Dear SENIA-Beijing,
We warmly welcome all teachers, specialist, parents, plus both the local and greater community. As SENIA-Beijing continues, I cannot help but extend great thanks to previous board members for all they have done and accomplished in making SENIA-Beijing what it is continues to be today allowing us to keep our mission and vision.
Mission: SENIA champions inclusion by empowering our global community to connect, learn, and advocate for one another.
Vision: To live in an inclusive world.
I would like to introduce you to the 2024 – 2025 SENIA-Beijing board with their positions:
- Janice Bareng-Pineda, Event Chair
- Kelsie Fitzgerald, Membership Chair
- Stephenie Lee, Marketing Chair
- Suzanne Robare, Secretary
- Juliane Karlsson, Media Chair
- James Rupasinha, External Expertise Chair
- Ruth Ren, School Representative Chair
- Meera Raghu, Communications Chair
- Gerald Anthony, Chairman
Regards,
Dr. Gerald Anthony
Chairman, On Behalf of the SENIA-Beijing Board
Dr. Gerald W. Anthony
Dr. Gerald W. Anthony has been in China since 2002, working as an educator and counselor. He has a doctorate degree in counseling, K-12 educational leadership certification, and a wide range of experiences in the areas of CBT, autism, and language.
Gerald brings over 18-years of education and leadership experience to the SENIA-Beijing board. Currently he serves as Chair of SENIA-Beijing and in the past served as the Co-Chair of Membership and Local Liaison for SENIA-Beijing.
Suzanne Robare
Suzanne Robare has been serving the educational community of Beijing since 1992 in various capacities, including local and international schools, in television, and in publishing. She holds two Master’s degrees in Education (Special Ed/EAL and Teacher Training) with post graduate studies in linguistics, Reading Recovery, and Educational Leadership. Her doctoral studies as an Educational Psychologist were derailed by COVID but she will be continuing to work towards a PhD with a focus on Reading and Literacy.
Kelsie Fitzgerald
Kelsie Fitzgerald, originally from Ireland, has been residing in Beijing since 2019 and has embraced the city as her second home. Diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 27, Kelsie’s journey towards understanding her neurodivergent brain has fueled her passion for advocacy and education. She holds a degree in Film and Media from University College Cork and recently earned her iPGCE from the University of Derby in 2024.
As the Membership Chair of SENIA-Beijing, Kelsie plays a vital role in fostering a supportive and inclusive community. She manages the SENIA-Beijing WeChat group, where she brings people together, helps members connect with resources, and ensures they find the support they need. Her dedication to community building is reflected in her efforts to create a space where everyone feels welcome and empowered.
In her ESL classroom, Kelsie strives to integrate inclusive teaching practices, focusing on building students’ confidence through creativity and project-based learning. She is particularly passionate about empowering students of all abilities, regardless of their English proficiency, and believes in the power of creativity as a universal language.
Outside of the classroom, Kelsie has diverse interests and is actively involved in community building. She is also rekindling her love for filmmaking, finding joy in the creative process.
Juliane Karlsson
Juliane Karlsson has worked over 20 years in education. Her passion for developing better strategies to promote inclusive environments crosses both public and private spaces. She has a degree in education and masters in socio-psychology.
As a teacher, she collaborated in the creation of public policies for schools, courses for child counsellors across the Amazon, and also acts as special needs professional. Her book narrates the children perspective of participation at school. Nowadays, she is the media coordinator of the SENIA-Beijing and is the editor of its newsletter.
Janice Bareng-Pineda
Janice Bareng-Pineda, a dedicated Learning Support teacher and special education needs coordinator at Harrow School Beijing, champions inclusive education with over a decade of experience. Committed to fostering a nurturing and understanding environment, Janice believes in the potential of every student, regardless of abilities or backgrounds. Her passion extends beyond the classroom as she organizes events advocating special education, mental health, and wellbeing. Proficient in intervention lessons covering literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional learning, Janice extends her support to students, staff, and parents alike. Collaborating closely with other departments and external agencies, she ensures effective support tailored to individual needs. Janice holds a teaching license and a PGCEi from the University of Nottingham, complemented by specialized training in supporting children with Autism and neurodiverse learners. Currently pursuing her MA in Special Education at the University of Northampton, Janice continues her journey of empowering students with diverse needs.
She graduated with AB English (Language and Literature) then she garnered education units for a teaching license, certified in Special Education and PGCEi from the University of Nottingham, UK.
Stephenie Lee
Stephenie Lee is a learning specialist with over ten years of experience serving students with ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, and language processing disorders in North America and Asia-Pacific. Trained in programs such as PRT, iLs, Orton-Gillingham, and Lindamood Bell, Stephenie is also the founder of Beacon Learning, a Beijing-based organization that provides customized sensory motor, cognitive processing, and executive functioning interventions to students to help them thrive in academic and social settings.
James Rupasinha
James Rupasinha is an educational and child psychologist, who is continually inspired by the patience and dedication he observes in his teaching and counselling colleagues. His background is with the British government, evaluating schools‘ provision for under-achieving students and those with high-level safeguarding needs. In and out of China since 2007, James has been with Harrow Beijing since 2016 and he has over a decade’s worth of experience in building capacity and resilience within Chinese and British schools.
Ruth Ren
Ruth Ren serves as the Student Support and Literacy Coordinator at AISB-Hope International. She discovered her passion for special education in 2021 while pursuing her master’s degree in education. Since then, Ruth has been committed to fostering an inclusive learning environment, empowering students to pursue their dreams regardless of background or ability. She actively advocates for deepening the collaboration between special education and mainstream teachers, ensuring that all students receive the support they need to thrive.
As the School Representative Coordinator of SENIA-Beijing, Stacy hopes to nurture a more vibrant, inclusive community that creates safe, growth-oriented spaces for schools, practitioners, family members, and the community to better share resources, best practices, and stories of success!
Meera Raghu
Meera Raghu is an innovative special education professional with over 18 years of experience empowering teachers to support students with diverse learning needs. Before transitioning to education, Meera gained valuable experience in public relations and journalism, where she spent significant time working on education and social awareness initiatives.
Driven by a passion for inclusion and emotional/social well-being, Meera brings comprehensive expertise spanning learning disabilities management, multi-sensory curriculum design, MTSS framework development, drafting inclusion policies, and managing student support services. As an experienced Dyslexia Therapist, and inclusion expert, she specializes in language learning, reading/writing difficulties, and behavior management.
Meera , currently working at Keystone Academy, Beijing, has worked extensively in international schools, organizing workshops and presenting at various platforms, including as a presenter and active member of SENIA. Skilled at guiding collaborative teams, she excels at aligning stakeholders on student-centered goals, enabling her to provide tailored scaffolding that unlocks each learner’s full potential. Her passion for inclusive practices has led her to champion Universal Design for Learning principles, driving transformative change through her insights.
Beyond her specialized training, Meera continually refines her craft through extensive professional development, fueling her ability to adapt teaching materials, foster creativity, and boost student engagement - empowering learners to become lifelong achievers. When not advocating for her students, Meera enjoys spending time with family, reading, cooking, and traveling.
Looking for a specialist or expert?
Download the latest Directory here
Updated November 1, 2024
SENIA Beijing External Expertise Directory
Beijing External Expertise Directory – September 2023
Various Assessment Resources in English and Chinese
Psychometric properties autism spectrum
TRIAD-Social-Skills-Assessment-EN
Spectrum’s Guide to Autism
Special Education Network and Inclusion Association(SENIA)-Beijing brings you to what’s happening around to keep you updated on upcoming events, conferences, seminars/webinars and workshops this year!
Events Calendar
SENIA Events
SENIA-Beijing is having an Autism Awareness month activity on April 2, 2023. Scan the QR code for registration and details.
April 2, 2023, 14:00 – 18:00.
SENIA-Beijing is joining Auesome Place, One Village and RongAiRongLe to host a Moon (Mid-Autumn) Festival Lunch Party.
Saturday, September 25, 2021, 10am – 1pm.
Come visit SENIA-Beijing at the Jing Kids International School Expo Beijing
April 17, 2021, 10am – 5:30pm. Scan the QR code below for details.
December 4-6, 2020
SENIA 2020 VIRTUAL CONFERENCE BRIDGING THE GAP
Hosted By Chadwick International School, Incheon, South Korea
THE COUNTDOWN IS ON
SENIA is virtual, so let’s use this opportunity to bridge the gap between general education and special education.This year’s conference brings together experts in the fields of Behavior, Communication, English as an Additional Language, Inclusion, and Executive Functions. Excited about this conference, but worried you won’t be able to network? Have no fear. Local chapters are currently planning Watch Parties and other events where you can meet in person.For those of us who are strictly virtual, join an interest-based virtual “Meet-Up.â€Â Or create one on your own.Let’s build bridges with our colleagues and come together for the benefit of all our students.
Register here:Â https://seniaconference.org
SENIA Partner Events
Incorporating Brain Talks in Teaching Executive Function by: Kaini Gu, M.S. Ed
SENIA-Beijing Partner:Â Neurodiverselearners.com
Upcoming conferences in October and 2021
INTERNATIONAL MTSS ONLINE FORUM SERIES
Jan 28-30, 2021
April 22-24, 2021
Other Helpful Resources
https://www.edutopia.org/article/stress-schools-increasing-simple-strategies-stay-calm
Amy Nielsen- BIG ABILITIES PODCAST
https://sway.office.com/PI8nRu2mSHXFdg5Z#content=dRvE5PipoV9Rlh
SENIA Beijing 2024 Conference
Download your favorite coloring sheet(s). Color. Take a photo or scan. Return by email.
Send all completed sheets to beijingchapter@seniainternational.org .
Don’t forget to include your name and contact details in the email.
What participants are saying about the conference:
“Actionable takeaways and a wonderful convening of individuals passionate about helping kids with learning differences!”
“This conference highlighted the importance of having these conferences.”
“Great job SENIA!”
“I enjoyed all the workshops!”
Scholarships and Awards
Do you know an outstanding student or professional that has made a lasting impact in the area of inclusion? Nominate them for the SENIA Student Award or SENIA World Changer Award. Click here to find out more and apply.
Would you consider supporting SENIA financially? Our free or low cost conferences and resources are maintained by the support of our members and sponsors. All donations can get a tax-deductible invoice upon request. Contact us for more details.
Looking to Get Your Certificate?
Be sure that you have:
- Completed our brief Feedback Survey.
- Download your Conference Certificate (Download, print and add your name)
Please look for our future events and conferences.