About

Dr. Donna S. Wakefield is a nationally recognized educator, researcher, and speaker in the fields of artificial intelligence in education, educational technology, assistive technology, and special education. With more than three decades of experience spanning roles as a speech-language pathologist, special education teacher, assistive technology facilitator, inclusion specialist, administrator, and university professor, she brings a practical, research-informed perspective to preparing educators for today's classrooms. Dr. Wakefield earned her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Illinois Chicago and serves as Professor Emerita of Special Education at National Louis University. An ISTE Certified Educator, Google for Education Certified Trainer, and Apple Teacher, her scholarship focuses on responsible AI integration, Universal Design for Learning, assistive technology, digital accessibility, teacher preparation, and literacy for learners with disabilities. She has presented at regional, national, and international conferences and is widely recognized for helping educators thoughtfully integrate emerging technologies while keeping human judgment, ethics, and learner needs at the center of educational decision-making.

Donna advocates for adapting literacy tools and technologies to make literature accessible to all.

Areas of Professional Expertise

•   Special Education

•   Language and Literacy for All Learners

•   Role of Disability in Children’s and Young Adult Literature

•   iOS devices for Literacy, Language, and Learning and Students with Disabilities

•   Assistive Technology

•       eLearning

•      Artificial Intelligence