Episode Details
Back to EpisodesBreaking Barriers: The Journey of Ms. Wheelchair Maryland
Description
What happens when the world isn't built for your body? Carla Cobbs, crowned Ms. Wheelchair Maryland 2023, takes us on an illuminating journey through her life navigating a world designed primarily for able-bodied individuals. Born with arthrogryposis affecting mobility in her arms and legs, Carla shares candid insights about everyday challenges—from the seemingly simple task of pumping gas to entering buildings without accessible buttons.
Carla's advocacy platform, "Inclusive Education Outside the Classroom," emerges from her lived experience and observation that many accessibility issues stem not from malice but from a fundamental lack of perspective. "Light bulbs don't go off," she explains, describing how businesses often check compliance boxes without truly considering practical accessibility. Through her reign as Ms. Wheelchair Maryland, she's working to bridge this awareness gap by visiting communities across her state and amplifying transportation accessibility issues affecting wheelchair users.
The conversation reveals fascinating details about the Ms. Wheelchair pageant itself—a competition focused on advocacy rather than appearance, where participants undergo workshops, deliver timed speeches, and connect with a community many never had growing up. For Carla, who was mainstreamed in education and lacked disabled role models, this connection proved particularly meaningful. "It's almost like being a member of the royal family," she reflects. "You're always on display."
From adaptive sailing to accessible playgrounds, Carla highlights how visibility and representation matter in showing what's possible for the disability community. Her story reminds us that true inclusion requires moving beyond minimum compliance to thoughtful consideration of diverse needs. Join us for this eye-opening conversation that will change how you see the world around you. Follow Carla's journey on Facebook at Ms. Wheelchair Maryland 2025 and discover how you can support her advocacy work.