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Scientific Advancements Overshadowing Human Values in Regards to People with Disabilities

Scientific Advancements Overshadowing Human Values in Regards to People with Disabilities

By Karen Lynn

March 2006

Dear Ms. Lasek, fellow friends, and facility. I am honored to be asked here, today, to be one of your guest speakers. Even though I am miles away, physically, I want each and every one of you to feel my presence. I want each and every one of you to feel my sincerity. And, most importantly, I want each and every one of you to feel the importance of these words, and to embody what it is that I am saying – so that my words empower you throughout the course of your life’s work and so things like this never happen again.

Your topic was…are scientific advancements overshadowing human values in regards to people with disabilities. I would have to say yes, most definitely. From the time I was a small child, until now, I have seen much through these green eyes of mine. That was over a half a century ago, now. I was born perfectly normal, and given my first DPT shot. I reacted with a slight fever, and recovered.

Then, at 5 months old, I was taken back to receive my second shot. My mother was very in tune with me, and asked that I be given this cerium in smaller increments, but my doctor would not listen. That was my very first experience to how a man, a doctor, a human being of service, overshadowed my rights. He hurried my mother out of his office, by saying- “If she is not better by morning, give her 2 aspirins.” Off he fled- never to be seen again. By morning, I was in a coma and was going to be deaf, dumb and blind.

I was very lucky, and made almost complete recovery. I was left with brain damage, later to be diagnosed with left side hemiplegic, Cerebral Palsy. Meaning, that my whole left side is and was affected. I can use my left leg, but it is ¾ of a inch shorter then my right, and I cannot rotate my ankle very well or point and flex my toes completely. My left arm is more involved and impaired. My whole body was actually twisted like a pretzel. I have never been able to hold items for longer that a half a minute and I cannot use my fingers or tell my hand what to do. It is like having the circuits of the switch board cut off. Thus, it is only a helping hand.

However, that never, ever held me back- even though I wore a full length leg brace for the first 11 years of my life; I was like any other child. But it was around 8 years of age that my mother realized that I also was not learning like the other children. A little while later, I was diagnosed with having a learning disability.

Did this really have to happen at all? No. If only this so called doctor, would not have obscured what my mother was trying to tell him. Things would or could have been so different. If only he really listened- If only he didn’t brush the matter of because he was too proud to ask for help- could he have talked with a colleague and collaborated? Sure he could have. Instead he sacrificed my life and played God- I ask you, then! If this doctor really cared- would he have listened to what my mother was telling him? Would he have been concerned enough, to treat me with some kind of respect, or human dignity! If indeed he did value these precious life commodities, called human rights, I probably would not be disabled today.

I am very lucky to have been given a mother as I was. She was a very proactive and progressive thinker. She moved mountains to get me to where I am today. She decided my IEP (individual education plan), and when she saw I was not learning- she went to the principal of the handicap school, and talked in my behalf to get a special education teacher to teach me, and the other students who needed the same help. It was also my mother who decided my IHP (individual habilitation plan). If these so called evaluators got there hands on me… my human rights would have been overshadowed in a split second. I observe, and am told time and again, of stories where disabled peoples rights are overshadowed repeatedly.

Even though our society says they have done a lot to raise the bare for the standards of the disabled. I know differently! I know first hand how our values and views are disregarded. Later, in my paper I will give you a first hand account of how I know. We the disabled are turned away at ever corner to get ahead in society, or to pursue our dreams or goals. We are conveniently pushed out of the way or out of site, not to be heard or seen. Most people do not like being around individuals who have a physical limitation. We make them feel uncomfortable and uneasy for what ever reason. We challenge them, threaten them, and present a depth and awareness of which they are afraid of. So, time and again, truth after truth; we the disabled are pleasantly and attractively shoved out of the way. Only to be devalued and de-humanized without little care or matter-

Whenever there are any issues of importance, these matters of discussions are covertly covered up. Even if there is a mediator on our behalf- these agencies cunningly denied these allegations with shrewdness. They slyly and charmingly dis-represent the disabled community.

Thankfully, there were those who could see what I needed and what I could become. Strongest among these, was my dear teacher, Al Gilbert. My mother developed the idea of using dance as therapy. Al Gilbert took on this challenge, and allowed my body to soar. Dance gave me strength, joy, and encouragement. It was through the dance routines, and bare exercises that my twisted body became straight and proud. Dance, opened up the world to new plains for me! It helped me to become the creative person I was meant to be.

My success as a dancer gave me the courage I needed to challenge the system in other areas. At the age of twenty-five, I made a conscious choice to go to college. To learn all the things I never learned in my basic education. These dreams and goals were conscious selections to make me the best person I could become- it was a set target within my being to overcome my learning disability of dyslexia. Yet, this plan and aim was met with all oppositions from the experts- who thought they knew ExACTly what I needed as a disabled person. There again, I was devalued and de-humanized. I was overshadowed by the system. My human rights were put to the test with abrupt, aggression, and antagonistic vengeance.

They thought they knew what they were talking about. But they did not know what they were headed for. Until they were presented and served with papers from lawyers, stating they were in direct violations of my civil rights. Did they not know! This was the first civil rights case under section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1975. The very people who were suppose to help me, put up every obstacle in my path. To the experts, I was a threat- to the experts I was not a person, let alone a disabled person- to the experts, I was only a symbol. They attempted to mix me up and confuse me, only to be overcome by what I had determined to do. I was gently and cleverly isolated from the real world to become a productive person in society. All because they could not cope with a person such as myself, who was a self motivator and driven individual.

After winning the first civil rights case, in California, I began my college education. Thereafter, entering and winning 2 prize in the Kaleidoscope Literary prose, fiction art award of 1983. I graduated from Santa Monica College with honors, however once again, because of a new counselor, who, by the way was a deaf, mute, “expert”, was labeled mentally retarded, for a third time in my life. All because of an iq test which does not measure anything- and a “specialist”, who could not see my potential. Over the past 23 years of development, my story has now become a published work of art. It is called “The Broken Hoof” and relays how a young C.P. girl finds strength in a carrousel horse.

I hope my friends, that my struggles and achievements show that the human heart of a child of God is stronger then any piece of equipment.

Guest Speaker – Rancho

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.

What Is Adaptive Aerobics?

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.