Reference

Keynote Speaker

Photo:JOHN D. KEMPJOHN D. KEMP
Bio

John D. Kemp is widely respected for his many achievements, both in the corporate and non-profit worlds. As a person with personal disability experience who uses four prostheses, John inspires others to achieve the impossible through knowledge, experience, vision, personality, and persistence. Mr. Kemp graduated from Georgetown University in 1971 and from Washburn University School of Law in 1974. Mr. Kemp was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Washburn University School of Law in May, 2003.

In March 2006, Mr. Kemp received the Henry B. Betts Award, widely regarded as America’s highest honor for disability leadership and service. Presented jointly by the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the Betts Award recognizes a person’s work and scope of influence that have significantly improved the quality of life for people with disabilities in the past and who continues to be a force for change in the future

With more than 45 years of direct experience in the disability movement, John D. Kemp has partnered, worked for and served on the Boards of Directors of some of the leading disability and nonprofit organizations such as: United Cerebral Palsy Associations, Very Special Arts, HalfthePlanet Foundation, Independent Sector, The Abilities Fund Inc., Disability Service Providers of America, Easter Seals, Goodwill Industries of America, and the U.S. International Council on Disabilities, to name a few. In 1995, Mr. Kemp co-founded AAPD and continues to serve on their board today. During his tenure with Kemp & Young, Inc., John D. Kemp developed disability employment management training and consulting services.

Kemp currently serves on the Medicaid Commission as well as the State Department’s Advisory Committee on Persons with Disabilities which guides the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (USAID) in the formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy and assistance with respect to people with disabilities.

John D. Kemp is a principal at the Washington, D.C. Law Firm of Powers, Pyles, Sutter & Verville, P.C.

Guests

LENA MARIA KLINGVALL
BIO

LENA MARIA KLINGVALL from Stockholm, Sweden, was born without arms and with only one healthy leg, the other one half developed. In 1988, 20 years old, she became known to the Swedish TV-viewers through a thirty-minute program called "Goal in Sight" that the Swedish Television made about her. This program was, in April -89 presented by HRH Silvia Bernadotte, Queen of Sweden, at the convention for handicapped in Washington, DC. The program was also shown to George and Barbara Bush and an excerpt was shown on "Good Morning America". In Sweden it was elected best TV-show of the week.

Lena Maria learned how to swim when she was only three years old. At age 18, she entered the National Swedish Games where she won three silver medals making her a star-athlete over night and earning her a place on the national team. Many competitions followed. Lena Maria set two national records in the 25-meter and 50-meter butterfly events. The highlight of her swimming career was the Paralympic Games-88 in Seoul, South Korea. After the Paralympic Games she decided to put her career as an athlete aside in favour of her singing.

1987-1991 Lena Maria studied at The Royal University College of Music in Stockholm with one of Sweden's most talented artists Lena Ericsson as a singing teacher. Since her examination Lena Maria has been singing in churches all over Sweden, Norway and Finland and done TV and radio performances mostly together with the jazz pianist Anders Wihk but also with other musicians such as Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. She sings gospel with strong influences of jazz, soul and pop.

She has done concerts in Moscow, Latvia, Belarus, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, USA, Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. But in Japan is where she is most popular. Through TV, radio and media Lena Maria has attract attention and probably about 80% of the Japanese people has in some way heard of her. Specially at the performance at the opening ceremony at the Paralympic Games in Nagano -98.

In Sweden seven album has been released with Lena Maria. The CDs has a miscellaneous reportoire and some of the songs Lena Maria has written herself. During the years -99 to -03 Universal Music in Japan released five CDs called "Heartfilled", "In Your Delight" and a mini Christmas CD "Season Of Joy", "Every Little Note" and "Amazing Grace".

In addition to her singing Lena Maria is a scholarship student with Mouth and Foot Painting Artist since -90. She paints in aquarelle and acryllic and oil. Lena Maria is also engaged in different occasions to talk about her own situation and her experiences about human dignity, identity and life quality.

Under the fall -96 Libris Media published a book about Lena Maria's life that she during the spring same year wrote. The book ‘Foot-Notes’ was presented at the annual book fair in Sweden, October -96. It's translated into Norwegian, Dannish, Finnish, Estonian, Polish, German, French, Japanese, Thai, Korean, Mandarin, Russian and English.

During spring -05 she received a Honourary Citizenship of Taiwan and in August the same year she received the "Artur Erikson" schoolarship. Wherever Lena Maria performs she leaves a lasting impression by showing so clearly how God helps her cope with severe handicap, always with a smile on her face.

Suporntum Mongkolsawadi
BIO

1. General Information

2. Education Records

3. Career

4. Experienced