Drs. Hagerty to Present at International Conference

Drs. George & Oksana Hagerty are in Lagos, Nigeria for the International Conference on Disabilities, being held from June 22nd-24th. Dr. George Hagerty was invited to be a keynote speaker for the event. His speech will focus on the lessons learned through United States policies regarding educating students with learning disabilities, using his background experience with the Department of Education and as President of Beacon College. Learning Specialist   Dr. Oksana Hagerty will be giving her own presentation on the scaffolding approach to educating students with learning disabilities, reviewing the model of support services offered at Beacon.

Dr. George Hagerty has been in contact from Nigeria to share his first impressions of the country:

Our days in Nigeria have been rich with impressions, every one of them positive and enduring. Our hosts, Dare and Sarah Daniel, have welcomed us into their beautiful home as members of the family. The International Conference on Disabilities is a major event for the people in Lagos and Nigeria, and they have attracted sponsorship and participation from throughout Africa, Europe, and the States. The UN will play a significant role in this event, scheduled from Monday through Thursday. Oksana and I have already visited a special school, and I have been on a Saturday morning talk show viewed throughout Nigeria and broadcast in England on one of the Sky networks. Today I will meet with other keynote speakers and the organizing committee for introductions.

We arrived in the rainy season for Nigeria, so the temperatures are actually slightly under those of Orlando. When it rains, it really rains. These storms happen once or twice a day and last for about an hour. That which is most extraordinary to us is the warmth and energy of the people of Nigeria. Commerce is everywhere, and fast-paced. Photos from our experience will follow.