Krista Uses Ms. Wheelchair Ohio Platform to Boost Community Accessibility

Krista Allison is a federal employee and Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2022. She has used her title and platform to highlight the importance of community accessibility, host fundraisers to support disability-related causes, and enhance the safety of individuals with disabilities. Krista has worked with two police departments to implement a form designed to assist police officers, firefighters, and paramedics when they are called to a house where a resident has a disability.

Over the years, Krista has been a participant with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). Working with Kenny Crookston, OOD Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Krista has been able to maintain her independence through a vehicle modification and efforts to make her home more accessible.

Krista will compete in the Wheelchair America 2023 National Competition at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan from August 15-21, 2022. During this week-long event, state titleholders from across America will join to participate in leadership training, advocacy workshops, mentoring events, and judging sessions.

Transcripts and MP3 files are available at ood.ohio.gov/podcast.

Learn more about Krista on the Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2022 Facebook page. 

Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? OOD can help! Visit OODWorks.com or call 800-282-4536 to get started. 

Find OOD on social media: @OhioOOD. 

Have a disability? Want to work? Visit OODWorks.com!

Transcript

OOD Works Podcast Episode 39: Krista Uses Ms. Wheelchair Ohio Platform to Boost Community Accessibility (Transcript)

Kim Jump: Krista Allison earned her crown as Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2022 after a day-long event that took place at the Mount Vernon Grand Hotel back on March 12th, that included private interview sessions and a public speaking presentation. She’s using her new title to make sure people with disabilities have better access in the community. She’s also been a participant with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) and she recently presented at one of our Youth Leadership Forums. Kenny Crookston, or Kenneth if we’re being formal, who is one of our Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors.  Krista, lives with, now Krista, I might need your help with your particular disease - CMT.  Could you tell everybody what that stands for?

Krista Allison:  Charcot-Marie-Tooth. I know it’s going to be a shocker, but it was the three doctors that came up with it.

Kim Jump: You know, Kenny, he had reached out, you know, I think it was right after you were crowned. I guess would be the official way to say it. He had told me that you had a connection with OOD. So, I was fascinated. I’ve seen you all over the place in media. You’re really making the most of your platform. I thought it would be awesome to be able to feature you on our podcast. So, really definitely appreciate you doing this.

Kenny Crookston: What’s really funny is, you can probably edit this part out later, when we were talking when we were up in Cleveland last month or whenever that was, or maybe when this first came up, we were talking like, we’re going to try and take over this podcast. We’re going to come over and we’re going to kick everybody out and it’s just going to be the two of us like once a month, or whatever. It’s going to be our thing.

Kim Jump: (laughs) That’d be awesome. You’re currently a federal government employee. Is that right?

Krista Allison:  That is correct. I can’t go any further, but yes.

Kim Jump: Okay. I won’t ask a whole lot of questions about your line of work. 
 We will leave it at that. But she does have a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a manager’s excuse me, and a master’s degree in management and public administration. I’d like to welcome Krista and Kenny to the podcast and we will certainly let it be a takeover. (laughs)

Krista Allison: Kenny and I go way back.

Kenny Crookston: Way back.

Krista Allison: We’ve had experiences. (laughs)

Kenny Crookston: We were laughing about it the other day. Like, how do we relate to each other? How are we going to handle this? I think Krista said it perfectly.  She’s like, we’re like brother and sister, which is awesome. But, then you’ve got to be ready to be like you’re going to get it back just as hard as you gave it. So you’ve got to be prepared for it.

Kim Jump: (laughs)

Krista Allison: Kenny has seen the real me, let’s just say. (laughs) Not that I’m a bad person like anyone has to be afraid of, but I mean hey, when something bothers me, I let him have it. (laughs)

Kenneth Crookston: I’ll take it. I’ll take it.

Kim Jump: Well, this is fun. I mean if you don’t have much of an edit button, Kenny says, I’ll take it. (laughs.) This is going to be really entertaining. (laughs)

Krista Allison: Yep. 

Kim Jump: I’ve seen you everywhere. You’re quite the Ohio celebrity. 

Krista Allison: I’m trying. It’s not bad. Honestly, what I’m trying to tell everybody is I didn’t go for the title for fame, for notoriety. Honestly, I could care less if anybody knows my name. To be honest, I took the title for a specific reason and that’s to change the accessible world. It finally got to the point in my life that I’m just sick and tired of going places and having to worry about where I’m going. And, what is the outcome of that establishment going to be? Or, am I going like, I’m one of those people, the biggest thing is that there is not an accessible restroom? I am the first person that needs to go to the bathroom. Like, tell me if I can’t go, I’ve got to go. But if there is a bathroom right next to me, within a couple of feet, I could go for hours. (laughs.) So, it’s something like that and honestly, I took the title and I said to myself, I don’t care what doors I have to knock on. I don’t care how many people I have to call. But I am determined, and I will change something.

Kim Jump: Yeah, that’s fabulous because certainly for yourself, you’re obviously in a wheelchair yourself, and there’s so many people that are, whether short-term or permanently and you probably have a long list of pet peeves of ways that establishment places that have really left individuals with mobility-related disabilities behind.

Krista Allison: I truly do, and honestly, we could talk for months, and I probably would not be finished. That’s my goal. It’s just awareness, to bring awareness to these places that probably aren’t aware themselves.

Kenneth Crookston: Didn’t you do something with maybe the city of Berea, like an accessible jungle gym or an accessible playground or something? 

Krista Allison: Well, so no, so actually the accessible playground that I’m working with is Brunswick.

Kenneth Crookston: Brunswick. Oh, sorry.

Krista Allison: Yeah, it’s actually kind of funny. I got the title and I got drawn into that project and I actually, I love it. I held a fundraiser in the beginning of May, a Mommy and Me Tea Party in Brunswick.

Kim Jump: Oh fun.

Krista Allison: And, all the funds raised, I raised $3,800, and I put them directly to that fundraiser, and we actually, we’re supposed to have a benefit concert last night at Mapleside and ugh, they canceled it because Cleveland’s weather is so unpredictable and in the morning it looked like it was going to storm all night, and go figure, last night was perfection. I see sunny, high seventies. It would have been the best concert and they postponed it, though, until the end of the month. So, but they did declare, I went to a city council meeting because the mayor actually gave me a proclamation and commending me for the raise and helping out. The city council did agree to go ahead with the playground regardless of the lack of funds. They did not raise completely, but still they’re in the process of fundraising.

Kim Jump: That’s great. And, also with Brunswick, speaking of that, there’s an effort you’ve done in conjunction with the police, that I believe I read about.

Krista Allison: Yeah, so actually, the news didn’t follow North Olmsted, but it started out with the city of North Olmsted. I built a great relationship with them initially like, before the beginning of my title. And, I went out there and met with the chief and the captain and started talking about different things. I’ve been in law enforcement for 12 years, so I tend to gravitate towards law enforcement with things that I do. I was randomly scrolling through Facebook or just searching on the Internet one day and was thinking of different things I could do to branch out into communities and I decided the police department. And, so I helped to create a form, an ADA residential form, that is a voluntary form that goes out to the community and it asks residents to fill it out.  And it’s just anything and everything that you want public safety services to know. Are you in a wheelchair? Do you have a walker? Do you have a cane? Does your child have autism? Is there blindness? Is there deafness? Are there medications that they should be aware of? Literally, it could be anything they want public safety to know. So, therefore, when they’re done filling out the form, it goes into the dispatch center and they enter it into the CATS system. So if an emergency were to arise based on the address, or the phone number or the information given, it’s going to pop up on the screen, therefore notifying if it's EMS going out, or if it’s a police officer going out, or if it’s a fire truck going out, they will be well aware ahead of time to arriving at that house. I always thought about when you get to a house and say they go in there, and there’s a child with autism screaming. They don’t know how to handle that situation and they don’t know why that kid is screaming. But, it could be because of an unknown disability that they’re not aware of. Therefore, if they have that information when they get to the scene, they will already be aware and be able to do whatever they need to do, therefore saving ample time and saving lives in the long run. After North Olmsted put it out, I had met with the chief of police in Brunswick and he was all for it. Actually, News Channel 5 did a story with Brunswick. Brunswick put it out into the community. And, both cities have had great responses thus far and I got invited to, and last week I spoke at the chief of police association meeting in Medina County. Several of those cities have already reached out to me and asked if I could update the form for them so they could push it out. So, my goal is the entire State of Ohio utilizing this form.

Kim Jump: That’s wonderful. I know our leadership, they’re very interested in this too.  Two of the things we’ve as an agency, our Director Kevin Miller, has been involved with is one, the Communication Disability Law. But it is specific to communication disability. It’s more for traffic stops. So, if a car is pulled over an individual with a medically, you know diagnosed by a medical professional, has a communication disability, then they can notify the law enforcement officers through LEADS for a traffic stop, whether a driver or passenger, which is a great option.

Krista Allison: Yeah. I shared your guys’ form that you put out there. But, that form is now at all the BMVs. So, people can pick them up there. People in Brunswick, immediately as soon as I told them about it ordered it. So, the officer within the city has them and they are carrying them. 

Kim Jump: Yeah. It’s been hard getting the word out about that, actually. You know, we’ve been trying for a few years to keep bringing awareness to it. Not everybody wants to opt in and that’s understandable. I think what you’re trying to do on the residential side would be a nice pairing and I like that it could be for all disability types too. I think that is so great.

Kim Jump: Kind of similarly, another thing that we launched in conjunction with the Department of Public Safety just a couple of months ago is a Communication Card. It’s really intended for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at a traffic stop. It’s their own kind of communication tool they can point to different icons to be able to kind of, you know, communicate with a law enforcement officer. But, we’ve had feedback that the same kind of thing is needed with EMS. I just think your, like the residential notification is just yet another, I think a great possibility. I mean, what you’ve done in two cities already, I mean what a great idea. Just awareness. I mean especially in an emergency. The quick responses are so important and having more information going into that is so valuable.

Krista Allison: Well, yeah, like my girlfriend in New York, she’s Ms. Wheelchair New York and she said, she actually reached out to me, and she thanked me. And I’m like you’re in New York, why are you thanking me? This is in Ohio. And, she said she’s actually trying to get me to talk to some of the police departments in New York. I said, hey if this goes over the United States, that’s completely fine. But, her mother has epilepsy. She said a couple of weeks ago, she was in the ambulance with the medics. They were literally, they had no idea, asking her 20 questions. And, if they would have had this information prior, it all came down to she was taking two medicines that were interacting with each other. And, so, therefore, with this form, she could have listed her medications and everything.

Kim Jump: Right.

Krista Allison: And, they would have had that information on their way to pick her up. And, they would have known instantly.

Kim Jump: That’s so cool that your platform is connecting you with your peers in other states. Tell us a little bit more about what it’s like holding this title and kind of interacting with others. I mean, what’s that been like for you? 

Krista Allison: I love it. Honestly, it’s, and I try to tell people not that I don’t have a great support system, I have a wonderful family. I have wonderful friends. But, before this, I didn’t have friends that were disabled. I mean that sounds really random. But, with this title, it’s connected me to another world. And, connected me to so many individuals that if I’m having a down day, nobody is really going to understand. Because who would understand if you’re not in my situation? So, if I’m having a down day or having a rough moment, or want to praise something that I’d done, these girls, I mean I talk to New York every night. We connect. And several other states, we’ve connected. And, I’m just super excited because a week from Monday, we’re all going to come together in person and hey, you know what? Whatever happens, like I’ve said all along, I’m not out for anything, like, how do I want to say this? I just want to change things. And, I said to all the girls, if anything what comes from this, whether you get the title or not, is the sisterhood that you didn‘t have prior to this. 

Kim Jump: Yeah, that’s great. I’m happy for you to be able to connect with individuals that you have that affinity with. That’s great. So, the national competition is this month. 
 We’re recording in August 2022. It’s in Michigan, right?

Krista Allison: It is. And, thank goodness for me, I only have a four-hour drive.

Kim Jump: (laughs.)

Kenneth Crookston: Right.

Krista Allison: Sorry to all the other girls that have to travel by plane. 

Kim Jump: (laughs.) Right.

Krista Allison: I got very lucky. Actually, I haven’t seen my uncle and aunt in a couple of years and they live in Lansing. So, we’re going to meet up for lunch when I’m on my way home.

Kim Jump:  That’s perfect. What’s the exact date of the competition?

Krista Allison: It’s August 15-21st. And, the 19th, yeah, the 19th is Friday. That is speech night. Then the 20th is they’ll pick the top five and they’ll crown the winner.

Kenneth Crookston: Is that all streamed, like online?

Krista Allison: It’s going to stream online. Yeah, it’s going to be, but we have not got that information yet where it’s going to be streamed. So, I will gladly share that with you guys when I do know.

Kim Jump: Yeah. That’d be great. That’d be wonderful to share with the listeners when we know and share it out the podcast. That’s really cool. So, it sounded like maybe you’re still shopping for clothes. How’s the speech writing going?

Krista Allison: So, I’m very fortunate because not all the other states actually to gain their title for their state, had to say a speech. And, Ohio, that was one of the mandatory things was to say a speech. So, I already have mine nailed because I used a good portion of the beginning of it. And, just honestly, had to edit and change the ending because since I’ve got the title, I’ve done so much more than I did prior to getting the title. 

Kenneth Crookston: Now you have example, example, example, example, right? 

Kim Jump: (laughs.)

Krista Allison: Well, yeah, here’s the thing, you could only talk for a minute and a half to two minutes. 

Kim Jump: Wow.

Krista Allison: So, I’m going to have to just talk really fast. And, I’m pretty good at that, so.

Kenneth Crookston: I was going to say..

Kim Jump: (laughs.) Well, I’m curious, since you’ve got this bother sister relationship, how did, take me back to how you and Kenny know each other and how you first connected with OOD. 

Krista Allison: So, I’d actually been a part of OOD, I want to say, for the past 14 years. So, I’ve had a full-time position. I’ve been employed but, I had with my disability, and things getting worse, and progressing, and I’d had a lot of things that had been needed for my vehicle and needed for my home. And, it all started out in 2008, I want to say. So Kenny and I didn’t connect at that point. It was another guy. (laughs.) But, I had to get one of the wheelchair toppers on my vehicle added so I can get back and forth to work. And, I’m one of those people, I’m independent and I don’t want to use a paratransit. I want to use myself because a very impatient human, Kenny can chime in on that. 

Kenneth Crookston: You said it for me. I didn’t need to say anything. (laughs.) It’s fine.

Kim Jump: (laughs.)

Krista Allison: I like things to happen right then and there. So, I didn’t want to rely on transportation. And, I wanted to rely on myself. So that’s where everything started. 
 And, Kenny did we connect with the hand controls when I first got them? That’s when we connected, right?

Kenneth Crookston: Yeah, it was before that.

Krista Allison: Before that?

Kenneth Crookston: Yeah, I think it was actually when we were looking at that modification for the bathroom at the home was when we first connected. 

Krista Allison: Oh yeah. I helped Kenny with that, Kim.

Kenneth Crookston: This is actually what I deal with most of the time.

Kim Jump: (laughs.) You two.

Kenneth Crookston: She’s my boss.

Krista Allison: I’d say yes. I save Kenny money. So, I told him I needed something like the tub, just to make life easier on me because my husband and I are getting older. Let’s just be honest And, I don’t want him to …

Kenneth Crookston: This is actually what I deal with most of the times.

Kim Jump: (laughing) Do tell.

Kenneth Crookston: She’s my boss.

Krista Allison: I say yes. I saved Kenny money, so I told him I needed something for the tub just to make life easier on me because my husband and I are getting older. Let’s be honest and I don’t want him to ruin his back because I want him to be able to help me for a lot longer. But so, I needed something so I could be able to take showers, I was so sick and tired of asking him to help me in and out of the shower. So just trying to Google search, and trying to find things, and of course had one of the guys from Columbus, come up and measure out everything. And I have this whole elaborate plan that I was going to re-do my whole laundry room and make a roll-in shower and all this stuff, and then it all came down to I found this wonderful little contraption, that was way less money…

Kenneth Crookston: Way less.

Kim Jump: Wow. You did your research.

Krista Allison: Way, way less and it turns out that it worked perfectly, and I called Kenny and said, “Look at that I’m saving the state money because I found this.”

Kim Jump: That’s awesome.

Kenneth Crookston: When we started, we really went through the rehab tech process, looked at what needs to happen in order to kinda like – let’s take a look at how the restroom is set up, and the access between the toilet and the bathtub and how transition and all that stuff. And getting someone coming and looking at that, and the work that was necessary to even possibly make that happen, was a pretty steep amount. That’s no small deal.  And then in the process of doing that we’re lucky enough to have Krista do some of her own and obviously one of the things I going to say this officially on the broadcast- one of the things we officially have to do is ask, “what is the least cost option?” And I supported Krista’s ability to find us that least cost option and that really worked out. In the end it was minimally invasive and really inexpensive and it seems like it has really worked out, super well.

Krista Allison: Thank God for Amazon.

Kim Jump: (laughing)

Kenneth Crookston: Yeah.

Kim Jump: It does make finding things so much easier, doesn’t it? So, it sounds like, oh I’m sorry I missed that.

Krista Allison: I said it was a lot quicker of a process, too!

Kim Jump: Oh gotcha!

Kenneth Crookston: You’d still be living in rubble right now, probably.

Krista Allison: Yeah.

Kim Jump: Wow. So, it sounds like through the services you were able to basically have some bathroom remodifications. Were there other home modifications that you were able to receive as well?

Krista Allison: In a previous home, before we moved into our current home, you guys helped us with like we had eight steps I want to say, to get in, but it was a situation like it was my mother-in-law’s home and we needed to move in there to help her out. And so you guys helped and put a lift on the front to the house so I could get in and you came out and expanded the bathroom for me, so I could actually get into to the bathroom. It was a really old home, so it was one of those like walkway bathrooms that was very narrow, and you guys came in and re-did that. And it’s funny because a lot of people – like I’m pretty sure I as talking to Kenny about this, there’s a lot of people that don’t really know you exist. And, I mean I’d known for many years.  So that’s what I try to tell people like a lot of people message me all the time, especially with this title about different situations that they are experiencing and who can I reach out to? And luckily, I’m old enough that I’ve done a lot of research on my own, so I’m able to give them contacts and emails and tell them who to reach out to - which I’ve given several people and I don’t know if they panned out because I feel like some people need their hand held. I’ve started to realize and it’s - I’ve done what I could do and give them the information they need, but, whether they choose to use it or not I can’t be that person to say.

Kim Jump: Right.

Kenneth Crookston: Krista’s called me a couple times and said: hey I know this person that has X, Y, Z, you know whatever, can I share your phone with them?  Absolutely. So, beyond the title stuff, she’s cool with working with people that she comes across or runs into, friends or whatever, or if they need something or whatever, she’s going to share that info too, which is great.

Kim Jump: Yeah, that is great! We are certainly trying all we can to change that about our agency and people like you being an ally with us to get the word out is really helpful. Word of mouth is definitely the best! But we are trying to change that, and make Ohioans realize that we’re a resource for all kinds of different disabilities. You know certainly that connection to work, but other possibilities as well through our services and that’s great. Can we talk about what we were able to do to help with your vehicle since you were talking about how important that is to you to maintain your independence through driving?

Krista Allison: Oh, the vehicle!

Kim Jump: Yeah. 

Kenneth Crookston: Can we move on to the next question?

Kim Jump: Uh-oh. Is this a hot topic?!

Krista: So, initially five years ago you did give me hand controls, you helped me with that. And my disability progressed last year and got worse so therefore I had to sell my vehicle and had to get a new vehicle. So, like Kenny said we can totally go on to the next question. It got a little hairy there for a little bit…

Kim Jump: Okay, maybe to be continued?

Krista Allison: Honestly, nothing bad to do with you guys. It was a situation that as I said before, I’m an impatient human but not necessarily really impatient because it was a thing that I needed. I mean it was, like, I went down a slump and I needed a new vehicle, and it was like I needed these hand controls to come out of my old vehicle and put in instantly and I did not have time to go through the whole process of waiting for hand controls. So, it was kind of a, I just went over to the first person that I knew that’s been servicing my vehicle, and I’m like, “you got to take these out of the car and you need to put them in the new car because I need to be able to utilize my car. So, Kenny and I had some fun chats throughout that time, but…

Kenny Crookston: It was a dark winter. It was a dark winter.  (laughing) But, we’re good!

Krista Allison: But Kenny and I are so cool, now. We got past that, and honestly, I don’t hold anything against you guys - it was just a sticky situation, like I said, because things progressed so quickly and drastically that I really had no choice but to get things done quicker than that way.

Kim Jump: I can understand that. I saw, I think it was in June in Berea, you were in something called UnRun- what was that?

Krista Allison: So, it was an event I created. I wanted to come up, well first off, like I’ve been gravitating towards Brunswick, and it’s funny because I don’t even live in Brunswick, I live in Berea.  But, I’ve met so many people in Brunswick that I kind of just go down there, so I was thinking of different cities and different ways that I could make inclusive events or something that I could bring together everybody and so I threw an event called the UnRun. And I had it at Middleburg/ Berea Mid-Park Middle School and it was a little, I didn’t get the expectance I had anticipated, however, I talked to many organizations that they said, “hey your first   one, you are never going to get the crowd you anticipate.” And I understand that, because, I mean word of mouth, and everything growing over the years… so it’s not going to be the last. I invited an organization to come and they’re called Super Heroes to Kids. I’m not sure if you’ve heard of them, but they are all volunteers, and they dress up as superheroes, princesses.  I also had princesses at my tea party and they dressed up as superheroes for the UnRun. Had a pretty decent turnout – we had a few food trucks, and we raised $1,000 for A Special Wish, Northeast Ohio chapter. Which, I’ve actually worked with A Special Wish for the past seven years doing volunteer activities with them. So,  I was thinking of a way to bring together people, and so what I want to do is continue it next year, but thinking when would be a better time to have it because I  had it June 11th and I wasn’t really thinking about okay school just got out the week before and probably a lot of people are going on vacation, so there wasn’t going to be a lot of people in town, so next year I think I’m going to try and do it in September because then everyone will be in school, and I can get the school involved as well,  so like the fall sports teams. Every year I want it to go towards a different cause. So now I have this whole next year to plan and decide what’s that cause going to be next year I want the funds raised to go to! 

Kenneth Crookston: It’s still super impressive that you got it put together as quickly as you did, though! I mean, it really is. Say it again-

Krista Allison: In a month.

Kenneth Crookston: In a month.

Kim Jump: In a month. Whoa. Wow, that is fast.

Krista Allison: Well because of the great Ohio weather I didn’t get my title until March 12th and usually, it’s in January. So, I knew I had to, well initially I put them together because I was going to use the two fundraisers to go towards my nationals because I actually had to fundraise for nationals, but it ended up I had a few generous individuals that helped me fundraise so, therefore, both of the events that I threw, went to the causes that I had them for. So, I was pretty happy with that.

Kim Jump: That really is wonderful. Awesome. Well, Kenny, what has it been like for you working with someone as determined and as quick to take action, as Krista? (laughing)

Kenneth Crookston: Can we mute her or take her off … Well, I was thinking about this the other day.  I was wondering what kinds of questions am I going to get asked. So, okay, so I’m going to prepare one if I can describe Krista in one word what would it be?

Krista Allison: (laughing)

Kenneth Crookston: So the one word I came up with was: on!

Kim Jump: On.

Kenneth Crookston: On. When you meet her she’s on. She’s going for it. She’s going after it.  It’s going to happen, and she is like tenacious and I mean that in the most positive sort of way. She knows what she wants to do. She knows how she wants to do it, and she’s going to fight for it. It’s awesome. Ya know,I love it. I love the relationship I’ve been able to have with her throughout this process and working with her. It’s no joke when we talk about doing the rehab tech stuff and having an idea of what is going to work. I mean honestly, she’s gonna know, and this is just in that OOD sort of world. Krista, you know what you are going to need better than what I can pull up. So, listening to you and listening to you develop those plans and, make those descriptions and say okay, “this is what is going to work for me.”  That’s awesome. And five seconds from then it’s like” well, that’s cool, but then I also have this other thing going on.”  And then we are halfway down that road, but it’s like, “ I also have this friend who knows this person and has this going on.” - And I hope that description doesn’t come off as scattered because it is not scattered in any way. It all makes sense to her. She knows every which way everything is going. Like I said, everything is on. And I’m sure when your head hits a pillow, you’re out.  You know what I mean? And when you’re up, you’re back up and ripping and roaring, again. But, It’s impressive. It’s impressive.

Kim Jump: So, besides heading to Michigan later this month, what else do you think is next for you, Krista?

Krista Allison: My calendar is already filling for when I get back. It’s so funny because a lot of people keep telling me, “you need to just relax and take a break.” But that’s not me. I’m like, that’s the last thing I need to do is relax, because honestly the other day, you can even ask my husband, on Sunday I had nothing to do and I was bored. I was so bored. And he was like, “oh my gosh, just go do something.” And honestly, I got in the car and went and did something. Because I need to be doing something. I need to feel like I’m accomplishing stuff and so every month it’s kind of funny now my calendar is starting to fill prior to the months. But June and July,  I would get to day one and there would be maybe two things on my calendar, and then within days, I mean within days, I’m trying to figure out, “Okay, when am I going to do that? When am I going to do that? When am I going to tell them I’m going to do that?” But, actually with school starting it’s nice because I actually been reached or started to be reached out from different administrations and they’re going to have me come into their schools and talk to their kids and talk to the school staff. I’m actually going to help teach a class, customer service class in North Olmstead in the beginning of September and they want me to lead the section with diversity and inclusion and I’ve created slides for that. I have a couple other speaking engagements, so I’m going to be pretty busy regardless of what happens, and so I’m happy about that. And then in September, I met with the Medina Chief of Police Association and in September I call the Cuyahoga County one and I’m going to talk to I believe they said it’s about 80 chiefs of police in Cuyahoga County. So, hopefully, by the end of the year, I have half the state that’s utilizing the form.

Kim Jump: Great. Really cool. If listeners want to reach out to you, connect with you, support you, what is the best way for them to get in touch? I know you are on social.

Krista Allison: So, the best way would probably be my Facebook page and it’s Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2022- Krista Allison. But if they put Ms. Wheelchair 2022 on the first one, it pops up! And I’m always on my phone and I always have it next to me, so if you send me a message on there I’m always pretty quick to respond, and I don’t waste no time.

Kenneth Crookston: Here’s the thing. So, I think when we kind of sent over that photo of the two of us at Youth Leadership Forum, this is sort of another example of that outreach. It was probably right after you were crowned Ms. Wheelchair 2022 that you sent me that information and we started talking again about what we could do, or how we can we get in front of or connected with other agencies or people or supports just to kind of get the message out there and whatever, and you were able to connect with one of our OOD supervisors as well, to present and talk at that Youth Leadership Forum up here in Cleveland. And it was something that you helped get in there, you helped set up what you were going to talk about and get in front of the kids and really kind of talk about your experiences and be a positive sort of demonstration (that is not really the right word)- present just positivity in your experience to these kids that are there. Who are there- these are high school juniors and seniors, involved with OOD, and very engaged. Everything about that Youth Leadership Forum - that entire week is positive. The day that you were there was a super interactive day- like they were doing the dance program and other kinds of art programs as well, and you got to be up there and kind of interact and talk with them. The whole thing was just so – it was great and you can see by the photos and the group photos with the kids .. it was just super impactful, and it was a great opportunity for you to kind of talk about you in an awesome and positive sort of light. Krista Allison: I actually had some of the students reach out to me and the one girl thanked me and didn’t really say it, she mentioned it a little bit, but like Kim during my talk, I always tailor my talks to the crowd. So, whoever I’m speaking to if it’s adults, I usually change it a little bit, but when I speak to youth, I talk about, I mean I really had a rough going in grade school in middle school. I was bullied, like severely because of my disability. So, I like to bring that up when I’m talking to children and talking to teenagers because I like to let them know that it’s not just them. There are others that have dealt with this and just sharing that story and letting them know that even though that did happen to me, I really feel like it helped me to become the person that I am today. And so it may not seem like it’s a great thing when you’re going through it (because it’s not. It’s a really horrible thing.) But, as you grow and mature and you deal with other life experiences- your outlook just changes and so this girl actually reached out to me and thanked me and said, “I was bullied and tormented for years and I always saw it as a really horrible thing and I never really knew how to deal with it,  and thank you so much for coming and talking to me and making me realize that I’m not the only person. That there are others that experienced the same thing that I’ve experienced.”

Kenneth Crookston: It was really cool.  It was a good experience.

Kim Jump: Wow, I’m excited for what the future holds for you whether nationally or continuing all these awesome inroads here in Ohio with everything that you’re doing. We’re definitely rooting for you, however, I could totally see you holding the national title.

Krista Allison: (laughing ) Thank you. We’ll see.

Kim Jump: Well, this has been great.  I appreciate both of you taking the time and being with me here today.

Krista Allison: Of course, thanks, for having us. I really appreciate it. 

Kenneth Crookston: Absolutely.