Today we’d like to introduce you to Patric Barbieri.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Patric. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have a sister with Down syndrome and she was the reason I ended up where I am today… When I went to college I was a business major. I decided to work at LABBB until I finished my degree in business and then move on. I decided that I really enjoyed working in the field of special education and went back to acquire my masters in special education. I started working as a paraprofessional, then I had some opportunity to get into administration. 29 years later I am the Executive Director of the LABBB Collaborative. The field of special education is a passion for me, the people, the community are the reason why it makes this job very meaningful. I have significantly changed the way that I view my role in the special education community and my role as Executive Director. Both my parents passed away a few years ago and I became the guardian of my sister. What I have learned in the past few years cannot be taught in college, you have to live it. My mission is to serve our families with the knowledge that I have experienced about what it takes to prepare their son and daughter, not just from ages 3-22, but for life. For parents in the special education community this is a difficult journey and they need information, resources from people who are going through what they will be confronting after their child graduates. Every day that I come to work I think about how we can teach our students to live independently, be part of a community and learn how to work. These are the three essential components to a successful future for our students. After 29 years you would think that someone in my position would know everything there is to know about special education. This couldn’t be further from the truth. What I have learned in the past few years has re-energized my passion for special education. Sharing my story with our parents in LABBB will give them hope, confidence, and a connection for life.
Has it been a smooth road?
I believe that when you are given opportunities you take them. I have been fortunate to be given some opportunities within LABBB and every challenge had many obstacles. As a Collaborative Director our role is to serve our districts and many times there are different philosophies and beliefs, but we all need to work together for a common goal. This is a challenge every day. If everyone agreed then it would be easy. We are talking about a person’s life and preparing them for the future and our students have many complex needs so this is always going to be a challenge from student to student.
Our job is to also show what our students “Can” do. To see past their disabilities, and look at what each student can contribute. All our students are part of our public schools. This has been the philosophy of our program for 45 years. The challenge every day is to create relationships within our schools, help our student be as integrated as possible. This is hard work. This work will never stop. Fortunately, with programs like Best Buddies and PAL’s this has made it successful. We also work with about 20 businesses in the Middlesex area where our students are working alongside employees of the company. Being inclusive builds community. It builds a diverse community. Our students will be living, working and socializing in their community and our job is to give them the skills to be successful and for our community businesses to give them opportunities to work.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the LABBB Collaborative story. Tell us more about the business.
LABBB has been around for 45 years and our mission is to “Design and deliver special education services that promote academic, social and career opportunities it the most inclusive settings possible.” We continue to be the leaders in transition services for students with special needs. We continue to develop programs, build partnerships with businesses, and give our students a rich social life so they are ready to live independently.
Our staff are committed to our mission and they carry it out as a team. This common mission gives our services strength because we know exactly where we are going. We have created a strong community and we also have a large alumni group and we are continuing to build it.
For parents who have children with special needs I emphatically urge you to be part of a community that supports not only services from 3-22, but to also look for a program that is committed to helping parents beyond 22. We are proud of our alumni who continue to be part of the LABBB community to support each other. You will want to know that you have a resource beyond 22 and a place where your child can continue to connect with their peers.
LABBB also continues to find ways to be part of inclusive settings. We are part of the ICEI program at Middlesex community college and our students have the opportunity to go to college with support.
This past year we rented a house in Lexington that will be a place where our students learn how to live independently. This house will also serve as a place for respite. Students will be able to spend weekends and long vacations in this house with a well-defined curriculum teaching them the skills to be able to live in a group home setting.
We look for new and creative ways to gain employment for our students. This year we started a business with a LABBB family in Lexington Center. Omar’s World of Comics and Hobbies which has been featured in many articles and news programs.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The trend in special education is transition from school to work or continuing education. Transition needs to move from concept to community. These skills cannot be learned in the classroom, they need to be practiced in our community, in a business in a real life living situation. To understand this backwards design is essential. If we see children with special needs living, working and socializing as an adult, then we need to create programs where our children are having the opportunities to practice this every day. Imagine your child living in a group home, shared living, working in a business, because this is the life they should be working towards because we want them to be an independent adult. Most parents will say that when their child was living on their own that is when they became independent. Our vision needs to change to give our students the best possible chance of having a meaningful life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.labbb.com
- Phone: 339-222-5615
- Email: pbarbieri@labbb.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/labbbcollaborative/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LABBB-Collaborative-208736369224979/?ref=br_rs
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/PatricBarbieri
- Other: https://patricbarbieri.wordpress.com/
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