.

Some marvel at her accomplishments, considering the struggles she has faced. Cerebral palsy is a group of permanent disorders associated with developmental brain injuries that occur during fetal development, at birth or soon after and can cause paralysis. There is no cure, but the condition is not progressive.

It's ironic that she has a disability because of brain damage yet has a brilliant mind, said Ms. Smith, who also acts as Ms. Thomas' campaign manager. But there were times before meeting Ms. Smith that Ms. Thomas thought she would never have a chance to make a difference.

"The government is failing the world by hindering people just like me by not ensuring quality care and institutionalizing us," Ms. Thomas said. "It seems like the state would rather throw us in a nursing home than deal with our needs.

"I'm going to make sure that changes, because people with disabilities have so much to offer."

Mikki Kirby is a Dallas freelance writer.