UNF health administration alum and Jacksonville resident Sara Gaver has been crowned Ms. Wheelchair USA 2022. She will spend her year-long reign on a national speaking tour representing Ms. Wheelchair USA, The Dane Foundation, and her platform, “Cultivating Creative Confidence.”
Gaver was born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, a rare congenital disorder that causes muscle weakness, joint contractures and fibrosis. It’s a condition that requires her to use a wheelchair and necessitates 24-hour medical assistance because the use of her arms and legs is limited.
Gaver is a strong advocate for access and disability rights. She is the founder and creator of WheelLifeConnections, a movement to challenge all to see past personal obstacles and limitations and be confident that all things are possible. She has also served on several disability councils helping to improve playground and educational access.
Gaver currently works as a sales analyst for a global software company and does freelance social media management. She has experience modeling for Tommy Hilfiger, Permobil, and other national companies. She was a featured speaker for TEDxJacksonville and served on the Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Support Inc International Board of Directors.
While at UNF, Gaver was a member of three honor societies, a sorority, the Rotaract Service club and the vice president of internal programming for the Presidential Envoys Student Alumni Association.
Gaver has previous pageant experience, but this was her first try for the national Ms. Wheelchair USA crown where she represented the state of Florida as one of ten national finalists at the competition. In 2016 she was second runner-up in another national disability pageant and has competed twice at the Miss Florida USA pageant.
Ms. Wheelchair USA is one of only two pageant competitions for women with mobility impairing disabilities. The competition provides a national platform for women with disabilities to exhibit their own kind of glamour while encouraging and informing the viewers and all those involved. The Dane Foundation is an Ohio-headquartered foundation that serves individuals with physical and developmental disabilities and is the presenting organization of the national Ms. Wheelchair USA program.
For more information about Ms. Wheelchair USA or to book Ms. Wheelchair USA for an appearance or event, contact the national organization at (330) 612-5242 or info@mswheelchairusa.org.
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