Geri Jewell

ADA30 Lead On: Celebration of Disability Arts, Culture, Education & Pride

As the nation ramps up to the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA30) on July 26, 2020, the 50-member ADA Lead On “Core Production Team” (in front of and behind the camera/keyboard) and 22 ADA Generation bloggers, influencers and signal boosters are focused and determined to set the record straight, flip the … Read more

Raising the Human Vibration

For some reason, so many of us are going through horrific challenges. It feels as though the universe is throwing curve balls at an unbelievable speed, and just when we think we can come up for air, we are hit again. From what is happening globally, nationally or personally, none of us are spared … Read more

Make an Effort to Remember the Good Things

I am among millions of people who was thrilled to see 2017 go bye bye. It was not a year that I will ever look back on and think, “Gee, I wish I could live that over again!” Yet, even knowing this, I still find myself from time to time going back anyway: in … Read more

Bold. Brazen. Bankrupt!

We’re living in a world where people who previously breezed by in the shadows, and at other times boldly marched the red carpet, are being revealed for who they truly are: morally bankrupt individuals. Whether drugging women, molesting children, or otherwise harming others from their pedestal of power and prestige, they’re now being outed … Read more

Hurricanes, Fires and Earthquakes. Oh My

Lately, it seems as though hurricanes, fires and earthquakes are happening simultaneously around the world. It’s as if Mother Nature has a serious bone to pick with us, and has unleashed her fury. Some say it’s the Lord’s way of punishing us for doing wrong or, as one well-known celebrity put it, “God sends hurricanes … Read more

Be Counted

For nearly four decades, I’ve been a stand-up comedian. I began honing my craft in 1978, inching out into the spotlight on clubs’ amateur nights. I found that people can be uncomfortable with letting go and laughing; they tend to think that you’re supposed to take life seriously, so I put them at ease … Read more

Focus On the Positive

In looking at the world today, I recognize that it’s not the same world that my parents experienced, or even the one I remember growing up. Too many people lack compassion for those who are different—be it another ethnicity, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or class. In some ways these prejudices have always existed, … Read more

Dad on Aisle 7

Like millions of other Americans, grocery shopping is frequently a part of my weekly routine. I do it independently, and there’s a certain comfort in that. For example, knowing that I have enough money to grocery shop feels good, and a well-stocked refrigerator and cupboards mean that I can rest assured that I’ll have … Read more

Bionic Hearing

As most of you know by now, I’m female, a fan of David Cassidy, and a person with cerebral palsy (CP). What you may not be aware of is that I’ve had significant hearing loss. In some ways, being hearing impaired has caused me more problems than CP. At least with the latter, it’s … Read more

False Pride

Pride is pleasure arising from a man’s thinking too highly of himself. ~Baruch Spinoza I’ve had cerebral palsy since birth, which most people perceive as a disability, but which I believe it has put me on a path of monumental evolvement and understanding of the human condition. From my initial diagnosis at 18 months, … Read more

Real Connections

It’s 2015, and we live in a world where it’s easier than ever to stay connected to loved ones. However, because there are so many different ways to communicate, sometimes we actually communicate less than we did before we were bombarded with all this technology. Think about it… Flashback to the 70’s and 80’s. … Read more

Jury is Out!

  Recently I attended Wild Honey Orchestra’s tribute to the Beatles’ White Album. It was a wonderful concert and my amazing & talented friend Nick Guzman (who has autism) did a duet with Susan Cowsill! But that particular record wasn’t one of my favorite by the Beatles. And song No. 9 on that album … Read more

Power of TV

As a member of the Baby Boomer Generation, I’ve always said that television played an integral role in my development. Even when I was in the womb, I was influenced by it, according to my mom. Her favorite series while she was pregnant with me were The Gary Moore Show (with Carol Burnett), and … Read more

Farewell Kitty

My sweet kitty, Harry, is in process of transitioning with cancer. By the time you read this, he’ll likely have crossed over to the other side, free of pain and suffering, and onto cavorting with all my other kitties who have crossed over during my lifetime—far too many to mention here. No matter how … Read more

Tick Tock

I woke up recently startled by the fact that my deadline to write my next column for ABILITY was that day! First I spent about 30 minutes or so eyeing a blank Word document on my computer. Then, unable to think of anything to write about I thought, Hey! How about some peanut butter toast! So I shut my computer off … Read more

A Sticky Situation

Yesterday as I was standing in line at the grocery store, I couldn’t help but notice all the gum on both sides of the checkout aisle. This, while the person ahead of me piled more and more groceries on the conveyor belt. (I never knew a shopping cart could hold so many items!) Instead … Read more

Wide Awake

It is 3:30 am, and I am still wide awake. I went to bed around 11, but my mind won’t turn off. I’ve thought of everything from my deadline for this column, which I have yet to finish, to my ex-husband, who popped up in my dream last night. Did I remember everyone in … Read more

Cryptic Messages

A cryptic remark has a hidden meaning and is understood only by those for whom it is meant. A cryptic code is a language system understood only by those who are familiar with the code. A cryptic reply is a very brief response conveying little and not plainly understood. And a cryptic message on … Read more

A Vote for the American Dream

This presidential election year seems more intense than any I’ve ever experienced in all my years of voting. And truthfully it’s the only election in which I’m still undecided this late into the political season. Part of me is so disgusted with all that’s happening in our country, that I feel a sense of … Read more

Opportunities

  Earlier this week I awoke with a massive headache at 4 a.m., but instead of trying to go back to sleep I stayed up and asked Spirit to guide me through the pain. The throbbing at my temples was intense, but I’m wise enough to know that sometimes if we remove blockage in … Read more