Author: Shari Cooper

While the world prepares to celebrate Developmental Disability Awareness in March, I’m preparing to once again emcee Ohio’s Developmental Disability Awareness & Advocacy Day Event! As I mentioned in previous posts, the unique event which takes place in Columbus, Ohio at the statehouse is a hour long program where selected advocates, directors of disabilities related... Read more »

Have you heard the news? Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley (GESMV) is opening a new campus in Trotwood, Ohio and it’s going to help many. I’m currently employed at GESMV’s main campus located in Downtown Dayton and I’m so excited to see a similar one go-up in Trotwood. When I say this campus is going to... Read more »

February is Low Vision Awareness Month.   Some people may have the perception that a person with low vision can be incapable and not have the ability to live life to its fullest. Well, I am here, along with my friend Linda, to break down that perception. Like with other disabilities, you find ways of... Read more »

Much to my mother’s dismay, I fell in love with make-up when I was around 15 years of age. I liked it all including blush, eye shadow, eyeliner, foundation, but my favorite was lipstick. Although I was all into the make-up game, my mother was not so much. She thought I was too young to... Read more »

Welcome to Black History Month and my annual 28 of the greatest people who’ve influenced my life! Jonathon Cooper-my brother and the best maintenance man in the city. Jay, who’s two years older than me, was my play buddy growing up and most of all, my friend. Thanks for being a great big brother. Lois... Read more »

Although I’m a law-abiding citizen, one of my biggest fears is being stopped by the police and them not being able to understand me because of my disability. This subject came to light after I started hearing about a couple incidents that happened in my community and around the country.  Individuals who had a disability... Read more »

My brother, Jay, would always receive gaming systems as a gift for the holidays and birthdays.  The very first system was an Atari and then a Nintendo. I loved playing both and, of course, he’d let me play because as he says, “I’m his little sister.” Plus, I would bug the heck out of him.... Read more »

Guess who’s going to be 50 years old on Friday. Yes, me! I can’t believe I’m going to be half a century old. Feels like I was just 21 years old yesterday. Matter fact let’s look back. When I turned 16, I had a sweet sixteenth party and started my journey to independence. At 18,... Read more »

Did you know January 17th is National Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day? Statistics show if you’ve made a New Year’s resolution, it is more than likely you will break it by January 17th.  To be honest, I thought the date for breaking resolutions would have been sooner. In fact, only nine percent actually keep their... Read more »

2022 is almost out of here and I must say, it was a good year. As always, the year brought its trials and tribulations, but I made it through. Looking back over the year, the first three months flew by as it usually does. Many of the new year resolutions that I made were out... Read more »