With a 34-year-old son and 27-year-old daughter, Barbara Laird could be any other mother, but what sets Laird apart is her experience raising a daughter with Down’s syndrome.
Laird is a retired teacher who has become an advocate for all persons with disabilities at a local, provincial and national level, especially in areas focused on educational issues. As the teacher in her has never died, she is eager to share information, strategies, resources and research gleaned and gathered in her continuous search for the best practices that support all students.
At the invitation of 4children.ca, Laird will present two workshops: Don’t Teach Anything You Have to Unteach and Before the Behaviour Begins on March 2 and 3 at Cranberry Seniors’ Centre.
In 2009, Laird won a national inclusive education award from the Canadian and BC associations for community living in recognition of her dedication to an education system that is inclusive of all students with diverse learning needs. Her work and advocacy history includes involvement in preschool, elementary, secondary and post-secondary institutions.
CC Duncan is a behaviour management consultant working with children with special needs. Through her organization, 4children.ca, Duncan has invited various speakers to Powell River to help raise awareness of the importance of acceptance.
Laird will share her wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise through her informative workshops. The first workshop will appeal to both professionals and parents, with the second being more specifically for parents and caregivers. She has also agreed to give an evening presentation to students taking the school and community support worker certificate program at Vancouver Island University Powell River campus.
Don’t Teach Anything You Have to Unteach is from 10 am to 3 pm, Friday, March 2 and admission costs $60. Before the Behaviour Begins is from 10 am to 1 pm on Saturday, March 3 and costs $20. There is limited seating for both of these workshops. For more information readers can contact Duncan at info@4children.ca or online.
