Jaclyn Michelle Kratzer

Board Member

 

 

 

I am a disability advocate and writer in Pennsylvania. I am 37 years old and reside in Reading, PA. I enjoy writing, going out, being around people, and helping others. I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at the age of two and a half and use a motorized wheelchair as my primary mobility tool.

I have been very active in educating people about many different types of disabilities. I graduated from Reading Area Community College with an Associate in Applied Sciences in Human Services and that is just the very beginning in a long journey of reaching my educational goals. I am also a certified advocate from Temple University. I won the title of Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania 2003. I never did get to finish my goals with education and now because of my current profession I have decided to enroll in University of Phoenix to finally get the degree I desire. That degree is in Human Services Management.

I am the Executive Director of Differently Abled Associates, Inc., a not-for-profit incorporation that does community service throughout the community. Currently I am the Coordinator of Children and Youth Services, focusing on children and youth with disabilities for Abilities in Motion, a Center for Independent Living, and was a tutor for people with special needs at Reading Area Community College. I also write short articles on special education in my area for www.examiner.com and was also an online columnist at Bella Online, Suite 101, and Life Tips. My articles and poetry have appeared in many places including: Christian Friendship, Personal Growth, Civil Rights, Family Health, Our Journey, Positive Reflections, just to name a few. I have a self-help book and a children’s story completed, but have yet to find a publishing house to print these works.

In addition to my professional life I am the youngest of eight children, the aunt of twenty, and the great-aunt of five. I believe that children are indeed the future and any chance I get to enrich a child’s life or anyone’s life makes my life worthwhile. My personal philosophy is to live your life in truth is the best thing you can do because “honesty now saves you a lot of time in the future”.