Natalie L. Shaheen

Illinois State University

Natalie L. Shaheen an assistant professor of blind education at Illinois State University and the principal investigator of A11y in Sci (NSF #2334693). Shaheen is a leading expert in K-12 technology accessibility and born accessible STEM learning. The aim of Shaheen’s work is to disrupt systemic ableism and reimagine technology-mediated education so that disabled youth have equitable access to learning. Shaheen’s research currently comprises four interrelated lines of inquiry: (1) understanding technology accessibility policy enactment in K-12, (2) developing youth technology accessibility guidelines, (3) transforming teacher professionalism, and (4) developing non-visually accessible tools and pedagogical approaches for STEM education. Her previous research examined how K-12 school districts ensured equitable access to technology-mediated learning and analyzed the extent to which state-level policies addressed technology accessibility in K-12.

Before entering academia, Shaheen was a teacher of blind and disabled youth in public K-12 schools and informal education. As a practitioner, Shaheen facilitated accessible STEM classes for over 900 blind youth in a range of disciplines including: chemistry, computer science, and engineering.