Dear Ms. Jacquez, friends, and women of the wellness education group. My name is Karen Lynn, and I am honored to be with you today. I feel very privileged to be your guest speaker and to be standing before you, to share my story. There is so much I want to say, but so little time to say it all in- Thus, I will do my best. I’ll take a deep, long breathe, and begin my story.

It all began way back when I was only 5 months old. My mother took me to the doctors, for my second DPT shot. She attempted to tell the doctor what my first reaction had been. But with little consideration or concern, the shot was given, and I was sent home with orders- By morning, I was not only in a coma, but I was paralyzed and was supposed to be deaf, dumb and blind. However, history had other plans for me. I fooled them all. I made almost a complete recovery, except for my left side paralyses and a learning disability of dyslexia, which made learning very, difficult. But there was one thing that was very easy to learn, and that was how to carve out a place for myself in this world and society.

It was one obstacle after another. But I never gave in, nor did I ever give up- I made a vowed to myself. It was… to never take no for an answer and, to never dough myself. So I walked the walk all alone- I fought for my life with a braveness no one ever shared with me. It was a tenacious, determined drive to go forth. A will power to never give up on myself, no matter what anyone thought or said. I may not have the same injury as you, my friends, but still, the uniqueness of our challenges bond us together like sisters. It has brought us together in our times of need and in time of strengths.

During my youth, I fought tremendous battles over my education. I wanted to learn at all cost. It was a thirst that needed quenching- and stayed dormant for many years to come. At 12 years old, after spending a year in special education classes, I taught myself to read. Although, I went through twelve years of school, being passes from one class to another. That was agonizing! Then, words suddenly became the source of my strength- but only when I became older and was ready to hear the music of my heart.

Suddenly, when I was in my mid-twenties, something deep within myself told me that I needed to learn all the things I never learned before. If I was going to be a productive person in society, I was going to have to take some action. So action I took- however, during the action, the road became very bumpy. I came across a huge bolder- California Department of rehabilitation tried to label me mentally retarded. Not once, but three different times! The battled for my life and the right to an education was on. After 4 long years, in 1979, I won the first Civil Rights case. I was ecstatic! This case not only opened the doors for all disabled people under section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973., but, it also enabled me to earn a degree in English and dance in 1985.

The lessons I’ve learned, came to fruition, when I wrote “The Broken Hoof” the story of a young disabled girl and her triumphs. This story is your story. I wrote it for all of you. I wrote it to remind the world of what we all have had to endure and have been able to achieve.

How can we empower each other? How can we be supportive? And, how can we work together even with our diverse disabilities, and be a network for our common cause. Too many times, people with specific impairments, tend to separate and segregate themselves into special categories. We must recognize that we are, in everything we do, representatives of the disabled community. We should be as active as we can to prove to ourselves as well as to the world just how much we can achieve.

Maria, thank you so much for your invitation. It has been a privilege sharing with all of you today. On the table, in back, you will find some books that I have brought for your conveniences. These books are for sale. There is also literature of where you can purchase them as well. Again thank you for your undivided attention. Now I will take the remainder of this time to answer any questions you may have.

Adaptive aerobics is an exercise program designed for seniors and disabled persons of all ages. The one hour low-impact aerobic and yoga class utilizes gentle range of motion exercise to increase your cardiovascular endurance and to build, strengthen, and tone your muscles. All exercises are performed to music which helps to improve your timing, rhythm, and coordination.

YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Karen Lynn Karen has been teaching for more than 15 years and has been dancing since the age of 3 1/2 years old. She has overcome the effects of Cerebral Palsy and the need to wear a brace on one leg in her early years to become an able dancer and a proficient teacher. She has taught exercise classes at various clubs and organizations throughout the Southern California area, including convalescent homes and senior centers.

KAREN’S AGENDA

Karen currently Freelances. She is a motivational speaker and advocate’s for the disabled. She served on the Board of Protection & Advocacy Inc., from 2002 to 2004

WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT KAREN’S ADAPTIVE AEROBIC WORKOUT

AEROBICS CLASSES KEEPS STUDENTS MOVING

By Susan Hellman

Karen Lynn of Los Angeles says the aerobics class she teaches is for seniors, disabled and able-bodied persons, or any one, of any age. In other words, everyone is welcome in her classes, held four times a week at the Beverly Hills Family Y. In one recent class, a group of senior participants seemed to feel welcome and to be having a terrific time as they stretched, cycled, flexed and bent to classical music for the hour-long workout.

ENTHUSIASM SHOWS

Lynn is enthusiastic, as evidenced by continual good-natured coaching. “You can just a little further, bend, streeeetch!” she yells She also frequently adds “If I can do it, you do it.” As a cerebral palsy victim herself, < some of the exercises is a proud achievement her as for some of her class members.

USES ALL PARTS Lynn has designed her class to utilize all of the body and all of the muscles during warm up, sitting, standing, floor and cool exercise stage. Though nothing is done by 1 Lynn encourages her students to execute motions slowly and to straighten limbs completely when warrant a particular exercise.

Lynn is an expert on using body parts that want to resist. It was through dancing tha overcame many of the physical limitations has known for many of her 36 years, remembers struggling through years of da lessons with a brace on one leg. In spite c disability, she earned an AA degree in that field.

HER PHILOSOPHY

Lynn’s philosophy for herself and for her students is to focus on what a person does have, not on what he does not have. For instance, she taught one paraplegic participant to focus on what mobility he did have in one arm and one leg, rather then dwelling on the immobility. He was able to improve his motor coordination through her techniques. Lynn adds one other very important philosophy for herself and her students: “I want us to have a good time. This is really important to me.” Apparently it is important to her class members, too, as goodnatured cajoling and banter appear to be an integral part of the session. And like students everywhere, Lynn’s students include “pulling one over” on the teacher as a necessary part of classroom conduct: when she loses count while doing toe touches, they try hard to convince her that the fifth stretch down they are doing is really the ninth.