Category Archives: BCTF

Let’s talk about language: Is disability a bad word?

Posted on March 21, 2023 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

(CW – for outdated ableist terms in article) In my work as an educator and an activist, I have long wondered why it is so difficult for us to use the word “disability.” The word “special” and the notion of … Continue reading →

Posted in ableism, Autism, BCTF, Disability, Discrimination, prejudice, Public Education, Special Education, the R word | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Voting “yes” – because I trust you… #bced

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

Yup… Voting ‘yes’ and that vote is not saying that I think this is a good deal… because it is not… But it is better than I think we would get if we were legislated back… and I trust, respect … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, BC Teachers Federation, BCTF, Christy Clark, Collective Responsibility, family, Parent, Public Education, social justice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ken Bramble: Connecting the Dots in #bced

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

Some may wonder why a blog that is generally about Autism would be so closely focused on matters of public education of late, but the reality is that these matters are connected, and there is an unquestionable intersectionality between social … Continue reading →

Posted in Activist, Advocacy, advocate, Autism, BC Teachers Federation, BCTF, Educator, Public Education | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Dear Mr. Fassbender: Class Size, Composition, and Shame…

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

Dear Mr. Fassbender, Yesterday I was invited to speak at a rally outside of your MLA office. I was quite excited to have to opportunity to speak with you, the Minister of Education, in person and thought long and hard … Continue reading →

Posted in ableism, acceptance, Autism, autism stigma, BC Teachers Federation, BCTF, Behaviour | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Appreciation on the First Day of School: #Iwillholdtheline

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

So the first day of school in BC this year – a time that is usually exciting and feels full of possibility – is little different from most… Picketing is not the most promising start to the school year… but … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Autism, BC Teachers Federation, BCTF, Educator, Play, Teacher | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dear Mr. Fassbender: All You Really Need to Know You Learned in Kindergarten

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

Note: This post is written in response to the BC Minster of Education, Peter Fassbender’s, CKNW radio interview regarding the labour dispute with the public school teachers of British Columbia (BCTF). Today I took part in a live-tweet response during … Continue reading →

Posted in ableism, acceptance, Autism, Autistic, BC Teachers Federation, BCTF, Educator, Neurodiversity, Special Education, Teacher | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Why a teacher??? #thisismystrikepay #BCTF

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

Today on the picket lines, my colleagues and I were approached by a woman with two adorable dogs. I asked permission to take a picture of her sweet basset hound to use on social media in support of the strike. … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, BC Teachers Federation, BCTF, Educator, social justice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Cross Words… Creative on the lines! #BCTF

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

  Today we got creative on the lines, vented a little with some cross words, and made up this cool puzzle to share with our colleagues. Here is a link in PDF format: https://crosswordlabs.com/pdf/teacher-strike-2014 I will post the answers later … Continue reading →

Posted in Activist, advocate, BC Teachers Federation, BCTF, Christy Clark, Educator, support, Teacher | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Not alone… #BCTF #BCFED #TeachersStrike

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

Yesterday evening, along with other members of my district’s local, I went to the BC Federation of Labour’s rally in Vancouver to support the BCTF and it was heartening to see the support from so many unions and members of … Continue reading →

Posted in Activist, Autism, BC Teachers Federation, BCTF, Educator, Parent, Public Education, social justice, Special Education, Teacher | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Chalk on the line…. #thisismystrikepay

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

This is what happens when you put a doodler like me on the strike line… Appreciation to the people who brought us goodies and/or had words of support today. We are walking the line to protect public education and ensure … Continue reading →

Posted in Activist, Autism, BC Teachers Federation, BCTF, Christy Clark, Educator, Public Education, social justice, Special Education, Teacher | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments