Bequest to provide ongoing support for students with disabilities
Sheri Cohen "We all have the power to help others"
When Sheri Cohen was growing up in Winnipeg, she struggled in school and couldn’t understand why. It wasn’t until she was 28 that she was diagnosed with a learning disability.
So in the early-1990s, when Cohen decided to attend university as a mature student to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a social worker, she was nervous about finding a school that fit her special needs.
“As soon as I stepped foot on the Ryerson campus, I was at home!” says Cohen recalling her decision. “Ryerson accommodated my learning disability by allowing me to do oral qualifying tests and essays, and by providing an in-class note taker.”
The support of her friends and instructors in the School of Social Work changed her life. “Ryerson made me feel like I could accomplish things and I started to focus on the strength of my abilities instead of my disabilities” says Cohen. Because of her experience at Ryerson, Sheri started her own nonprofit employment organization for youth and adults with learning disabilities in Toronto. Ryerson recognized her contributions to the community with an Alumni Achievement Award in 2007.
To help students fulfill their dreams of helping others, Cohen established the Sheri Ahava Cohen Justice Award for People with Disabilities. The award provides financial support to promising students with learning disabilities who are enrolled in Ryerson’s School of Social Work.
“Most people struggle to get an education because of money,” says Cohen. To ensure the award will keep having an impact for students with disabilities in the future, she’s also made arrangements to leave a gift in her will to Ryerson University to fund her award.
Does she have any advice for others who are considering a donation to Ryerson in their wills? “We all have the power to help others,” she says. “I’m very proud of giving back so this award will create an ongoing impact through others and leave a legacy for the future.”
Interested in leaving a gift to Ryerson in your will? Please visit Ryerson's planned gift page.