For the 18 women competing in this year’s
Ms. Wheelchair America competition, a short ride across town turned into something unusual: a chance to travel together.
Hope Network’s red buses lined up outside the
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel last week to take the contestants to
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Unlike the vans many of the women use at home, which often carry only one wheelchair, the larger buses hold up to seven.
“The first year we did it, the ladies pulled me aside and said this is the only time they ever get to take a ride with their peers without attendants hovering over them,” says Jason Ulanowicz, Hope Network’s transportation expert. “That doesn’t happen in everyday life, and it makes the day even more special.”
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Ms. Wheelchair AmericaMs. Wheelchair America contestants visited Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park together on accessible buses.
About 60 people — contestants, caregivers, and competition staff — filled six buses for the outing, part of a week-long schedule of events for this year’s competition, held in Grand Rapids.
Highlights importance of accessible transportation
This is the third year Hope Network and
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation have partnered to provide transportation for the competition. Both organizations play major roles in disability services in West Michigan.
“Accessible transportation is a fundamental component of an inclusive community,” says Bob Von Kaenel, Hope Network’s president and CEO. “Our partnership with Mary Free Bed and Ms. Wheelchair America exemplifies our shared commitment to ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to participate fully in community life.”
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Ms. Wheelchair AmericaContestants and staff of Ms. Wheelchair America 2025 gather for a group photo at Meijer Gardens.
Shelly Loose, host state coordinator for Ms. Wheelchair America and a former state titleholder, says those connections are vital.
“This event not only showcases the talents and advocacy of our contestants but also highlights the importance of accessible transportation in enabling individuals with disabilities to engage in meaningful experiences,” Loose says.
Loose, who grew up in the area, says the competition has returned to Grand Rapids nine times because of the city’s facilities and its experience hosting.
“You learn something new every time about how to improve,” Loose says. “The Amway (Grand Plaza) staff knows what we need now, and we’re really working in tandem pretty well.”
The Amway Grand Plaza provides 26 roll-in shower rooms, which Loose calls “a crazy amount” compared with other hotels. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport, a smaller hub with easy navigation, also makes travel less stressful for contestants.
Public activities
At Meijer Gardens, participants explored sculptures and gardens, breaking into teams for a photo scavenger hunt that encouraged teamwork and gave them opportunities to interact with visitors.
“It kind of shows that people in wheelchairs are out doing things,” Loose says. “It gets them interacting with the public and also builds friendships and confidence among the women.”
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Ms. Wheelchair AmericaContestants and staff of Ms. Wheelchair America 2025 gather for a group photo at Meijer Gardens.
Ulanowicz knows the challenges of navigating daily life in a wheelchair. He spent nearly a year using one after a serious accident.
“My eye goes right for that,” he says. “I remember my days when I was trying to get around and never could find an open handicap spot or anything else.”
He says the contestants don’t want to be treated differently. “They don’t want any special treatment,” Ulanowicz says. “That’s absolutely why they are in this competition. You treat them completely as a normal person, and that’s what we do.”
The buses are equipped with lifts, tie-downs, and harnesses for power and manual chairs. CDL units can hold seven wheelchairs or 22 passengers, while smaller buses carry four wheelchairs or 14 passengers.
Jerry Downs, a vice president at Hope Network, says the shared ride illustrates what is often lacking elsewhere.
“The opportunity for these women to be in a vehicle with their peers is very unique,” Downs says. “Most places can only accommodate one wheelchair at a time. What Jason and his team have done is impressive — making it possible for contestants from across the country to experience Grand Rapids together.”
Area transit still has shortcomings
Downs says transportation outside the city remains a problem. “Buildings, of course, have to be ADA compliant,” he says. “But the accessibility for transportation for people with disabilities — it needs a lot. We have public transportation within Grand Rapids proper, but when you get just outside of there, it becomes very difficult for people to have any type of access to transportation.”
Hope Network operates more than 2 million miles of trips a year, including about 2,400 rides each week across Kent County and neighboring areas. Riders include seniors on fixed incomes, people traveling to dialysis, and others who cannot drive.
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Ms. Wheelchair AmericaAround 60 contestants, caregivers, and staff rode Hope Network’s six red buses for a Grand Rapids competition outing.
Some programs ask for a $3 copay per trip, though Ulanowicz says no one is turned away. “We have people that can’t afford the $3, but we’ll still take them,” he says.
Ms. Wheelchair America was founded in 1972 by Dr. Philip Wood, an Ohio physiatrist who wanted to break down architectural and social barriers for people with disabilities. The event is not judged on appearance. Contestants are evaluated on their ability to advocate, communicate, and lead.
Loose says participants arrive with individual advocacy platforms — transportation, education, health care, or sports. The week-long competition gives them new perspectives.
“You come with one platform, but after you’ve been here and heard why others are so passionate, you leave with 30,” she says.
Workshops, interviews, and public events fill the schedule. The competition concluded with a speech night on Friday night and a crowning gala Saturday night.
Grand Rapids recently received “Destination Verified” status from Wheel the World, a travel company that certifies accessible cities. The recognition highlights attractions, hotels, and transportation that accommodate visitors with disabilities.
Loose says that status matches what the contestants experience. “The Amway is such a great venue, and I know the area,” she says. “I can find my volunteers here, and that makes it easier.”
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Ms. Wheelchair AmericaHope Network donated transportation for the Ms. Wheelchair America contestants to Meijer Gardens.
Downs says the coordination between groups demonstrates what can be accomplished when services are aligned. “Without us, it would have been very difficult, if possible at all, to get that many people and their attendants transported in a timely manner,” he says.
Ulanowicz says he hopes to expand the reach of services.
“There’s no service they could call and say, ‘I’d like to go out to the pier in Muskegon.’ If I could find a partner to help with that, it would be wonderful.”
Loose says the partnerships behind the event show the difference access can make. “
This is what happens when access is built into the plan,” she says. “People thrive.”
Photos provided by Ms. Wheelchair America