"In my experience as a legal advocate for special needs students and their families, Jen Hagen is one of the most inspiring individuals I have met. In her determination to provide her two wonderful children the nurturing and support they require as they struggle with autism, Jen has researched, designed and developed a teaching method that sets meaningful expectations for -- and effectively meets -- academic and psycho-social needs. She has pioneered alternative learning strategies that can be utilized on a day to day, and even a minute to minute, basis, for children on the Spectrum and their families. She combines personal insight and compassion with state-of-the-art knowledge about neurobiology research and accessible high-tech resources. In short, she opens doors into a brave new world in which our special children can be recognized for who they are rather than who they are not. I highly recommend Jen Hagen as an extraordinary resource for families facing similar challenges."
–Attorney Debra Joyce, Springfield, MA (exceptional friend, advocate, neighbor and letter-writing guru who taught me the art of writing letters that emphasize points like, "I know you broke the law." without actually saying, "I know you broke the law." She was a key player during my many tangled webs weaved with the school district in Amherst, MA. She also believed in my Guru V Vision and was the first friend to come over, with refreshments and listen to my wildly loose and seemingly random ideas while I was building Guru V People in the Fall of 2010. She is a dear friend indeed.)
–Attorney Debra Joyce, Springfield, MA (exceptional friend, advocate, neighbor and letter-writing guru who taught me the art of writing letters that emphasize points like, "I know you broke the law." without actually saying, "I know you broke the law." She was a key player during my many tangled webs weaved with the school district in Amherst, MA. She also believed in my Guru V Vision and was the first friend to come over, with refreshments and listen to my wildly loose and seemingly random ideas while I was building Guru V People in the Fall of 2010. She is a dear friend indeed.)
"I first met Jen in 1998 when I saw her daughter Brianna for speech language therapy in Olympia. In 2001 I began to see Justin as well.
Throughout the years of my association with Jen she has remained steadfast in her commitment to her children in regards to their education and to their overall development. She has had her kids participate in dance, swimming and horseback riding as extra-curricular and social activities. I have visited Jen in her home where she creates a loving environment with routines and expectations. She uses books, music, arts and crafts, the computer, and a trampoline to provide multi-sensory experiences for her children. Jen has single-handedly devised clear, repetetive, and functional tasks to enhance Justin's communication and learning. In a career of 35 years I have never seen a parent relate better or have a more positive effect on their child's learning than Jen. The highest accolade I can give here is that as a professional she has taught me skills to use with Justin and, even more significantly, skills that I can use with other autistic children with whom I work. As a parent, a parent educator/therapist, and as a friend I'm grateful for the gifts she gives to her children and by extension to me as well."
- Jill Daniel, Speech Language Pathologist and founder of Horse Power Therapeudic Riding Program
Throughout the years of my association with Jen she has remained steadfast in her commitment to her children in regards to their education and to their overall development. She has had her kids participate in dance, swimming and horseback riding as extra-curricular and social activities. I have visited Jen in her home where she creates a loving environment with routines and expectations. She uses books, music, arts and crafts, the computer, and a trampoline to provide multi-sensory experiences for her children. Jen has single-handedly devised clear, repetetive, and functional tasks to enhance Justin's communication and learning. In a career of 35 years I have never seen a parent relate better or have a more positive effect on their child's learning than Jen. The highest accolade I can give here is that as a professional she has taught me skills to use with Justin and, even more significantly, skills that I can use with other autistic children with whom I work. As a parent, a parent educator/therapist, and as a friend I'm grateful for the gifts she gives to her children and by extension to me as well."
- Jill Daniel, Speech Language Pathologist and founder of Horse Power Therapeudic Riding Program
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Jill Daniel is our friend, inspiration, guru and former Speech Therapist.She began Horse Power in Olympia ten years ago and her spark kept it going until recently. Her passion for kids, people, human empowerment and social justice is unmatched. She is one Guru V gal...take a look at this inspiring video from her Horse Power Project. She is not only an amazing therapist, but is a member of our extended Guru V family.
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"I first met Justin, Jen and Brianna in 1998 when I worked with Jen at The Valley Athletic Club and became Justin's swim instructor. He was two at the time and was unable to discern people from objects and showed severe stemming and isolation that are characteristic of autism. He showed no comprehension of commands and needed to be physically assisted in order to engage in any task. Also, Justin would have shrieking attacks that seemed unstoppable until he became fatigued.
In the last five years I have completed medical school at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences and I am currently an Anesthesiology Resident at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. My experience with Justin has stoked my interest in the controversial diagnosis of Autism. I continually draw on my experiences with Jen and her family and am thrilled with the progress I observe whenever I visit. Our last visit included direct eye contact, improved yet still limited social interaction, and most importantly, obvious following of commands given by Jennifer. Justin has a more mellow demeanor and has less stemming habits. While he is still definitively Autistic,
Justin has shown huge improvements.
I credit many of Justin's changes to Jennifer's patience and love. She has tried many therapies and regularly consults with renowned researchers in the field. I can't imagine anyone better suited to teach her children."
- Daniel McGuire, MD (one of my favorite people and former co-worker Before he was a doctor, he was two-year-old Justin's first Swim Teacher-lucky for Dan, the pool was the ONLY place jus was content back in those days. Regardless, he spoke 'surf' to jus and it worked. Later, Bri also benefited from his brilliant teaching and she touched the bottom of the deep end for the first time! The deep end is where our family dwells and although my methods were a bit on the 'out there' side, Dan was always the first to give me credit for my 'wildly unusual methods' and their surprising efficacy...and I was the first to tell Dan he was going to be a doctor, which at the time, he didn't know yet. )
In the last five years I have completed medical school at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences and I am currently an Anesthesiology Resident at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. My experience with Justin has stoked my interest in the controversial diagnosis of Autism. I continually draw on my experiences with Jen and her family and am thrilled with the progress I observe whenever I visit. Our last visit included direct eye contact, improved yet still limited social interaction, and most importantly, obvious following of commands given by Jennifer. Justin has a more mellow demeanor and has less stemming habits. While he is still definitively Autistic,
Justin has shown huge improvements.
I credit many of Justin's changes to Jennifer's patience and love. She has tried many therapies and regularly consults with renowned researchers in the field. I can't imagine anyone better suited to teach her children."
- Daniel McGuire, MD (one of my favorite people and former co-worker Before he was a doctor, he was two-year-old Justin's first Swim Teacher-lucky for Dan, the pool was the ONLY place jus was content back in those days. Regardless, he spoke 'surf' to jus and it worked. Later, Bri also benefited from his brilliant teaching and she touched the bottom of the deep end for the first time! The deep end is where our family dwells and although my methods were a bit on the 'out there' side, Dan was always the first to give me credit for my 'wildly unusual methods' and their surprising efficacy...and I was the first to tell Dan he was going to be a doctor, which at the time, he didn't know yet. )