What Happened After Diagnosis?

Luckily, Kathleen's parents quickly found a new doctor, one who knew that kids with CP could thrive. All through Kathleen's life, her wonderful parents have encouraged independence, just like they've done for their other three children. They're amazing. Kathleen learned early on that she could succeed if she put in the effort, from putting on her own shoes to driving the family van to living independently as an adult.

The same year Kathleen was born, the Rehabilitation Act was passed. The advocacy of many people with disabilities led to the passage of this landmark legislation that requires all educational institutions to be accessible and inclusive of students with disabilities. However, when Kathleen was ready for kindergarten, the school system refused to enroll Kathleen. Since then, her parents have heavily advocated for inclusion, through education and legal action.

When Kathleen was in second grade, she thought that her enrollment in occupational therapy meant it was time for job training. She spent more than a decade in physical, occupational, and speech therapy. She learned to walk independently, hold a pencil and write with it, and voice her thoughts. Therapies improved her function. Even as an adult, she has found these therapies helpful for improving her function and decreasing pain.

Kathleen is the oldest of four. Her two younger brothers live in Falmouth, MA, and the youngest, a sister, lives in Mesa, AZ. Kathleen was born near Boston. Her family moved to central FL after the blizzard of 1978, when Kathleen was four The same summer that Kathleen went to college, her family relocated to Falmouth, MA. Kathleen is incredibly grateful for her family!

Growing up in FL provided plenty of beach and pool time. Kathleen had great friends who treated her like anybody else. One summer, when she was in high school, Kathleen had two full-length leg casts from muscle lengthening surgery. Her family and friends would load her in the back of their van (everybody had one) and wheel her around the air conditioned mall!  

The Kennedy Space Center was about an hour from Kathleen's home. NASA had STEM programs for budding scientists. Kathleen participated in a program in which high school kids went to KSC 4x/year to see engineers at work. In college, Kathleen spent two summers measuring heavy metal levels in local soil and water after space shuttle launches. Kathleen also loved science classes at school.