#33 Jo Lynn Osborne
In 1975, Jo Lynn Osborne’s life was forever changed with the premature birth of twin boys, one who died at birth and the other later diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Life from that moment on was spent taking her son, David, to Children’s Hospital for therapy, multiple surgeries, and doctor’s appointments. Back then there were not many options available or supports for families with children diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Jo Lynn was determined to raise David with his family, which included her husband and David’s two sisters.
David attended a preschool designed for kids with disabilities where he thrived. When he turned elementary school age, there was a program for students who only had a physical disability or a program for students with an intellectual disability. Unfortunately, neither option was a good fit for David. She wanted a school setting where he could learn and reach his potential. So Jo Lynn worked with the school district to create an option that allowed David to attend a neighborhood elementary. He had both specialized instruction and classes in the regular education setting where he could learn alongside students who did not have disabilities.
When David was in high school, he wanted to take Spanish his sophomore year, but the Spanish teacher tried to talk him out of it. She didn’t really know how to teach someone like David and she wasn’t convinced he could learn. Jo Lynn insisted and would not give up until he was enrolled in class. A few years later, at David’s graduation, the teacher came to celebrate his success. She said to Jo Lynn, “I wish I had known in the beginning what I now know in the end.”
Jo Lynn learned about The Arc when David was in preschool. The organization hosted a group called Mothers Mutual, which was a group of mothers of children with IDD who would get together to support one another and to share information, and Jo Lynn attended.
In 1980, she joined The Arc staff. It quickly became apparent just how many parents were struggling to get appropriate education and community for their kids. She knew there had to be a better way. Jo Lynn began to develop programs for children, provide educational advocacy, and develop training classes. She stayed at the chapter for 34 years!
It was during this time she developed an award-winning, transformational training called Mobilizing Families. The content from this pivotal training is still changing lives today. This curriculum has even been translated into European languages.
Decades ago, Jo Lynn knew that things could be (and should be) done differently. She pioneered educational advocacy in Jefferson County and participated in community work that influenced the local school district and public policy.
Jo Lynn has chronicled her experience raising a child with a disability in her memoir, Try Another Way.
It’s not possible in one article to enumerate the contributions Jo Lynn has made to people with IDD. We honor her for dedicating her career and using her powerful voice to help build better lives for her family and for countless others.
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