Gabby Champions Abilities

When Gabrielle “Gabby” Kozinsi rolls into the room, her spirit is as unstoppable as her drive for advocacy. Join us as Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2024 shares about her refusal to be confined by cerebral palsy or social barriers. Her mission? To enlighten children on the importance of embracing people with disabilities, a lesson she shares from her firsthand experiences. To learn more, visit the Ms. Wheelchair Ohio website, Gabby’s Facebook page, or email Gabby.

With support from Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), Gabby has worked in the community and hopes to eventually work with children. Her involvement in the Special Olympics as a cheerleader symbolizes her dedication to challenging stereotypes and building a community where individuals with disabilities are celebrated for their abilities. 

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

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Chapters

• 0:02 Gabby
• 15:25 Job Assistance for People With Disabilities

Transcript

Male Narrator

Welcome to OOD Works, the podcast, the show about unique individuals and services provided by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, the state agency that 

Kim Jump

Gabby, who is from Crawford County, has been a participant with OOD, and was crowned Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2024 in March! Her platform is dedicated to teaching children how to interact with and have a better understanding of individuals with disabilities. Gabby, welcome to the show, welcome. 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 

Thank you for having me. 

Kim Jump

It is exciting to see you. Our listeners won't see the video of our recording, but you're wearing your tiara and your sash and you are representing Ms. Wheelchair. I know you've been busy since being crowned, and one of the things I've heard about you is that you love children. Uh, where does this come from? 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 01:14

I do love children. I've loved children my whole life actually. I've always said I wanted to work a job with children, because I can't have children of my own, unfortunately, like I would love to. So I've always said I wanted to work with children so that I could make a difference in their lives. 

Kim Jump 01:40

Children are part of your platform. I know you've been visiting some schools, is that right? Yes, I have been visiting some schools, is that right? Yes, I have been visiting some schools. I bet they love having you. And so you're in a wheelchair and I know you are someone who has cerebral palsy. Can you just talk to us a little bit of, maybe some of the challenges that you've encountered as someone with these disabilities? 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 02:05

that you've encountered as someone with these disabilities. So I've had cerebral palsy, or CP as some call it, since I was 19 days old. My mom's first Mother's Day. I got a really high fever which resulted in me going into a deadly seizure and I almost died. Luckily, by the grace of God, I did not, but because of that I ended up with CP, and the challenges obviously narrow doorways or not enough businesses having ramps. 

Kim Jump 02:44

Yeah. 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 02:45

On that, among other challenges. Of course, I'm total care, so someone takes care of all my basic needs. Well, besides, I can feed myself finger foods and certain foods and I use my right arm, but I can't use my other one and I'm wheelchair-bound. 

Kim Jump 03:10

Well, thank you for sharing about that. I think it helps for others to just understand a little bit better about, um, where you're coming from. 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 03:20

But I don't but I do not let it get in my way. Funny enough, even when people try to tell me what I can and cannot, do I prove them wrong. 

Kim Jump 03:36

Do you have any examples of that? 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 03:39

People have said, funny enough, that I couldn't do cheerleading because of my wheelchair situation. But I am a part of my local Special Olympics cheerleading squad - Love it. People have said that I couldn't work with children. Well, I prefer children because they understand more than most adults, unfortunately, nowadays. So I still plan to eventually further my education goals when I turn the legal age for FAFSA. 

Kim Jump 04:21

Nice, okay, and so probably pursuing something that's related to early childhood or childhood education?

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 04:31

Yes, childhood education. 

Kim Jump 04:34

Okay. Do you have a favorite age range? In first grade, but anything. 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 04:53

I'm open to anything before that, but not much older than first-grade gotcha fun ages, because I believe the younger the better, so that if they're exposed to individuals with disabilities when they're younger, they'll be more accepting to approaching them properly as they get older. 

Kim Jump 05:13

Yeah, yeah, and that's really what your platform is all about helping children better understand how to interact with people with disabilities. Can you speak more on that? 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 05:24

So, unfortunately, in my experience, children approach me better than most adults, and what I mean by that. They are not afraid to go up to me and they don't do the baby talk, which I'm what I mean by that. Unfortunately, most adults who are not around me on a day-to-day basis come up to me and bend down and talk to me in that baby voice. 

Like they talk down to you, yeah, and you don't have to do that they talk down to you, yeah, and you don't have to do that, right? Just because I'm in a wheelchair doesn't mean I'm not capable of holding an adult conversation. 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 06:13

I've seen some parents tell their kid not to talk to me when they're more brave enough than their parents Mm-hmm, mm-hmm and that's not the case. So I believe that if they're exposed to individuals with disabilities at a young age, they'll be more appropriate at how they approach them as they get older. 

Kim Jump 06:41

Yeah, just having it be a normal part of growing up. Yes, yeah, just having it be a normal part of growing up. Yeah, do you have any pointers you give the kids or any special takeaways that you hope, after you've done a presentation with children, that you hope will stick with them? 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 07:00

So, I tell students not to be afraid to approach someone that is made with different than you, because you never know, they may like the same things as you and they may become your new best friend or new friend you just never know and they can like the same things that you. We just want to be treated like anyone else. 

Kim Jump 07:28

For sure. I think that's a wonderful message that you're taking out into the communities for our children. That's awesome. What's on tap for you? Do you have certain plans that you've been working through where you're trying to collaborate with educators or parents or community groups? 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 07:47

Well, I just want to throw it out there right now. It will be closing here. Maybe next week before my national competition. I have a fundraiser for Print Happier that has it starts to have the CP logo and my platform knowledge is powered on it. So if anyone wants that, they can go on my Facebook page and find the link. But also I'm trickling around and talking to elementary students and telling them don't be afraid to approach that person and they look different than you. Also, don't let anyone tell you what you can and cannot do. 

Kim Jump 08:40

You're getting ready for a national competition? 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 08:43

Mother's Day weekend, me and my mom are doing a raffle for baskets. So if anyone wants tickets, they can go on my Miss Wheelchair Ohio page and comment or message me page and comment or message me Also. Like I said here, in a couple days, like I think next week, it closes. But I also have a link open for Print Happier here in these here in my town for t-shirts If anyone wants t-shirts that have the CP logo and then my platform name, and we have things for all ages. 

Kim Jump 09:26

Gabby, we'll be sure to share that link so that our listeners can know how to connect with you and find out more and support you. How was it that you first connected with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities? 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 09:40

So I've had cases open off and on for years now just for job hunting. I've worked with Troy Dillon, who was my job coach, but I also worked with Audrey Mueller and the other lady I told you about. Yeah, Lori Markley is currently the person I'm working with to find a job, so I've had a couple people work with me through OOD in the past. We might be skipping someone, so forgive us, right yeah, if we're forgetting someone. I know I'm skipping someone, but I can't remember her name. 

Kim Jump 10:30

That's okay. That's okay. What's that been like for you getting services? Have you found that helpful? 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 10:46

Yes, helpful and got to be a Walmart door greeter for three, three or two years. Um I just December, unfortunately, due to circumstances, but yes, they helped me find that job that's great. 

Kim Jump 10:57

So it's been a few years and is your involvement with Ms. Wheelchair Ohio… Would you consider that kind of more of like a side gig, or does that… I guess what I'm getting at is, would you want to pursue a job while you hold the title, or would that be too much? 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 11:14

I'd be interested in working, but I just have too much stuff with my Ms. Wheelchair Ohio because I have to commit to that right now. 

Kim Jump 11:31

Yeah, I only hold the title for a year okay, so you've mentioned that you participate in some day programming. What's that like? 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 11:42

So I currently attend Chrysalis Advantage Point here in Bucyrus, and so I attend there five days a week. Monday through Friday from 9 to 2:30. And so I sometimes help with our Meals on Wheels to elderly folks for that, because they take us out into the community to help with that, and I've also helped pick work a couple times. So it's very community-based. 

Kim Jump 12:20

That sounds like a good fit for you. Yes, yeah, I really get the sense from you, gabby, that it's important to you, whether it's investing in kids and shaping how they think about people with disabilities or giving back to your community, you really strike me as someone that community service is important to you really strike me as someone that community service is important to you. 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 12:45

Yes, but my goal is to focus my whole attention eventually on doing a job that involves children. 

Kim Jump 12:56

So OOD is here for you as you want to further your education or and when you're ready to actually put out the applications and figure out you know kind of where those employer connections are. Yes, yeah, so you're at the right place. That's awesome. I'm glad you're connected. If people want to find out more about you or connect with you is the best place your Facebook page. 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 13:24

Yes, you can do my professional page, which is Ms. Wheelchair 24 Gabby Kozinski. Or you can contact me for my regular Facebook page, Gabby Kozinkski. Or I have an email, or I have a phone which is 419-561-2485. So email or any of those options are good. 

Kim Jump 13:51

Okay, wonderful. Well, as we look to wrap up today, Gabby, what is one thing you want our listeners to remember about you? 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 14:03

Just because someone is in a wheelchair doesn't mean that they are not capable of doing whatever they want to do in life, whether it is with working with kids or adults or whatever. And don't try to tell them what they can and cannot do. And don't try to tell them what they can and cannot do and not every disability is the same Just because they appear to be in a wheelchair doesn't mean that their minds are not brilliant. 

Kim Jump 14:33

That's right. That's right. You're a testament to that. I love it. I love that persistence, and some things take a lot longer than others to achieve, and that's okay. Yes, yeah, you seem like someone who believes in. Don't give up. 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 14:50

Yes, and I don't like being told what I can and cannot do. 

Kim Jump 14:56

No, you don't. It gets you fired up, doesn't it?!

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 15:00

Oh it, it definitely does. 

Kim Jump 15:06

Well, this has been great. I really appreciate you reaching out and I love what you're doing with the kids in Ohio. I think it's fabulous. It's such a worthwhile message, Gabby. 

Gabrielle "Gabby" Kozinski 

Thank you. 

Kim Jump

Such a worthwhile message, Gabby. Thank you. A transcript of today's episode is available at OOD.Ohio.Gov/podcast. We welcome you to subscribe and leave a review. We're on social media at Ohio OOD. Do you have a disability? Do you want a job? We can help OODWorks.com.