On Tuesday, March 24, as part of its celebration of Developmental Disabilities (DD) Awareness Month, the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities Services has invited Shari Cooper, one of the Dayton region’s most dynamic and recognized DD advocates, to share her story.
A graduate of Sinclair Community College, Shari is employed as Public Relations Assistant for Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley (GESMV). Her list of accomplishments includes being named Ms. Wheelchair Ohio in 2008, selection as one of the Women in Business Network’s Top 25 Women to Watch in Dayton in 2019, and her TEDx Dayton talk titled “Are you OK with yourself?” She has served on the Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities for the State of Ohio, the Ohio Secretary of State’s Americans with Disabilities Council, the Board of Directors of the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, and the Ohio DD Council. She has served as emcee of the annual Developmental Disabilities Awareness & Advocacy Day at the Ohio Statehouse for the last five years and currently hosts the DD Council’s “Ohio DD Talks” podcast.
At the March 24 event, Shari will discuss how she learned to advocate for herself, build her network, and realize her goals and dreams as a person with a developmental disability. Presented by the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the event is graciously hosted by Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley at its 660 South Main Street headquarters in Dayton. It will begin at 11 a.m. and a universal changing table will be available onsite.
“Shari has been one of the leaders of the disability community statewide for many years, and her story is a powerful example of potential, talent and self-realization,” said Kamarr Gage, superintendent of the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities Services. “By shining a light on her journey, we can learn from her example and encourage others to grow their networks and pursue their goals. We are excited to collaborate with Shari and are grateful to Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley for its support of this event.”