Karen's Book
. . . Karen's Portfolio . . .
OBJECTIVE:
Clients Rights Advocate, Author, Keynote Speaker
EXPERIENCE:
I have worked with the elderly and disabled since I was 18 year 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" 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 have 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.
EMPLOYMENT
Self-Employed: February 1998 - 2005
I have been teaching my one hour adaptive aerobic, Yoga & Pilates classes as well as my regular low impact aerobics class not only to 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 - 2005
I was interviewed and screened to serve and sit on the Executive Board of this prestigious organization.
Harbor Regional Center: September 1997 - 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 - 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 with chairs.
Washington Elementary School: March 1991 - October 1991
Division PAU for Disabled Children.
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 with 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 - 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 - 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 for our seniors. The other was for 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: 1976 - 1980
Private exercise teacher. At this time, I taught a variety of disabled children and adults. My clients came from disabled care homes and Community College 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 exercises classes, but also through my own accomplishments.
Special Olympics: 1977 – 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: 1978
Activities for developmentally disabled children. Exercise Instructor. I taught an exercise program geared especially for their developmentally 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 – 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 Core Center: 1978 - 1979
Geriatrics, Activity Director. 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: 1976 - 1978
Assistant Activity Director. 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: 1975 - 1976
Assistant Activity Director. This is where I learned how to be an assistant recreation director. This program was funded through CEDA. It was a half-way house for the mentally ill. Here. I gained much hands-on experience.
Los Angeles City College (LACC): 1976
Disabled Students Office. 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:
June,1985,
Santa Monica College, Associate Arts Degree in English with honors
CERTIFICATES:
Practical Application of Anatomy
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
WRITING AWARDS:
Won second prize, in the Kaleidoscope International Prose Fiction Art Awards of 1983, for “Pegasus” its infancy
PUBLISHED WORKS:
“The Broken Hoof” Released to Public, April, 2006
PUBLISHED MAGAZINE ARTICLES:
LDOnline, online article, “Different Stages in a Learning Disabled Writer’s Life”, April, 2008
Saga Journal,
“Between Reality and Mytho’s”, April 2008, “Audacity Magazine, April 2007
DISABILITY EXPOS and EXPEDITIONS: 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 School 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, “Discrimation & Achievement”, Nov. 2006
California Rehabilitation Service, autobiography, March, 2007
Joseph Pomeroy Widney High School, Guest Speaker for the graduating class of 2007
on “Empowering one’s self, June 2007
REFERENCES ON REQUEST