Dr. Elna Carrington-Blaides’ main research interest is Inclusive Education in the Caribbean. She is a pioneer in teacher training in the field of Inclusive and Special Education and responsible for the development programmes in Inclusive and Special Education in Trinidad and Tobago. First, she developed and implemented in 2007 the University of Trinidad and Tobago’s Bachelor's programme and then the Master's programme at The University of the West Indies. She has been the Coordinator of the M.Ed. Programme in Inclusive and Special Education at the School of Education, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus since 2011. She has over 35 years of experience teaching/lecturing at all levels of the Education System in Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America; her current work with children presented with learning and behaviour challenges is underpinned by work at the School of Education’s Psychoeducational Diagnostic and Intervention Clinic (PEDIC). At the PEDIC, Dr. Carrington-Blaides work is mostly in providing intervention services, professional development and research.

As a researcher, Dr. Carrington-Blaides has a keen interest in all exceptionalities related to children and youth including those who are gifted and talented coupled with youth who are presented with behaviour disorders. Her current research includes the prevalence of children and youth with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism; and the knowledge of teachers about ADHD and Autism in children and youth. Dr Carrington-Blaides’ research work is also keenly focused on comorbidities, which make the Caribbean challenge unique and demands developing inclusive education suitable for the Caribbean context an urgent imperative. Other research interests include special education policy in the Caribbean, transformative inclusive education approaches, and international special education policy.

Link to Dr. Carrington-Blades' Research Page

Lecturer in Inclusive and Special Education
E-mail: elna-carrington-blaides@sta.uwi.edu
Tel/ext: (868)-662-2002/83405