How Shameka Andrews Found Her Voice Through Ms. Wheelchair New York
When you meet Shameka Andrews, you don’t just meet a disability advocate—you meet a force. A woman who has transformed personal challenges into community victories, Shameka is known for wearing many hats: advocate, consultant, public speaker, and the dynamic Ms. Wheelchair New York State Coordinator. But for her, the crown wasn’t just a moment—it was a movement.
“Everything I do comes with lessons,” she says. “But Ms. Wheelchair led me to all the other roles. That’s where my advocacy work and public speaking began.”
Living with Spina Bifida: Turning Experience Into Advocacy
Living with Spina Bifida and using a power wheelchair, Shameka’s personal journey has shaped not just her approach to advocacy but the heart behind it.
“The things I’ve experienced push me to support others and hopefully make their journey a little easier than mine was,” she explains.
From Pageant Participant to Program Coordinator
She didn’t always see herself on stage or at the front of a room. In fact, the Ms. Wheelchair New York program wasn’t even on her radar until a service coordinator and a former titleholder encouraged her to give it a try.
“Public speaking wasn’t something I thought I would ever do—or be good at,” Shameka admits. “Now, as the coordinator, I get to support women and girls in the program. I see myself in them. Watching them go from unsure to empowered makes me so proud.”
Teaching Young Advocates to Define Their Own Success
That same sense of transformation fuels the core message she instills in others—especially the young women she mentors.
“Yes, policy change is important, but that work isn’t for everyone—and that’s OK,” she says. “You have to find your own voice, decide what matters to you, and define success for yourself.”
Breaking Barriers in Business Inclusion
As a consultant, Shameka often finds herself dispelling myths about disability inclusion. One of the biggest? That accessibility has to come with a big price tag.
“People assume accommodations are expensive,” she says. “But I show them how small, cost-effective changes can make their business more accessible—for everyone. Inclusion benefits all customers and employees.”
Creating Real Change in New York Communities
Her advocacy spans the state, from city corners to schoolyards. One standout project involved making graduation ceremonies wheelchair accessible so that every student could participate fully in their milestone moment.
She’s also helped build inclusive playgrounds where children of all abilities can play side by side—and where disabled parents can join in the fun instead of watching from the sidelines.
Advocacy Starts with Self-Care
But advocacy isn’t just outward-facing. Shameka practices what she preaches when it comes to self-care.
“Meditation, dance, and writing are a big part of how I recharge,” she says. “It’s something I talk about often because it’s easy to overlook.”
Advice for Young Disabled Women
For the next generation of disability leaders, she offers the advice she wishes someone had given her:
“Life is a journey, and you don’t have to do it alone. It’s OK to ask for help. As people with disabilities, we often think we have to do everything ourselves to prove we’re independent. But part of being independent is knowing when to accept support.”
Finding Strength Through Faith
And on those heavy days when the fight feels too big? Shameka leans on something even bigger.
“There are definitely days I want to just stay in bed with the covers over my head,” she admits. “But what keeps me going is my faith—faith that God has a bigger plan for my life, even if I can’t see it right now.”
In her quiet strength and powerful presence, Shameka Andrews reminds us that advocacy isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s steady. Sometimes, it’s soft. But always, it’s audacious.
Editor’s Note:
If you’d like to be featured in Audacitymagazine.com, the lifestyle magazine for physically disabled people, email me. Nathasha@audacitymagazine.com
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