Joann Anokwuru (She, Her) is a special/inclusive educator, advocate, and author. She holds a B.Ed. and M.Ed. in Special education from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Pedagogy, Leadership, and Administration from the University of British Columbia. An Advanced Diploma, Inclusive Education, Queens University, Belfast, and a PhD, Curriculum Studies, UBC. Joann is a Certified Educational Assessor with Real Training UK and a British Society of Psychologists BPS, UK member. With over 28 years of teaching experience as a special educator, Joann wants to see school systems where people with disabilities are given access to learning, sharing and being. Joann is the coordinator and teacher for Gateway to Adulthood, a Learning district program, Vancouver School Board. GTA is a program for young adults with disabilities, preparing them for community transition and college.
Joann’s PhD research focused on utilizing ecological narrative to bring forth the voices of young adults with disabilities, their families, special educators, and policymaker advocating for the Nigerian educational system to be more inclusive.