September 2017 - Jamie Duplechine, Ms. Wheelchair Louisiana

Join us at our September meeting to hear Jamie Duplechine's presentation on her journey to educate society on persons with disabilities.

Jamie’s life was traumatically changed, at the age of 15, after accepting an invitation to drive a vehicle unlicensed and very inexperienced. As a result, she flipped the vehicle, was ejected and spent the following three months in the hospital due to a spinal cord injury. Instead of sitting back and watching life pass her by, she chose to enroll back into school six weeks after returning home from the hospital. In 2002, Jamie graduated from Bossier Parish Community College with an Associate degree in Computer Information Systems. 

In 2015, after accepting the opportunity to participate in the Ms. Wheelchair Louisiana (America) pageant, she was selected and was greatly honored to represent this great state for a year. Jamie has also been the recipient of the “Outstanding Individual with a Disability” award for Lafayette Parish in 2016 as well as the “Patsy Barrett Memorial Award” from the Governor’s Outstanding Leadership in Disability awards. She is a board member of the Brain Injury Association of Louisiana, United Spinal Association – Louisiana chapter, and was appointed by the governor to sit on Louisiana’s Statewide Independent Living Council. In 2017, she was greatly honored once again to represent Louisiana through the Ms. Wheelchair USA organization as Ms. Wheelchair Louisiana USA 2017. At the national level, Jamie placed the third runner-up and won the “Mona Johansson Spirit of Life” award and the “Most Creative Costume.”

Jamie continues to serve her community as well as the wonderful state of Louisiana by putting forth all efforts in advocacy and education towards society in an attempt to change things for all persons with disabilities. 

Meeting Details

Location: Petroleum Club of Lafayette

Date:  Friday, September 8, 2017

Time: 12 noon - 1pm

Cost: $18 (pay at the door)