Meet Dr. Beverly Barkon
Dr. Barkon is a well-respected resource for SurvivorConnect at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. She works directly with students — and parents of students under the age of 18 — who may be experiencing educational transition issues due to pediatric cancer.
She has been a faculty member at New Jersey City University in special education and in Project Mentor — a support program for college students with disabilities. A retired professor of special education at Carlow University, Pittsburgh, PA, Dr. Barkon has served as an educational liaison in the pediatric neuro-oncology clinic at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. In addition, she has been an expert witness in administrative law courts. She has presented at national and international conferences on the learning experiences and transition needs of survivors of pediatric cancers. Dr. Barkon also volunteers as a mentor/angel for Imerman’s Angels, a one-on-one support program for newly diagnosed cancer patients.
Dr. Barkon earned her Ph.D. in communication disorders, field of learning disabilities from Northwestern University and has a Masters in Studies in Law in the areas of education and disability law from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
“My approach will help you learn how to self-advocate and ask for warranted assistance. Together, we will work with your school to communicate what you need to be successful. Sometimes, the answer is simply extending deadlines, additional mentoring or providing physical support. We will become a team, focused on your goals.”
Advocate For Survivors
From her professional experience, Dr. Barkon has unique perspectives in the education arena — serving as a professor and also as a student advocate. Colleges fit students into what they have and what they know. As a survivor, you may feel you don’t fit into the standard category of student life. Survivors have a unique constellation of strengths that need to be seen and issues for which assistance can be obtained.
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