Lori
From the priority area Community Wellness

"If it wasn't for Cheryl, I'd be nowhere," Lori says. Lori was close to living her entire life in either a hospital or nursing home. Living with a physical disability since birth, she was admitted to a skilled nursing home at the age of 22 and remained there until she was 30 years old.

"Nobody looked at transitioning from school into life for Lori," says Cheryl Kramer, Outreach Coordinator at United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). When Lori contacted her about finding a better living situation and help in the pursuit of an independent life, Cheryl worked closely with Lori to set some goals. When they found an apartment for Lori, that's when everything "went into overdrive," Cheryl says.

Not only did Lori have the challenge of finally living on her own, but she needed to master everyday tasks like cooking a healthy meal, budgeting, and hiring a personal care assistant. United Cerebral Palsy provided Lori with training on how to ask interview questions and express her needs to the assistant. "We don't set you up in an apartment and say 'have a nice life,'" Cheryl notes. Instead, the program strives to provide all the support, encouragement, empowerment, and information necessary for Lori and others to live on their own and become increasingly self-sufficient.

Lori admits she is much more assertive now than she used to be. She has done speaking engagements to talk about living independently, sharing her knowledge to help others with disabilities live successfully within the community. Lori has become an advocate at her apartment building for better activities and conditions and has even saved enough to buy her own computer. In addition, she volunteers so that she can gain enough practical office experience to enhance her resume in the hopes of finding a job.

Thanks to Cheryl and UCP, Lori is a shining example of the support and network of care someone received through your gift to United Way.