JONNA BOBZIEN, PH.D.

Keynote speech: Seven Things You Should Know: A Teacher and Parent Perspective

Breakout session topics:

My Student May Have Autism, Now What?
Work Smarter, not Harder. Simple Classroom and Instructional Modifications to Boost Student Success
Academic Skills, Functional skills or Both? Best Practices for Teaching Students with Significant Disabilities

Jonna Bobzien, Ph.D. is an associate professor and Graduate Program Director of the Special Education program at Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, VA. Dr. Bobzien received her baccalaureate in biology at ODU and began working as an occupational therapy technician, providing support with positioning, feeding, and the use of assistive technology in a residential facility for medically fragile children with severe physical and cognitive disabilities. She returned to ODU to earn both a master’s and doctorate degree in special education. Prior to pursuing her doctorate degree, Dr. Bobzien worked as a special educator and served as the lead teacher in a regional pubic day school program for students with severe disabilities. Dr. Bobzien’s research interests include teaching functional academic curriculum to children with severe disabilities, the use of appropriate instructional, sensory, and communication strategies for students with autism spectrum disorder, and classroom strategies that promote social participation of students with disabilities.