Geri Jewell

Known to millions as "Cousin Geri", Geri Jewell has risen to become a well-recognized actress and disabilities advocate. Geri started her acting career as the personal choice of famed producer Norman Lear for her role as Cousin Geri on the ground-breaking NBC sitcom, "The Facts of Life". With this role she became the first person with a visible disability to become a regular performer on a national television show. During her run on the show she broke important new ground by addressing issues of disability awareness. Geri was also personally selected to be part of the Emmy winning HBO series, "Deadwood" where she became qualified to be nominated for an individual Emmy for her portrayal of "Jewell". She is also a re-occurring character on, "Young and the Restless" and was recently featured on "Strong Medicine". If holding three roles at one time wasn't enough, Geri just made her film debut in an independent feature that was recently shown at the Tribecca and Fort Lauderdale Film Festivals. Geri is not only an exceptional actress and comedienne, but is internationally recognized as a powerful and motivational speaker and trainer. She is famous for her uncanny ability to captivate the hearts of audiences by using humor to facilitate attitude changes. Geri brings to her presentations personal experience of having her behavior and actions misunderstood because of her cerebral palsy. By sharing her disability as her greatest blessing, and revealing insights about the world, Geri turns the focus from disabilities to a true celebration of ability, resulting in an inspiring, empowering and healing experience. Most recently, Geri was honored by the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC with their highest honor, The Victory award and participated in the inauguration of President Obama at the United Cerebral Palsy Power and Pride Ball, the first and only inaugural activity for people with disabilities.