Baker College’s Auburn Hills campus presents TEDx speaker who overcame ‘dis’ to become ‘able,’ Oct. 25

Baker College of Auburn Hills Disability Services presents an evening with motivational speaker Marina K., 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 25, in the Student Center, 1500 University Drive, Auburn Hills. The public is invited to this free event. Seating is open, but limited.

Marina will tell the story of her rise from ditching her “dis” to become “able” and challenge the audience to live their best life without doubt, fear and insecurities. Her story and challenge have been the bases of her popular TEDx talks.

In 1996, her life changed when she was adopted from a Russian orphanage at the age of 6 by a young American couple. She was the oldest in her orphanage. She had received little care, especially for a child with cerebral palsy, due to the lack of government funding for orphans.

Through her challenges living with cerebral palsy, Marina forged a path to a successful life. She encourages others to never doubt the innate ability of a human with passion.

The event is in observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, established to heighten awareness while recognizing contributions of Americans with disabilities to the workforce and society.

“Marina K. reminds us of the importance of having a diverse workforce and that the word ‘diverse’ includes those with disabilities,” said Peter W. Karsten, Ph.D., CPA, Baker College of Auburn Hills president. “Underlining her inspiring presentation is the message that each of us wants to and should be able to live our lives as independently as possible and to the fullest."

The largest private college in Michigan, Baker College is a not-for-profit higher education institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Founded in 1911, Baker College grants doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s and associate degrees, as well as certificates in diverse academic fields including business, health sciences, engineering, information technology, education and human services. Baker College has on-ground campuses in Michigan and Pennsylvania, and offers online programs that can be completed 100 percent online without ever visiting a campus. In 2016, the Online Learning Consortium recognized Baker College Online with the OLC Quality Scorecard Exemplary Endorsement, the highest ranking for online higher education programs. For information, visit www.baker.edu or follow Baker College on Twitter, @bakercollege, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/bakercollege.

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