Category Archives: Special Education

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(CW – for outdated ableist terms in article) In my work as an educator and an activist, I have long wondered why it is so difficult for us to use the word “disability.”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

Packing and Unpacking: Distance Education and the Social Model of Disability

Posted on August 8, 2015 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

I am finally packed. Gah – I am so terrible at packing… It taxes my executive function because… anticipating… and predicting… and sorting… and organizing… and planning… and DECISIONS!! So now that this is done, I will tell you about … Continue reading →

Posted in acceptance, Autism, Disability, Distance Education, Distributed Learning, diversity, Educator, executive function, inclusion, Special Education | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

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

Megan Metcalfe: I don’t want you to “negotiate” #BCTF #bced

Posted on July 5, 2014 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

The following is a guest post by BC Parent, Megan Metcalfe: I sent a letter to Christie Clark’s office, Peter Fassbender’s office, and my MLA about two weeks ago. I got a response just today. It was addressed from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Christy Clark, Collective Responsibility, Educator, Parent, Public Education, Silence, Special Education | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

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

99 years… Updating Solidarity Forever #thisismystrikepay #BCTF

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

Today I am rewriting the lyrics to Solidarity Forever – 99 years after they were penned. I will be singing this at our Study Session and Rally on Monday. #thisismystrikepay Solidarity Forever: Ralph Chaplin (1915) Lyrics updated by Leah Kelley … Continue reading →

Posted in Activist, Autism, Autistic, BCTF, Christy Clark, Educator, Public Education, social justice, Special Education, Teacher | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Deconstruction by Design: A visual history of the Liberal attack on education

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

The following are some of my drawings and whatnot over the past few (okay… 27) years of weathering the BC [neo]Liberal Government’s attack on public education… interspersed with information about the BCTF’s bargaining history. The cartoons I’ve included have all … Continue reading →

Posted in Activist, Autism, Christy Clark, Educator, Public Education, social justice, Special Education, Teacher, Visual History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

I am a Greedy Teacher #bctf #bced

Posted on June 8, 2014 by Leah Kelley, Ed.D.

I am a greedy teacher… I want more than I currently have, a lot more. I don’t think that I should have to apologize for that. You see I have a son that will need help in school. He will … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, BC Teachers Federation, BCTF, Christy Clark, Educator, Public Education, social justice, Special Education, support, Teacher | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

My Plan B is… Stick to Plan A!!

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

This past week was the marking of the third year of this blog… no fanfare needed… because there is so much work that needs to be done. And I am busy – so busy – with working at my wonderful … Continue reading →

Posted in acceptance, Activist, Advocacy, advocate, Autism, Boycott Autism Speaks, diversity, Neurodiversity, Rail Against Stigma, social justice, Special Education | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments