pˈɑːmɚ tˈɔːt fɹʌm nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti tˈuː æɾə skˈuːl fɔːɹ mˈɛntəli tʃˈælɪndʒd tʃˈɪldɹən, ænd ɐtʃˈiːvd ɐ mˈæstɚz dᵻɡɹˈiː ɪn dˈæns ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃən fɹʌm jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv kˌælɪfˈoːɹniə, lˌɑːs ˈændʒəlɪs ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi θɹˈiː.
Palmer taught from 1972 at a school for mentally challenged children, and achieved a masters degree in Dance Education from University of California, Los Angeles in 1983.