Keynote Speakers

Keynote: Kimmer Gordon & Ken Larson: Believing and Achieving

Keynote: Kimmer Gordon

In 1963, at 19 months old, Kimmer was found unconscious in a swimming pool near his home. He was successfully resuscitated and spent 3 months in a coma. His prognosis was not good. The initial diagnosis was Neurological Handicap, a blanket term used for many different issues. He prefers to say that he is Neurologically Disabled with partial brain damage.

Through his mother’s and his determination, he attended regular public schools. He has endured many life struggles and setbacks. Through the years, he battled with drug and alcohol addictions, further hampering his abilities to compete at a functional level in society and his personal life suffered as well. Attending drug and alcohol treatment brought a complete shift in the dynamics of his life.

With sobriety came job opportunities, responsibilities, and moderate success. He found that his disability did not mean he couldn’t compete; in fact it was just the opposite. He found his voice as an advocate and has been using it to help others achieve some measure of success. Be it personal or public success, each step is something to be proud of. He is now an active advocate with People First and is a member of various boards and committees such as Whatcom County Disability Board, Co-chair, planning committee and prospective member interviews. The WSRC board through the governor’s committee was next with responsibilities including student transitions into the workplace. With these experiences he also developed a business of his own in mobile detailing, which has been operating successfully for 8 years.

His current goal is to continue to advocate for those with disabilities and their rights. He is particularly involved with students transitioning into the workplace or other opportunities for self-reliance. These young people are the future of our society and they need the benefit of our experiences and struggles to overcome the indifferences. He believes each of us has a voice and everyone has the right to be heard.

Keynote: Ken Larson

Ken Larson lives in Bellingham, Washington with his wife Susan Larson. He grew up in nearby Ferndale and lived there 25 years. He attended Ferndale High School. For the past twenty-five years he has done maintenance work in the Bellingham area.

He became involved with People First in 1994, and was president of the Whatcom County People First chapter from 1995 through 2004. In the summer of 2000, he was appointed to the Whatcom County Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board. In late 2000, he was elected to a three-year term of president of People First of Washington. In August of 2005, Ken was hired to be the Western Washington State Chapter Coordinator of People First. In September of 2007, Ken was the recipient of the Paul Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award given by People First of Washington State.

Ken has been involved in sports all of his life and has been an active participant and supporter of the Special Olympics in Whatcom County, including an invitation to play in the Canada Cup in the summer of 2007.

Ken is an experienced leader about advocacy and self-determination, and is helping others to follow in his footsteps.

Keynote: Josh L. Brothers: The State of State
Information about DSHS/DDD, Special Education, New Laws and Legislation in Washington State.

Admitted to practice in the State of Washington (2004) and United States Federal District Court (2004).

Juris Doctor, University of San Diego, 2004, Bachelor of Science (Political Science), University of Washington, 2000, and a member of the Washington State Bar Association, Seattle-King County Bar Association and the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA).

Mr. Brothers' practice focuses on special education advocacy and litigation, benefits advocacy and litigation, guardianship, estate planning, probate, and special needs trusts.

Mr. Brothers serves on the Advisory Board for Every Child publication for parents, caregivers & friends of children with special needs, the Professional Advisory Board of the Autism Society of Washington, and the Board of VERITAS3 Project serving individuals with Asperger's Syndrome.

He is also a member of the Washington State and King County ARC, the Autism Society of America (ASA), the Autism Society of Washington and the National Downs Syndrome Congress.

Prior to law school Mr. Brothers was one of 60 cyclists in the 1999 Push America Journey of Hope bicycle ride from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., raising money and awareness for people with disabilities. While in law school he served as an intern at the Special Education Legal Clinic.