More than 40 women from throughout Maryland attended a wreath-making event hosted Saturday by the nonprofit Women Embracing Abilities Now, or WEAN, which aims to “wean” disabled women off their limitations and achieve their full potential. WEAN is part of the League for People with Disabilities.

“It’s all about how people with disabilities live their best lives,” said league President David Greenberg. “We’re not going to fix the paralysis or cerebral palsy or autism or a head injury, but we can help people live well with it and help support their families.”

Joining the festivities at the league’s main campus wellness center in Baltimore was reigning Ms. Wheelchair America 2024 pageant winner Chandra Smith, a Pasadena resident who served as Ms. Wheelchair Maryland 2023. This year’s Ms. Wheelchair Maryland, Dominique Sessa, of Talbot County, could not attend due to illness. Sessa will be competing this Aug. 19-25 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the Ms. Wheelchair America 2025 competition.

“It’s all about using whatever you have to create your own unique thing,” said Smith, who is also on the board of the league. “We all have different abilities, so just letting that shine … being you and [having] the courage to be your authentic self.”

Started in 2005, WEAN before the coronavirus pandemic held events throughout the year with more than 100 participants, inviting each Ms. Wheelchair Maryland titleholder to come speak to their members. Today they meet weekly virtually and host one big event each year. This year’s big event was the wreath-making.

Janice Jackson, the nonprofit’s founder and executive director, said that when planning this event, she was looking for something artistic and inclusive.

“Everyone’s wreath is unique and different, which symbolizes how everybody is unique in their disability,” Jackson said.

The activity was led by Elizabeth Shaner, a licensed art therapist with the league.

“By learning new skills, it improves their self-esteem and makes them feel good. Most importantly, they have fun doing it,” Shaner said.

Keyonna Mayo took part in the day’s festivities both making wreaths and helping set up for the event. She met Jackson after a car accidentin 2005 left her disabled and has been a member of WEAN ever since.

“What I love about this group is that we are a strong sisterhood. We can encourage each other and uplift each other. We understand each other like others can’t,” she said.