Cyndi Gerlach has been a Special Education advocate for the past nine years. With three children who have distinct learning styles, Cyndi has plenty of experience with the obstacles students can face and how key decisions might affect them. Many factors motivated Cyndi to run for the School Board. In particular she wanted to ensure that students with unique learning requirements would have a voice at the table that understands their needs. Cyndi sees the role of the School Board as providing support for children’s education, for teachers, support workers, as well as working within the education system to find solutions to existing challenges that will reach all children. Since 2000, Cyndi has devoted much of her time to supporting the parents of special needs children. She has provided assistance for parents navigating services on the North Shore, run support groups for families, acted as a liaison with social workers, educational staff, and service-providers; mentored parents in their child’s advocacy; and networked for support to help resolve funding, educational, and service challenges. Cyndi has also served on the District Parent Advisory Council and the Advisory Council for Autism Community Training (ACT) British Columbia. She currently serves on the North Shore Youth Transition Committee (from children’s to adult services), the District of North Vancouver Community Services Advisory Committee, and the Advisory Committee for Supported Child Care Development. She also volunteers for the North Vancouver Football Club, and Moms on the Move. Cyndi studied marketing and communications, and more recently has participated in workshops and training programs on special needs and support development. January 2012 |