Ch 1: Disaster Strikes. Scene 2: At the Hospital

Today’s scene is very short, but it still means a lot to me. Mama never left my bedside, while I was in the hospital–and I never gave up, when I regained consciousness and went home. Even as a toddler, I was determined to push the boundaries.

Scene 2: At the Hospital

“Oh, Kitten, I know you can hear me even though you are in a deep sleep.” The tears began to roll down her plump checks. “You gotta get well for Mama, and wake up, sweetheart. Know that I will be by your side, and that you are safe in my hands.”

Day in and day out, Kitten fought for her young life. But the telling results were in. Karen’s body would never return to “normal.” She was paralyzed. Fortunately, she later regained the use of her right side; however, she remained permanently paralyzed on her left. She had many challenges ahead of her. Although she was just a toddler, she somehow understood that nothing would stand in her way. Someday, she was going to push the boundaries of what is “normal.”

#cerebralpalsy #dyslexia #inspirational

Introducing My Forthcoming Novel: The Healing Horse

When I was in college, I published my first novel The Broken Hoof and won a literary award for it. Now, I am completely rewriting it and will soon (I hope) publish it as The Healing Horse. Like the first novel, it is a story of triumph over adversity, of a little girl with a big heart, cerebral palsy, dyslexia–and an iron will to succeed.

I want to ask my readers a favor. Beginning today, I intend to publish the current draft, one scene at a time, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Please let me know your thoughts and feelings as you read. I hope you like it just as it is, but if you see room for improvement, please let me know. I value your insights.

Thanks, and here is Chapter 1, Scene 1.

Scene 1: Disaster Strikes

Once upon a time, a small, humbly resplendent child came into the world. Her name was Karen, and the people closest to her nicknamed her Kitten because of her lovely nature.

Sweet Kitten was born with a head of wavy, dark brown hair. Her features resembled her daddy’s, but her hair coloring and complexion were more like her mother’s. Karen was a quiet child, healthy and beautiful with a smile that warmed everyone’s heart. Her parents were delighted to have a little girl like her. One reason was because she rarely fussed, and another was that her disposition was so easy-going. She was truly cherished.

Karen’s mother stood five feet tall, had jet black hair, brown eyes, and a long, pointed nose. She also had thin arms and legs, with a rounded tummy, and could hold Karen just right in her arms. Every day, Mama took time to care for her treasured baby girl. Her baby was the most important entity in her life. Looking down at Karen, Mama thought, “How sweet and loving my child is. I am lucky to be the mother of Karen. She makes my life so worthwhile.”

Her father stood five feet, eleven inches tall and was built slender. He had baby blue eyes, blond hair, and a pug nose. He was a quiet, disciplined person who worked hard at his business. Every morning, he got up with the moon’s glow to earn a living, and then came home late every night. He owned a bustling hamburger stand, making hamburgers for students from the nearby university. Her daddy was an earnest, steadfast man.

Karen and her family were happy, and they greeted each day with gladness in their hearts.

Life was simple, sweet, and good to them until that determinative moment when heartbreak hit their lives. On that day, Karen became ill from a DPT shot. She was only five months old when her Mama noticed Karen was burning up with a ferocious fever. She was rushed to the hospital, where the emergency center began tests. For over a month, she remained in the hospital, and in a deep coma. Mama was overcome with grief. From the moment that Karen entered the hospital, Mama never left her side.

#cerebralpalsy #dyslexia #inspirational

Wishful Thinking: Ableist Attitudes Toward Academic Employment by Prof. Yvonne Singer

I am excited to publish this insightful paper by my friend Professor Yvonne Singer. Here are the first few paragraphs. Click the link at the end to read the entire article.

Wishful Thinking: Ablest Attitudes toward Academic Employment

by Yvonne Singer, MS

Abstract

The majority of people with disabilities are segregated into special education and sheltered workshops due to the myths, misconceptions, and realities of disability. The author with Cerebral Palsy was not segregated from the public education system. The author’s educational degrees qualified her to teach college level classes. The author still faced numerous employment obstacles due to the myths, misconceptions, and realities of disability. However, the author overcame the employment obstacles. Some employers hired the author to teach online courses. The author’s course load was significantly reduced due to change in college policy, and the myths, misconceptions, and realities of disability.

Introduction

As soon as I was born, I was not expected to earn a masters degree and to teach college level on-line classes. I was expected to be segregated into special education and a sheltered workshop. Why? I did not achieve the typical developmental milestones in a timely manner because I had severe Cerebral Palsy. My gross and fine motor skills and speech were affected. However, my cognitive skills were not compromised at all.

Background

Gifted children with physically disabling conditions are one of the most overlooked special populations.

A major portion of their school day is spent on learning how to develop life skills that can help them circumvent the effects of their disability. Unfortunately, this approach to learning may preclude the recognition and development of cognitive abilities. Therefore, there may be a significant discrepancy between a disabled child’s academic potential and their actual performance…

Click this link to read the full article as a PDF: YVONNE_SINGER_Wishful-Thinking-Ableist-Attitudes-Toward-Academic-Employment

Yvonne Singer working at her computer

Yvonne Singer teaches the online course, Psychology of Persons with Disabilities, at Middlesex County College (Edison, NJ).

#ableism #academia

Creation and Achievement by Dr. Sean P. Dineen and Karen Lynn-Chlup

“What have you accomplished?” This sardonic question asked by non-disabled people seems to sum up a lifetime of exploration and endurance. This is the only community that still, in our day and age, struggles. This community of cerebral palsy folks, in all its multivariate modalities, lives and moves and has its existence haunted and prodded by this question, and by experts in the field, who are educated but who honestly don’t know how to deal with us or help us. This happens, no matter how hard we work or what hurdles we jump. We continue to stay the course, to look beyond this kind of thinking, and to get ahead by listening to our hearts so we can thrive.

For an impetuous, strong, black-haired soul from New Jersey, and for a beautiful sage from California, our achievements in a dozen different areas have been hidden. These include creating chair aerobics in 1975, and winning the first civil rights case for her own college education, thus opening the doors to higher education for disabled people. These brave and courageous acts were often accomplished against overwhelming odds. We both believe each one of our readers can do it—each in their own way facing their individual issues.

Even though these two minds were spurred on with commitment, grace, fortitude, wonder, hard work and much effort, their daring, gallant efforts are now out of sight and concealed—for no one to see.

Her physical strength, acquired through dance and therapy; his, by crawling up stairs and walking through woods—both once thought impossible, and yet took place. This young girl, devoting every spare moment of her time to dancing, swimming, and building up her body and her self-worth over many hours. The eastern black-haired soul, reading everything from Rand to root beer ads, under the cover of a mathematics book, finding strength in the fiery words of politicians, sages, and the leaders of his people, scorned by power-drunk white-coated gurus who demanded to decide everything from meals to morality, and what we should do with our lives. Not one positive phrase, not one kind word or act of encouragement to let these two brave souls know that they were on the right course.

They had been brought together by a longing to discover how they could give physical form to the burning in their souls, the longing to use whatever talents they had invested decades to discover, to empower each other. The young man, dismissed by those who thought they knew better—he set his heart free and created a physical education program under the guidance of his physical therapist—who poured his very spirit into every exercise, and into every weight lifting machines session—to get his client with the black hair strong enough to turn himself over alone, and to help motivate him to stretch and make his upper torso strong.

While each made real progress in body and spirit alike, they both had to stay the course, encouraging and nurturing themselves to make whatever they did possible. It was their “I can do anything, too, attitude,” that made all this possible.

Sean with Paper Mill Playhouse’s Leslie Fanelli and Students

Sean P. Dineen is an Adjunct Professor of History at Kean University and an expert on the history of disabilities and disability rights. He is a native of New Jersey. A published playwright, his personal interests include theatre and popular culture.

Karen keynoting at a recent conference

Karen Lynn-Chlup has been an advocate for people with disabilities since she was a small child. Karen was a pioneering leader in the disability rights movement, and she spoke up for the rights of people with disabilities when others did not. Karen inspires people living with a disability to accept themselves unconditionally and to learn to push through barriers, to take on more than they thought they could, to imagine reaching for higher levels and goals, to become inspired by how others have reached their dreams, to learn to inspire themselves, and to never give up.

A Week of Bliss by Dr. Sean Patrick Dineen

[A note from Karen: Sean was kind enough to write this piece, last fall, and I am posting it now as a reminder of the great times we had, and in hope of more great times to come, after this pandemic ends.]

It was my joy to undergo a great adventure between November 5th and 12th of 2019.

This adventure was a week in the company of an outstanding mentor and friend, Ms. Karen Lynn-Chlup—seven days of laughter and learning, of almond milk and acting, of joy and excitement throughout the state of New Jersey.

Following a period of recuperation after the long flight from Los Angeles, on Wednesday the 6th the excitement began.

It’s been my joy to serve as adjunct professor at Kean University in Union, New Jersey, since 2004. Ms. Karen came to my World Civilization class, on Thursday, and set my students’ hearts and spirits on fire.

She told with excitement and detail of her work to rebuild her body under the able guidance of dance sage, Al Gilbert; the sweat-filled struggle to find genuine employment after being labeled and left to rot by experts, culminating in the first lawsuit under the rehab act, and the publication of her first novel, The Broken Hoof.

The students were speechless with excitement. But the adventure was just beginning.

The next day, we ventured to the New Providence Library for the next experience.

Over the last six years, I have also served as both a volunteer and a paid assistant in the Paper Mill Playhouse’s Theatre for Everyone program, an exciting movement for young people with and without disabilities and their families, led by Ms. Leslie Fanelli, another dear friend.

Karen and I spent an hour participating in movement exercises and the sign language song that begins and ends the program. Karen observed my performance—with me dressed as Queen of the World in a wig and pearls. We dined together later, laughing and learning from great women.

On Saturday we interacted with brain tumor survivor Beth Rosenthal. Karen stood like a giant of spirit, helping, healing, and restoring all.

Sunday, I had the immeasurable bliss of visiting Professor Yvonne Singer, a proud woman with cerebral palsy, and the love of my life. Karen gave out energy and excitement as we joked and restored each other, sharing encouragement and stories.

All too soon, Tuesday morning came. It was time for Karen to return to the West Coast.

Another great experience was in the pocket of history.

I remain deeply grateful, and look forward to our next joy-filled jaunt.

Sean with Paper Mill Playhouse’s Leslie Fanelli and Students

Disability Rights THEN AND NOW ft. Judy Heumann, Katherine Perez & Marc Climaco

August 6, 2020

This is a wonderful new YouTube from Judy Heumann and friends about how disability rights have changed over the years. And I know they have changed because they changed for me, and I helped change them.

Please give it a look. You’ll be glad you did.

Separate But Equal is Not Equal

August 5, 2020

In 1976, I began the first civil rights lawsuit that required universities and colleges to admit people with disabilities. The case was settled in California, in 1979, but it set a precedent that took effect across the country. Here’s an inspiring article about disability rights in those days. Just wish I had known I was part of a movement, and not acting on my own.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/22/us/504-sit-in-disability-rights.html?smid=tw-share

–Karen

Keeping Up Your Morale–A Post from Audacity Magazine

July 30, 2020

Nathasha Alvarez is the founder of Audacity Magazine, one of my favorite publications, and she is someone I made friends with along the way. She herself uses a wheelchair, but she doesn’t let that or anything else get in her way. In times past, I did some writing for her on her magazine, but today, I want to highlight a recent article that she wrote about how she keeps up her own morale in this time of pandemic and social hysteria. I am quoting the whole article, below.

If you don’t already subscribe to her writings, just follow this link and sign up at the bottom of the page.

Remember—If I can do it, you can do it, too!

With love, compassion, and courage, I remain

Karen Lynn-Chlup

Now, let’s hear from Nathasha:

How are you? I’d ask you where you’ve been but if you are like me, you have been home for a very long time now.

Have you noticed that when it comes to wearing a mask, we are told that it will help save the elderly and the disabled? You would think that this would be a great reason to wear the mask. But people aren’t willing to wear them. We can go into their arguments about freedom to do what they want with their own bodies so they don’t want to wear the masks. However, many of us hear “You don’t care about the disabled and the elderly. You only care about yourself.”

That’s exactly what we hear when people refuse to wear the masks. For many of us, it’s not a surprise that we are not being considered worthy of living. There are hundreds of articles about this topic.

I am not going to deal with that because I have to focus on my morale. How do I keep myself positive and looking forward to the future when a majority of society including the government doesn’t really see us as worthy to live much less survive Covid-19?

The answer is simple but not easy especially when you feel really low. You have to feed your morale the way you feed your body. You can’t deprive your body of necessary nutrients and expect it to be at its best.

How do I feed my morale?

“cheesy self talk”

I’ve been doing that since I was a little girl. People wonder why I think I am so gorgeous. It’s because I have been telling myself that since I was a little girl. I learned that from my mom. I looked in the mirror after getting ready for the day and I would say, “Gosh you look great!”

I can’t even go to a department store without looking at myself in those mirrors that are all over the place and smile at myself or wink at myself.

It might be conceited but I live in a world that doesn’t see a three feet tall female in a wheelchair as a sex symbol so if I might as well be one to me. I take care of my looks for me. I pamper myself for me. If I don’t love me, how can someone else love me for me?

But that’s not all…

I listen to people who have been to the bottom and made it to the top. Their stories fuel me. They give me inspiration. Lately, I’ve been watching GoalCast videos in the morning while I exercise. It helps my morale. I realize that I am not alone when it comes to struggle, strive, and success. We all have a story.

Journaling

I am building my success story one audacious moment at a time. Like many stories, if there is no conflict, it can get boring. So I am happy when I must face a challenge because once I deal with it, I can add it to my success story.

I don’t compare myself to others. The only time it happens is when people point out my differences. Now I wear my differences proudly.

Every day, I feed my morale a good serving of self love, motivation and challenges to overcome.

It’s a healthy diet. One that I need when I have to hear people say that disabled people aren’t worthy of saving during this pandemic.

What do you do to keep your morale up?

I’d love to add it to my list.

Thanks for being here!

Love,

Nathasha

If this email did you some good, please share it with others.

Check out our latest articles on www.audacitymagazine.com

And if you are using Amazon, please consider using smile.amazon.com with World Wide Ability as your charity of choice.

We are always looking for writers! Read our articles and see if you’d like to contribute.

Keep smiling!

Karen’s interview with Christine Robinalt on Dyslexically Successful

Recently, I had the honor of being interviewed by Christine Robinalt, a physical therapist and an expert on dyslexia. She and I both have it. Christine and I have both not let our disabilities keep us from being all we can be. Please listen and be inspired!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dyslexically-successful/id1455528917?i=1000478990329&fbclid=IwAR0bdOC51LA47pFH0YdBNFag5fMuuf-N1L8rn-CncF7y4OIB_jRieWTghzU

–Karen Lynn-Chlup

Walking the Walk

For far too long, there have been many social injustices in our world. As a woman with cerebral palsy and dyslexia, I have encountered many inequities and wrong-doings in my life. Yet, I always found a way to keep pushing forward. I always found positive ways to keep on. I found ways to turn my cheek and rise above. Now, with the coronavirus, global warming, disability abuse, the George Floyd shooting, civil unrest and protesting for civil rights fill the air. Where are our civil rights? Who speaks up for us people with disabilities? Who gives a hoot?

Whether you are able-bodied or not, how do you face what you face? How do you deal with all of this? Do you take a moment to look at what’s happening around you, and then take another moment out of your busy life to help the other guy? Where is the “justice for all” in all of this? We all have feelings and emotions, different opinions and viewpoints—how do we come together and live in peace and harmony with equal rights, and dignity, and respect under the same canopy?

The question is—Can we now walk with all people in partnership and policy?