Susan Cherry, a deaf Red Cross volunteer, shares emergency preparedness resources at a community event. Despite communication challenges, she brings empathy and resilience to outreach efforts—helping others stay safe while showing that volunteers of all abilities play a vital role in building stronger, more inclusive communities. (Photos courtesy of Susan Cherry).
By Michelle Ho/American Red Cross
Along with the spooky Halloween season and the arrival of autumn, the American Red Cross also celebrates the contributions of volunteers with disabilities this month. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, observed every year to honor the contributions of workers with disabilities and promote inclusive employment practices.
As a deaf Red Cross volunteer, Susan Cherry embodies this spirit of inclusion and perseverance. She signed up as a volunteer in July 2025, and although she’s only three months into her service, her enthusiasm has continued to surge. Cherry has trained for and joined multiple lines of service, including Volunteer Outreach and the Disaster Action Team (DAT). As a freshly trained volunteer, she is still exploring new opportunities, including a shelter associate position.
The Santa Monica resident was horrified by the aftermath of the Pacific Palisades fire. As the caretaker for her elderly father, she understood firsthand the challenges of protecting loved ones during such crises and felt deep empathy for those affected. She wanted to help in any way she could.
I decided that I want to help", Cherry shared. "I learned that Red Cross needs more volunteers—so here I am. I am glad that the Red Cross invited me to join and be a volunteer. I like to help people.”
Susan Cherry supports the Red Cross mission in many ways—including donating platelets to help patients in need. Her commitment to service, from disaster response to blood donation, reflects the compassion and determination that define Red Cross volunteers—especially during National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Having already attended seven different volunteer events, Cherry quickly learned to adapt to each situation to best serve her community. At health and emergency preparedness fairs, she uses her smartphone to type and ask questions to anyone who comes to the table.
Cherry has profound deafness, which means she is unable to hear any sounds at all. Despite this, she communicates clearly and confidently—something that often surprises those meeting her for the first time. At times, people assume she can hear because of how well she speaks, but Cherry has learned to navigate these moments with patience and good humor.
She is open about the communication challenges that come with her disability and is proactive in helping her Red Cross teammates understand what works best. “Most of the time, the screen on the phone is too small for me to look at for interpretation,” Cherry often explains to fellow volunteers. “It is hard to get a live interpreter because it is very expensive.”
When attending meetings and volunteer trainings, Cherry uses auto-generated captions to follow along. While she acknowledges that the captions aren’t always perfect, she continues to explore tools that help her stay connected and engaged.
Cherry approaches each challenge with resilience and optimism. She continues to seek opportunities where her compassion and determination can make the greatest impact. Her Red Cross journey is just beginning, but she already embodies the empathy, adaptability and commitment that define the organization’s volunteers. With or without a disability, Cherry is a valued member of the Red Cross family—proof that volunteers come from all walks of life, united by one shared desire: to help others.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
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