In this powerful episode, Corie sits down with Maxine Williams, VP Head of Accessibility and Engagement at Meta (formerly Chief Diversity Officer), Rhodes Scholar, Oxford and Yale graduate, for an honest, inspiring, and deeply Trinidadian conversation. From acting on stage in Earl Lovelace's the Dragon Can't Dance with Brother Resistance and playing the evil Isis in Westwood Park, to working alongside Mark Zuckerberg at one of the world’s most influential tech companies, Maxine shares the personal and professional journey that led her from WoodBrook, POS to Silicon Valley boardrooms.
They discuss the magic of Carnival, the legacy of Peter Minshall, the future of AI and assistive tech, and what it really takes to get a job at a company like Meta. Maxine also reflects on imposter syndrome, community, the power of representation, and why excellence gives you the freedom to choose your own path.
This one is full of laughter, real talk, and lessons for anyone navigating creativity, identity, and career on a global scale — all while staying rooted in the Caribbean spirit.
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The process/steps by which parents can go from "I think my child might have a learning difference to getting them assessed, diagnosed and a learning plan made begins with getting a psycho educational assessment done. To do this:
1) Ask for feedback from teachers about your child's learning experience and schedule a meeting with the Principal. Get a referral letter from the Principal.
2) Take the letter to the Ministry of Education Student Support Services Division (SSSD) and ask for a free Developmental Assessment of your child https://www.moe.gov.tt/student-support-services-division-sssd/
868) 622-2181.
3) If you would like to get an assessment done sooner and have the means to pay, there are a couple of options: contact the UWI School of Education PEDIC clinic https://sta.uwi.edu/FHE/education/content/pedic
Or
Select a psychologist from the website of T&T Association of Psychologists
https://psychologytt.org
(868) 794-TTAP (8827)
There are also some NGOs that provide assessments to certain populations in their field or catchment area eg:
* Dyslexia Association for specific Reading based assessments and
* The Cotton Tree Foundation for children enrolled in their core programmes and in the communities they serve.
