Vote for Cynthia to win a Wheelchair Van

Help Cynthia DeSouza win a Wheelchair accessible van for the Mobility Awareness Month. Her current vehicle is broken. The ramp and other equipment no longer functions properly. She has had it fixed previously but it worked only a short time. Cynthia uses her van extensively in community service. Winning this van will enable her to continue to be of service to the community and maintain her mobility independence. Here's some info on Cynthia and vote until May 10th - www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com

Cynthia has been involved in community service since the age of 16. Her service began with helping the younger girls in the community with homework, grooming and meal preparation using the churches kitchen. As a young woman she became a mentor for troubled young women involved in the correctional system. She is a single parent and raised her daughters during the time she was struggling to cope with divorce, the loss of their home and diminished mobility.

After the onset of an undiagnosed degenerative motor neuron condition which led to her being in a wheelchair Cynthia has been an advocate for persons with disabilities. She was crowned Ms. Wheelchair NJ 2008 and received the Governor's Jefferson Award for Lifetime Community Service in 2010.

She founded IHS Development and the organization received their 501c3 status in July of 2010. Through her efforts the organization sponsors training, health fairs, support groups and other services to empower underserved populations to lead fulfilled lifestyles. Cynthia volunteers as executive director for Rebuilding Together, Essex, an organization that does home repairs free of charge to low-income home owners, board member and past president for Dial Center for Independent Living, and commissioner for the Essex County Office of Aging.

Cynthia has a van that she uses not only for her own traveling needs but to assist other persons with disabilities. Her van has begun to fall apart. The ramp does not operate properly and other mechanical issues have developed. This van has performed many miles of community service work. A new van will ensure Cynthia maintains her independence and can continue to travel throughout the community and stay engaged in community service activities.

She uses all of her skills and abilities to advocate and provide programs and services to the community and workplace. Her journey from mobility to wheelchair has caused her to re-evaluate her self-worth and realize that even those who may be labelled disabled are quite able to bring added value to our society.

VOTE for Cynthia