Journeying Together
Raising a child with unique needs is a journey that CQS teacher Chandra Habermann understands personally and professionally.
“There are fears, there is denial, and then there is acceptance. It’s about learning to embrace who your child
is as an individual and celebrating their successes.”
Chandra worked for the Calgary Board of Education before coming to CQS. When she had her own children, her trajectory changed.
“One of my sons has some exceptional needs and that was what steered the path for me”, she says. Chandra completed her Masters of Education, with a focus on Autism Spectrum Disorders, before eventually landing at CQS.
When she began working at the school, she immediately felt it was the right fit. She emphasizes the strength of CQS’s cross-disability approach, which accommodates a wide variety of learning needs.
“We have students who have strong social skills, but have challenges in other areas. We have other students who have challenges with social skills. When you bring them together in a classroom environment, they model different skills for each other and build friendships.”
In this way, children are able to learn and grow from their peers. Chandra has seen the success of this approach time and again. “There have been many students over the years who have come into my classroom with significant challenges.
In time, with structure, and positive relationships, they settle in, they relax, they feel comfortable, and they build their skills. It’s rewarding to see them leave my classroom with a new skillset and confidence from the friendships they’ve built.”
Because CQS teachers like Chandra are invested – and can empathize with the families of the children they work with – the entire approach is carried out in close collaboration with parents. Chandra knows that raising children with unique learning needs is a journey. It’s a journey that CQS is here to walk through with parents.
“Parents know their child best and we bring that into the work we do.”