Ms Wheelchair South Dakota Speaks Out She wears a crown, makes public appearances and competes in pageants... and she’s in a wheelchair. For Kristi Eisenbraun, reigning Ms Wheelchair South Dakota, her disability has been far more of a blessing than a burden. “People ask me all the time if you could change your life would you not have a disability,” she said. “No, I would always have the disability. My disability has given me all the opportunities that I’ve had. If I didn’t have a disability I wouldn’t have a dog or know as many people as I know. I know someone who knows someone in every department in the state. So if I’m having a problem I can get ahold of someone.” These connections and her position as Ms. Wheelchair South Dakota help her make a difference not only for herself but everyone with disabilities in the state, another reason she is grateful. “I have connections to Senator Rounds,” she said. “I went to him and said, do you know that our rest areas aren’t accessible? Within three days I had an email saying, ‘We want to help you make this a reality.’ If I didn’t have a disability I wouldn’t be able to help others who have a disability be more independent. So I would never change it. I wouldn’t be who I am without my disability. Don’t get me wrong, there are days that I’m very angry that I have it like when staff doesn’t show up and things like that. It gets frustrating because there are things that people often take for granted that I need on a daily basis like help getting dressed in the morning.” Eisenbraun was born with Cerebral Palsy and is confined to a wheelchair most of the time. Though she has physical limitations, she still manages to live on her own with the assistance of a service dog, Huxley, and some help from Personal Care Attendants. With help from parents, special educators and various programs, Eisenbraun has graduated from Southwestern Minnesota State University in May 2015 with degrees in social work and psychology. Though Eisenbraun plans on a social work career she has chosen to take a hiatus in order to better advocate for the disabled population of the state during her reign as Ms. Wheelchair South Dakota.