Directors

Email: bclarke@gardencenterservices.org

Barbara is a mother of two children and a grandmother of two children.  She is a parent/guardian to her 38-year old disabled daughter, Heather,  who has been a participant of Garden Center for five years.

Barbara was born and raised on the southwest side of Chicago.  She attended Blessed Sacrament and St. Clare of Montefalco grammar schools, Visitation High School and DePaul University.

Her pervious work experience includes legal secretary to senior partners of Seyfarth, Shaw, Fairweather & Geraldson and Clausen, Miller, Gorman, Caffrey & Witous in Chicago; Regional Real Estate Manager of Standard Oil Company in Chicago; Administrative Assistant for Creative World Montessori School in La Grange; Administrative Assistant for Vice Presidents of Harris Bank in Chicago; Secretary to Univac Branch Manager of Remington Rand in Chicago.

After her daughter, Heather, was injured by her third DPT shot at five months, Barbara spent the rest of her years advocating for her care as well as other disabled.  Her accomplishments are as follows:

• Worked with parent group for the passage of Public Law 94-142 mandating special education for the disabled.  Her daughter was in the first special education class for three-five year olds in Chicago.  Appeared on Channel 5 with Dr. Barry Kaufman regarding same.
• Worked with parent group for passage of the National Childhood Vaccine Act.  Appeared with disabled daughter on Peter Jennings Wide World of News and Good Morning America television programs.
• Member of the La Grange Area Department of Special Education (LADSE) Parent Advisory Board and Human Rights Committee.
• Taught Responsive Parenting for the La Grange Department of Special Education (LADSE), and appeared in a video demonstrating behavior management techniques, which was shown to the 16 member school districts of LADSE.
• Board member of SEASPAR (Southeast Area of Special Parks and Recreation) representing the Village of Indian Head Park.
• President of the Helping Hand Family Association advocating for the rights and services of the disabled and their families at Helping Hand Rehabilitation Center.                             
• Board of Directors member of the Garden Center Services from 2005 to present.  (First Vice President 2007; President 2008).