The founder, Dr. Badewa T. Adejugbe-Williams is an Educational Therapist (ET) and Specialist. That is, she is an Educationist with core specialization in Children and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and learning difficulties and a specialist on multicultural education.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in English and Drama with minor in Journalism from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville (JSU), Alabama, USA. While earning her B.A., she became the first Black Stage Manager of theatrical productions at JSU and she solely stage-managed the university’s stage productions for three years in a roll. Having done a splendid job stage-managing at the university, she was recruited by the Anniston Playhouse, a professional theatre to stage-manage some of its productions.
Due to unforeseen family circumstances (diagnosis of her twins with development disabilities), Dr. Badewa Adejugbe-Williams embarked on another career in Education, to supplement her film production career. The circumstances of her children’s disabilities made her choose Special Education. What she thought would be a secondary career became somewhat dominant in the pursuit of means of livelihood for her family. A very hardworking and industrious mother of three, Badewa studied part-time and earned two Masters of Arts (M.A.) degrees, one in Educational (Multicultural) and the other in Special Education (Educational Therapy). She has two teaching credentials, one in General Education Multiple Subjects and the other Level II Educational Specialist (Special Education and a Doctor in Education (Ed.D) degree from Capella University of Minneapolis, USA.
She has experience working with different categories of pupils from Kindergarten age to Senior Citizens; pupils with and without learning disabilities. She was a general education teacher at Compton Unified School District and a Special Education teacher with the El Rancho Unified School District and the Los Angeles Unified School District. All districts are in California, USA. She also worked as an Educational Therapist in Private Practice.
As an Educational Specialist, Dr. Adejugbe-Williams has many accomplishments. Besides teaching, she piloted collaborative practices, especially co-teaching in inclusive classrooms amongst general education and special education teachers. She facilitated a number of in-services and staff development workshops on collaboration, motivating students, and implications and strategies of managing cognitive overload during the course of her employment as an educator.
While in Nigeria, she has been advocating for people living with developmental disabilities. She often presents papers on developmental disabilities as she sensitizes the public, especially parents and teachers, on the needs of those living with disabilities. Moreover, Dr. Badewa Adejugbe-Williams volunteers and coordinates Diaspora Nigerian events. As a member of the Nigeria Diaspora Alumni Network (NiDAN), she chairs the Hospitality and Tourism Forum as well as the Events Committee and has played major roles as Chair/Coordinator of Nigeria’s Presidential events which include the 2013 Nigeria Diaspora Day and Conference, 2015 Nigeria Diaspora Day and Conference, the 2018 Inaugural Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) and the 2nd NDIS of 2019.
Dr. Adejugbe-Williams is a member of the Association of Educational Therapist (AET), a professional association for educational therapists. AET defines and sets standards for the professional practice of educational therapy. She is also a member of the Council for Exceptional Children, International Dyslexia Association (IDA),Learning Disability Association of America (LDA) and others.
Dr. Williams also has professional background in Theater Arts and Motion Picture/Television Production. She worked in Hollywood California both in Theater and Films as a Director, Producer, Writer, Actress and Stage Manager.
The Association of Educational Therapists
“The Association of Educational Therapists is the national professional association for educational therapists.”
“AET defines and sets standards for the professional practice of educational therapy.” – Retrieved from www.aetonline.org.
Council For Execptional Children
International Dyslexia Association
Learning Disabilities Association Of America