B. Harlan Boll Public Relations

Geri Jewell shattered the glass ceiling for individuals with dissabilities when she was cast by Norman Lear in the hit series "The Facts of Life" and then again in the HBO series "Deadwood."

"I'm Walking As Straight As I Can" is a compelling book that tells the powerful life story of comedienne and actress Geri Jewell. As a result of a tragic accident, Geri was born with cerebral palsy. Little Jewell (As the hospital dubbed her) was not expected to live. However, she went on to live an amazing life as an inspiration to multiple generations of actresses, comediennes and all handi-capable people everywhere, when she became the first person with a disability to appear in a recurring role on television. She made television history on December 24th, 1980 when she appeared in the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life. Thirty years later, millions of people remember her groundbreaking role as Cousin Geri during her four seasons on the show as they watch her in the hit HBO series Deadwood. Her candid memoir details her experiences from her traumatic birth in Buffalo, New York, to her rise to stardom as a stand-up comic to becoming a television star. She documents the harsh realities of show business by recounting the relentless discrimination and abuse she suffered at the hands of people she trusted. Her experiences in the shark-infested waters of Hollywood led her on a journey from the Comedy Store to the White House, followed by a downward spiral, tax problems, drug addiction, marriage, and an accident that nearly claimed her life. Geri recounts subjects that many readers will and can relate. Geri Jewell joined the list of participants at the United Nations, for "The Art of Engagement" (Friday, 19 July in U.N's North Lawn Building, UNHQ), for an entertaining approach to building awareness about persons with disabilities. The event organized by Ability Awareness and the U.N. Department of Public Information on the occasion of the sixth session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (17-19 July) discussed ways the arts and the entertainment industry can engage audiences and raise awareness of everyone’s abilities. On June 14th, 2013 Geri was presenter at the Creative Arts EMMY Awards and was a guest keynote speaker at the White House in April of 2014. Geri is the receipient of the SO CAL MOTION PICTURE COUNCILS Lifetime Achievement Award and is currently preparing her new one woman show by the same title as her book "I'm Walking As Straight As I Can."

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