Carol’s Story
Carol Leish offers a special presentation to businesses, schools, hospitals, organizations and clubs. She invites her audience to join her on her personal journey of coping with visual and speech challenges.
Carol enlightens people by focusing on the strengths that people with disabilities have, and demonstrates there is always a way to get around a situation by improvising or accommodating to it. She is an eloquent speaker who deals with a sensitive subject in a way that inspires and educates the listener.
Carol continues to gain recognition, and has received several awards for her community achievements in promoting mutual understanding and respect of others regardless of their differences.
Carol graduated from CSU, San Bernadino, with a 3.6 GPA, earning her Masters degree in Education and Counseling. She went on to teach at San Bernadino in City schools, and worked for a variety of non-profit organizations.
Carol’s commitment to advocating for the fair treatment of people with disabilities in the workforce and raising awareness about their capabilities has led her to serve on two committees and an advisory council, where she strives to change perceptions and create a more inclusive society.
Committees include Optimal Aging, which encourages seniors and people with disabilities to continue to age optimally, and Workforce Development, to which she contributes input on how people with disabilities can get fair treatment when looking for jobs. Potential employers must realize that we are all more similar than different, whether we have a disability or not.
The Advisory Council for Ventura County’s Area Agency on Aging.
Carol has ensured everyone realizes attitudes toward people with disabilities are important. Eradicating prejudice and discrimination is also essential to realizing that we all have talents and abilities, even if some people may have particular disabilities (challenges).
Carol was appointed as the Consumer Position on the Aging and Disability Resource Connection Committee for the California Department of Aging. As a Consumer representative, with a two year term (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2026), Carol will represent consumers, providers, and advocates that have a commitment in establishing a No Wrong Door System and Person-Centered Practices to better serve California’s older adults, people with disabilities and their families and caregivers. Under the umbrella of the CA Health & Human Services Agency, the CA Dept. of Aging Administers programs that serve older adults, adults with disabilities, family caregivers, and residents in long-term care facilities throughout California.
Carol realized the importance of educating adults and youth to become more accepting of others, and started her “Capable Carol” in-service presentations, and developed the Call Me Capable GameTM. She inspires her audience with her humor and genuineness, and leaves them with an awareness that we are all more similar than different.
“Through the lessons of life, she has realized her goal to help others. Remember the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, ‘Life is a succession of lessons that must be lived to be understood.’ She has, and continues to learn lessons of how to educate others to make them more aware of what she can do–what they can do too. Thus remember to Call Me Capable Carol, and Yourself More Capable.”
Ventura County Community Involvement
- Volunteer Work: Ventura County Area Agency on Aging & for People with Disabilities Advisory Council Member.
Advocate for People with Disabilities. 2021–Present - Member: Ventura County League of Women Voters: 2020—Present
- Member: The Ladies Luncheon of Ventura: 2010—Present
- Member: Ventura County Professional Women’s Network: 1997–2020
- Consumer Position on Aging and Disability Resource Connection Committee for the California Department of Aging.
- American Association of University Women, Camarillo Chapter
- Ventura Lion’s Club
- Camarillo Public Library during ‘Disability Pride Month’ in 2024
Project Love Spreads Valentine’s Joy to Seniors
Local schools create handcrafted Valentine cards for seniors Project Love is an annual community outreach campaign led by Assisted Home Health & Hospice that brings encouragement, connection, and joy to seniors through heartfelt messages created by local students. Each year, Assisted works with schools and senior living communities to deliver handmade Valentine’s Day cards and
Importance of the Caregiving Navigator Program in Ventura County
“Caring for others is an expression of what it means to be fully human”—Hillary Clinton Being able to bridge the gap with strategies for better patient transitions is important in order to link care to the community. “Caregivers are the quiet backbone of our community. They give their time, their strength, and often their own
Continuing to Hustle with Chutzpah
Dreams do come true with a combination of persistence, chutzpah, luck, and networking all rolled together as one. My wonderful journey of networking started when I joined the Ventura County Professional Women’s Network (VCPWN), in 1997. In 1998 someone at VCPWN suggested that I contact Milt Wright & Associates, Inc., in Chatsworth, CA. They did
Stories from the Heart
Carol was featured in the Oct/Nov/Dec 2025 Camarillo Health Care District newsletter. Carol will be speaking at the upcoming Stories from the Heart Show hosted by the Camarillo Health Care District on November 6 at the Camarillo Public Library. Each speaker will share a unique story and speak to the heart of what it means
Super Senior – Mary Alice
Come Join the Community Celebration of a Super Senior! “A light heart lives long.”—Jonathan Swift Come join the community celebration of a super senior. The Ventura Townehouse invites you to join Mary Alice and her family to celebrate Mary Alice’s 103rd Birthday!“Mary Alice has been at the Townehouse since 2016,” according to her daughter, Lynn
Second Annual California Government & Disability Summit in Ventura
The second annual summit will be a unique opportunity for attendees representing disability organizations, government agencies, and corporate entities to explore and become aware of possibilities for furthering disability access for youth, older adults, and everyone in-between. This is important in order to make it possible for a better collaboration between government and disability organizations