Dr. Karen Gaffney

Dr. Gaffney was the first person with Down syndrome to swim across the English Channel. She has swam across Lake Tahoe, Boston Harbor, San Francisco Bay; and she even swam in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. For her talents in swimming and her dedication to making her community a better place, Dr. Gaffney received an honorary doctorate from the University of Portland. In addition to her doctorate, Dr. Gaffney has an Associate of Science degree and a teacher’s aide certificate. She is the founder of the Karen Gaffney Foundation. She has given TED Talks and many speeches.

Karen Gaffney left the Rose City and the World in awe with a captivating talk that explored the history, current state and progress of Down Syndrome. Her ide...