MISS WHEELCHAIR TELLS TEENS OF NEED TO USE SEAT BELTS

The past six days have been an adrenaline rush for Penny Bailey. After surviving on two hours sleep each day, she just returned to Missouri from a pageant where she was crowned Miss Wheelchair USA Tuesday.

And as an engagement for her pageant platform, Bailey spoke to area high school students Thursday at the Team Spirit Leadership conference.

The four-day conference ends today. About 115 students and advisers have participated in the workshops, which stress designing programs around drug and alcohol abuse awareness.

"It's not the total solution, it's just the first step," said Sharee Galnore, a special officer with the city's community traffic safety program.

Bailey, who works with the Heads Up injury prevention program for Missouri, often speaks to student groups about the importance of seat belt use and safe driving. The Heads Up program is based at the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Columbia.

Accidents happen daily, she said, but the largest group affected is teen-agers.

After a vehicle accident 12 years ago in the Columbia area, Bailey's life was completely altered.

On Christmas Eve and two weeks before her 17th birthday, Bailey and a friend were driving home and had an accident.

"It was a half-mile from my driveway," she said. "I flew through the windshield and ate glass. Glass doesn't taste good."

Bailey was thrown 40 feet into the air when the vehicle she was riding in crashed. Her best friend was driving.

The injuries Bailey received left her paralyzed from the waist down. She broke her back in three places and the vertebrae severed her spinal cord. Now Bailey is confined to a wheelchair.

"I was lucky," she said. "I have a life to live in a wheelchair. I still have my life and it was something that was almost taken away."

Bailey told the students that she didn't want to appear negative. She just wanted to stress the importance of vehicle safety.

"I want to help encourage you to know that you aren't invincible to injuries," she said.

Alcohol, speed and not using safety belts are "very deadly combinations."

Debbie Boardman, an event co-coordinator, said the conference needed a seat belt message, and Bailey was the appropriate person to give it.

Since the accident, Bailey has made the best of her situation.

The good thing about mistakes is that people learn from them, she said. "And I learned a valuable lesson from mine."

As Miss Wheelchair USA, Bailey will continue to make appearances in the name of vehicle safety.

"I think because I'm the first titleholder, there's a lot of weight on my shoulders," she said. "I have to lay a good foundation for future titleholders."

Bailey was Miss Wheelchair Missouri two years ago.