As the Executive Vice President of the Barber National 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 National Institute, she was a special education teacher in the Erie School District. She is responsible for the overall clinical, administrative and financial operations of the Children & Youth Service line within the Barber National Institute, which includes the PA Approved Private School, the Elizabeth Lee Black School (ELBS). This also includes the Early Childhood programs, including Early Intervention preschool, Happy Hearts daycare, and the Pre-K Counts program.
Preschool Graduation, 2017
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 a partial hospitalization program for students enrolled in the ELBS. She has also led the ELBS into numerous ventures in the development and expansion of programs in the arts for children with special needs.
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: Temple Grandin award for outstanding leadership in the autism community by Autism Connections of PA; 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 with son, Ryan, at the 2016 Ladies Only Luncheon.
She has served in many leadership positions in local and statewide organizations including the Advisory Council of PNC’s Grow Up Great initiative, which was instrumental in the early conception of Muppet character Julia, a young girl with autism. She also serves as a member of the Rotary Club, the Junior League of Erie, the Education & Training Consortium, the Finance Board for the Roman Catholic diocese of Erie, and the Saint Vincent Hospital Advisory Board. In the past, she has served in organizations including: International Institute, Erie Day School, Catholic Social Services, Right to Education Task Force,Northwest Council for Exceptional Citizens, and PA Interagency Coordinating Council, NWPA Autism Society of America, PA DPW’s Autism Task Force, PA Steering Committee for Office of Special Education, The PA Early Intervention Association, ARC of Erie County, Foster Grandparent Advisory Board and was the NW Regional Chair of the PA Commission for Children and Families.
Dr. Barber-Carey’s also has a 22 year-old son, Ryan, who is on the autism spectrum. With this blog, AllAboutAutismBNI, Dr. Barber-Carey will give you her insights – from a professional and a personal point-of-view.
All About Autism 
I love this!
Thanks for following me, MaryAnne. I so appreciate this!
Hi
My name is Andrew Morris, and we are kayaking down the River Thames, in the United Kingdom, in May 2014. The aim is to raise awareness of autism, http://www.kayaking4autism.com, through social media. It would be great if you can help support this cause and spread the word around the world. We are using #k4a to monitor the impact we make.
Many thanks for your support
Andrew
Thanks for following blog. I will definitely do this on my FB and Twitter and spread the word.
Hi Dr. Barber-Carey, I just came across your blog and am so impressed. At the beginning of this year I briefly worked for the BNI as a para educator, but I have since accepted a position as a Supports Coordinator for the Adult Autism Waiver. I was not previously aware of this wonderful resource you have created and maintain, but am excited to follow you and your updates. Thank you for the time and effort you put into this sight, it has so much to offer the autism community!
I hope all is well at the BNI! 🙂
Thanks for following my blog ,Kelsey. If I can be of any assistance in your role as Supports Coordinator , please do not hesitate to call…and do share information on my blog! All is well at BNI!
This is a wonderful blog and I find it useful in getting information on autism. I am a parent with a young adult with autism. I have been teaching my son for quite sometime and found it difficult finding educational materials that are picture based. Therefore I decided to create apps to address some of my son’s educational needs and wanted to share this information with you. The app Picture Association by Pictures To Learn, LLC is a wonderful app. It is completely picture based and very easy and fun to use. You can go on https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/autism-app-picture-association/id916462229?mt=8 to view screen shots. We pray the app will help teachers and parents teach the skill of association. Please feel free to contact Pictures To Learn for more information on this app and other apps that will be releasing soon.
Having read this I thought it was very enlightening.
I appeciate you takin the time and effort to putt this short article together.I once
again find myself personally spending way tooo much time
both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth
it!
Really love your blog great information the time you put in is very helpful. My name is Travis Johnston I have a son Carter who is 9 who is autistic. One of our biggest hurddles has been keeping his clothes on so we created a moisture wicking bodysuit with a patented reverse zipper in the back. We are trying to reach as many people as we can with our Cj Suits (Carter Johnston) as they have been VERY helpful for us. http://www.keepemon.com Thank You
Thanks for your kind words, Travis.
Dear Dr.Maureen, it was a pleasure to meet with Mr. Ed Grode from Erie who brought us autism reading material including a book Effective Instruction for Children with Autism from Barber center. On behalf of Refugee Autism Project, i express my gratitude. David
We are so pleased to be able to contribute anything to your wonderful efforts. Please contact me if there is anything else I can do!!