Author: Shari Cooper

I love voting! I’ve been doing so since I turned eighteen.  I vote in every election rather it’s general, primary or special. When I was younger, I would go to my polling location to cast my vote. It was just something about the hustle and bustle that got me hyped. To see all the people... Read more »

Did you have that one neighbor?  The one who became the surrogate mother to all the kids in the neighborhood? I did and she was a wonderful woman named, Pearl Cook. The grown-ups called her, Cookie. Mrs. Cook walked really fast and stood around four foot four, but she was a powerhouse and all the... Read more »

Have you ever had a dream of accomplishing something but because of life, you let it go? Well here is a story about a woman who beats the odds.  It is a true motivator for others and a great story to share in the celebration of Women’s Equality Day on August 26th. Leslie Irby flew... Read more »

Often, when you meet a person for the very first time, you really never know how he or she is going to react. This deems to be even truer if you have a disability. One place where you can count on meeting a person you don’t know is on an airplane. Unless you’ve made plans... Read more »

Who remembers the classic movie, BIG, starring the incredible actor, Tom Hanks? If you liked BIG, you’ll love the movie, Little. Little is about a very mean, complicated, self-absorbed woman, named Jordan. Jordan is played by the actress, Regina Hall. Although Jordan is a very successful business woman, the anger she has inside makes her... Read more »

A few weeks ago I had the awesome opportunity to present at the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities Conference (NACDD) in the amazing city, New Orleans! I was invited to partake on a five person panel that presented different perspectives of advocacy efforts. The panel included a parent, who of a Dominican decent,... Read more »

I attended Gorman Elementary School. Gorman was a school for kids with disabilities and located around the corner from United Cerebral Palsy and Dayton Children’s Hospital. I used to think it was ironic for all of the facilities to be located in the same area. I now know it was purposely set that way to... Read more »

Stars in Hollywood are coming forward to tell the world they’re battling Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Often, you never hear about those living with a disability until it hits Hollywood status. I along with many of my friends have been living with disabilities since day one. Having disabilities are just a part of who we are.... Read more »

On June 24th, I received the Edgar J. Helms Graduate Staff Award from Goodwill Industries International.  The Award honors a current Goodwill employee who exemplifies the mission of unselfish service to people with disabilities or other disadvantaging conditions. I must say, I was shocked and over the moon to find out I had won this... Read more »

I was voted nicest personality by my senior classmates in 1991.  It was an honor to take home that award, for I knew some of my classmates had to personally cast their vote for me. Unfortunately, there were a few students in my graduating class who I knew were not so welcoming to people with... Read more »