Author: Shari Cooper

It’s that time again when everyone settles in with all their favorite appetizers and beverages to watch the biggest sport event in the world, “The Big Game”! The “The Big Game” isn’t your typical sporting event, instead it’s the grandfather of them all. Most wait all year hoping their team will be the one to... Read more »

Occasionally there’s a blog topic I revisit because it is so important, and I want it to stay fresh on everyone’s mind!  One of those topics is disability awareness 101. As the public relations assistant at Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley, one of my duties is to help-out during New Hire Orientation. I teach a... Read more »

Whenever I go to a new city one of my concerns is transportation. For the average able-bodied person, Uber and Lyft gets he or she where they need to go. If you have a disability and depend on a motorized device for assistance, it’s not that easy to assure transportation. I must always do intensive... Read more »

One of my favorite movies is The Bucket List starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. The movie is about two men with terminal cancer who made a list of things to do so that they could live life more abundantly before dying. Since we’re in the new year, I’ve decided to make my own bucket... Read more »

As 2019 begins to dwindle into a memory, I want to reflect on what a great year I have had; it was filled with many fun times and exciting opportunities. My year kicked off by celebrating my dog, Tiny aka Moo Moo, first birthday. That’s my big 100-pound girl, so of course, her day was... Read more »

I must admit The Grinch has never been one of my favorite holiday movies until recently when I found out the “true” meaning behind the Grinch’s life. I know most of you have read or seen the story but enlighten me for a moment to break this classic down in my own way. The Grinch... Read more »

As a person with a disability, I can admit, I probably don’t worry about my disability as much as my mom does.  All a mother wants to do is to make sure their child is safe and happy. Often, a parent is so busy trying to “fix” their child with a disability that he or... Read more »

If you’re a fan of music legend, James Brown, one of his catch phrases from many of his iconic songs is, “Give The Drummer Some”! When he says this, it’s time for the drummer’s solo. And so the story goes…Its time to Give the FREE Players Drum & Bugle Corps some Drummer Time! I’m so... Read more »

For the past seven years, it’s been my pleasure to teach a class for The Ohio State University’s Nisonger Center Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Program. LEND is a program that provides training to students who are becoming leaders in the field of disabilities. Every year I’m encouraged to present on issues I’m passionate... Read more »

As you know I’m a part of the Cooper Family. I’m also a part of another family.  That family is just as colorful as the Cooper’s.  It consists of different races, genders and disabilities. I’m proud to say my other family is Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley (GESMV). I’ve been employed at GESMV for eighteen years.... Read more »