Barbara Maria Vokatis

I am an innovative professor who reimagined teaching children through connecting my teaching expertise, 2 decades of parenting a neurodivergent child, and creatively incorporating my therapy dog into teaching.

In order to create truly inclusive classroom communities in which every child thrives, we need to promote practices that have the power to help educators establish authentic, inclusive learning environments. Experimental/innovative Animal-Assisted Education (AAE) begins to show amazing benefits for children’s well being as well as growing engagement and motivation across all subjects. I am proud to be one of the first innovators in this area. If implemented with attention to both children’s and animals’ needs and creatively, AAE is an amazing way to help neurodivergent children and teens function better in school and to help other children truly include neurodivergent peers.

Please see my latest book “Unshakable: Parenting through autism with love, courage and purpose” on Amazon.

Please listen to or watch my podcast Get Inspired with Dr. Barb on innovation in education, on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.