As the Executive Vice President of the Barber Institute in Erie, Pennsylvania, Dr. Maureen Barber-Carey, Ed.D. has committed her life, both professionally and personally, to ensuring that children and adults with disabilities have every opportunity to reach their fullest potential.
Prior to serving in numerous administrative roles at the Barber Institute, she was a special education teacher in the Erie School District. She directed the design and opening of the Elizabeth Lee Black School in 2002, featuring eleven state-of-the-art classrooms for children with autism and multiple disabilities, and oversees the approved private school program which serves nearly 200 students and a model early intervention program that brings services for infants and toddlers into home and daycare settings. Click here for a tour of the school.
Under her leadership, the Barber National Institute has also responded to a variety of parent and student needs that have resulted in the creation of specialized programs such as a summer therapeutic activities program for children with high-functioning autism and Asperger syndrome and a partial hospitalization program for students enrolled in the Elizabeth Lee Black School.
Dr. Barber-Carey has her undergraduate degree from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana and received a Master’s at the University of Missouri. She then attended Columbia University for her doctorate in educational administration.
She has received numerous awards including: William Booth Award for Outstanding Contribution to Humanity; Pennsylvania Honor Roll of Women; Friends of Education Award, Gannon University; Inclusion Award of Interagency Coordination Council for Early Intervention; and Outstanding Young Woman of the Year from Jaycees.
Dr. Barber-Carey was appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell to serve as the Northwest Regional Chair of the Pennsylvania Commission for Children and Families and serves on the PNC Grow Up Great Advisory Council and was a board member of the Northwest PA Autism Society of America. She has served in many leadership positions in local and statewide organizations including the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare’s Autism Task Force, Pennsylvania Steering Committee for Office of Special Education, The Pennsylvania Early Intervention Association, ARC of Erie County, Foster Grandparent Advisory Board, Junior League of Erie, International Institute, Erie Day School, Catholic Social Services, Right to Education Task Force, Northwest Council for Exceptional Citizens, and Pennsylvania Interagency Coordinating Council.
Aside from Dr. Barber-Carey’s professional accomplishments, she also has a son, 18-year-
old Ryan, who is on the autism spectrum. With this blog, Dr. Barber-Carey will give you her insights – from a professional and a personal point-of-view.
