"How Can I Serve?" with Cheryl Russell

The Independent Life

Cheryl Russell shares her journey in discovering her own disability and her experience of being a parent with a disability. She is an IPE Advocate (Individualized Education Plan) for parents with students who have a disability in the school system. She helps parents and guardians with students with disabilities prepare for for the IEP Program, helping to set the expectations for what to do before, during, and after IEP meetings. Cheryl works to ensure parents and students have the necessary resources to be successful academically and beyond. She provides real skills and knowledge that’s needed to be successful in these IEP meetings.

Cheryl also talks about the 4th Annual Disability Resource Expo, held locally in Gainesville, FL. This is a day event will take place Saturday February 4th at Trinity Church, from 11am - 3pm. The expo will have community based organizations, public agencies, private businesses, faith based organizations, providing all different types of resources for people with disabilities and their families, from infants to seniors. The expo will also have free screenings for vision, auditory, and education. This year, the expo will also be providing physical screenings for blood glucose for diabetes, blood pressure, COVID-19 vaccines, and the seasonal flu vaccines.

This expo is driven by those who are needing these resources and asking themselves, “How can we serve?”

Resources:

• Disability Resource Expo Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/2eVSqObji
• Sign up to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0e4ca5a92ea2fa7-disability1#/