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Quote of the Day
"Dance is the hidden language of the soul" |
| -Martha Graham |
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Karen's Portfolio
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Objective
 Clients Rights Advocate, Author, Keynote Speaker
Experience
I have worked with the elderly and disabled since I was 18 years old. As I have grown, so have my interests. Now, with well over 40 years of studies and experience, I have acquired much knowledge. I have had the privilege of sitting on special committees and boards, as well as winning the "First Civil Rights case" ever in California. I have been dancing since I was a small child and have continued my interest in the field by teaching aerobics, Yoga & Pilates and specializing in adaptive aerobics since I was 27 years of age. I volunteered for the Special Olympics and am a certified recreation director. I have written many detailed reports and have implemented many different programs for men and women. In addition, I hove taught many independent living classes and have shared in numerous one-on-one counseling sessions. I look forward to expanding my knowledge by gaining new experiences so that I may provide others with my services and much hope.
Employement
Self Employed:
February 1998 to 2005. I have been teaching my one hour adaptive aerobic, Yoga & Pilates classes as well as my regular low impact aerobics class to not only Harbor Regional Center staff, and affiliated clients, of whom provide services for people with developmental disabilities, but, have taught private client my one-on-one, one hour sessions which consist of a well rounded exercise program which is gentle to one's limbs and works out one’s entire body.
Protection & Advocacy INC.:
September 2003 to 2005, I was interviewed and screened to serve and sit on the Executive Board of this prestigious organization.
Harbor Regional Center:
September 1997 to January 1998. For over six months, I volunteered in The Family Resource Center of HRC. I worked one-on-one with them and their staff, bringing much valuable information and comfort. My job consisted of many duties, including secretarial skills, working on video library, answering resource lines, categorizing and updating library references. Then, with much delight, I was asked to teach a line dance class, speak at a seminar for consumers and parents and I was also invited to sit on their Consumer Services Committee.
Walteria Senior Center:
December 1994 to 1996. I dedicated my time and talents to the Walteria seniors for 2 years. I taught once a week, for 45 minutes. During these sessions, we worked out in chairs.
Washington Elementary School:
(Division PAU for Disabled Children). March 1991 - October 1991. I willingly gave my time to these disabled children. Weekly I came to read to them, take them on community walks, and feed them during mealtime.
Torrance YWCA:
April 1990. This program was specially designed with Harbor Regional Center clients in mind. It was a six week program. First hour was an energizing adaptive aerobic session, followed by an hour long adoptive cooking class. Each cooking session would have a five minute review segment before cooking something new.
Life Steps Foundation:
Nov. 1989 through Feb. 1990. I worked for this agency as a counselor and job researcher for their clients. I worked with them on a one-to-one basis as an independent living counselor where weekly I would travel to my client’s home and teach them new and different skills.
Beverly Hills YMCA:
Sept. 1987 through Jan. 1989 -At the YMCA I was a Free Lance Aerobics and Adaptive Aerobics teacher. There I taught two different classes, twice a week One class was an adaptive aerobic class to our seniors. The other was for our non-disabled adults. In January - 1988 Senior World Newspaper /Los Angeles published an article of my class and me. I can ' attitudes... Aerobics Class Keeps Students Moving By Susan Hellmon.
Self Employed:
Private exercise teacher, 1976 through 1980.At this time, I taught a verity of disabled children and adults. My clients came from disabled care Homes and Community Colleges settings.
Summer Youth Counselor:
City of Los Angeles, 1978.
I worked for the city of Los Angeles where I was assigned to United Cerebral Palsy, a non-profit organization geared in helping people, of all ages, with C.P. There I motivated the residents, not just through my exercise classes, but also through my own accomplishments.
Special Olympics:
1977 through 1979. This was the first time I gave of myself to another disabled organization. I volunteered as a helper on the track and field events encouraging each participant to the finish line.
Harvard School:
(Activities for developmentally disabled children) Exercise Instructor 1978. I taught an exercise program geared especially for their developmental disabled clients. Harvard School was so impressed with my quality of work that they provided the local newspaper with a
human interest story.
YMCA:
1977 through 1978. This was my first teaching experience. I remember putting together a fifty minute basic aerobic class including techniques I learned from twenty-one years of experience in tap, ballet and jazz.
National Care Center:
(Geriatrics) Activity Director, 1978 to 1979. At this facility I was able to use my previous experience to plan, organize and developed specific program plans for each patient in the convalescent home.
Hillhaven Convalescent Hospital:
Assistant Activity Director, 1976 to 1978. At Hillhaven, I put all my energies and knowledge into running this successful recreation program. I developed many new programs and gave my all to this facility. I was also given the opportunity to work as an activity director at one of their near-by affiliated facilities.
Beverlywood After Care Center:
Assistant Activity Director, 1975 to 1976. This is where I learned how to be an assistant recreation director. This program was funded through CEDA. It was a halfway house for the mentally ill. Here. I gained much hands-on experience.
Los Angeles City College (LACC):
Disabled Students Office, 1976.
At LACC, I worked as a secretary. I also began a program for the disabled students in the disabled students center; developing a proposal for students rights.
Education
Santa Monica College
Associate Arts Degree in English with honors, June, 1985.
Certificates
Practical Application of Anatomy A Physiology
Fitness consultant course; Dec, 1987. Sponsored by, Ketchum Downtown Y. and, Candice Copeland.
American Red Cross Multimedia Standard First Aid Course
Nov., 1986
Recreational Certificate
Completed from Pasadena College, Jan.,1978.
Psych. Social Behavioral Needs Certificate, 1978
Bruce Welberten Ph.d
Activity Department Programming Certificate, 1978. So. CA.,Occupational Therapy Consultants Group, SnC.
Interviews
Television
KNBC News, Channel 4, May 1985.
Radio
U.C.L.A. Sculpture Garden Project for Disabled Women, "On Cue" Sound Company, April, 1986
Newspaper
Senior World Newspaper Article, January, 1988.
Video Clip
“Born to Dance” realhealth.tv, Jan. 2007
Theater Arts
Puzzles and solutions- December, 1985 through 1986.
(Program to help Learning Disabled People)
Published Works
“The Broken Hoof” Released to Public, April, 2006
Disability Expos:
2000-2003
Public Speaking:
Lectured at Long Beach Unified School District, “On Inclusion” 2001
Guest Reader: VSA Arts, of New Jersey, 2005. Delivered a paper “Are Scientific Advances Overshadowing Human Values in Regards to People with Disabilities,” Monash of Law, Melbourne, Australia, 2006.
Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, CA. ”Diversity & Unity” May 2006. Kean University, New Jersey, lectured at two, American Civil Society classes, on, “Decimation & Achievement”, Nov. 2006. California Rehabilitation Service’s, autobiography, March, 2007. Joseph Pomeroy, Widney High School, Guest Speaker, for the graduating class of 2007, on “Empowering one’s self, June 2007. Kean University, Union, New Jersey, addressed the Historical Society on “Discrimination and how we can Help Other Disabled People Attain their Career Goals”. April, 2008
References Upon Request. |
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