Danielle Shulkin Email & Phone Number

I still remember the little girl with a huge smile and long, dark hair who I met during my first few days in Panama during my time as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Born with developmental disabilities to a single mother, she communicated mostly through smiling, crying, or hitting. Her mother, who clearly loved her dearly, was doing her best, but did not know how to help her daughter learn and grow. Neither did the teachers at her school, which had no Special Education teacher. Most people thought that strict disciple was needed to teach her how to behave so that she could be a functioning member of society, not understanding that she didn’t know why she was being punished, only that she was. As a seasoned Inclusive Education Specialist with experience working with students, teachers, and government officials around the world, I keep children like her at the forefront of everything I do. Children and the families who love them want to help them live happy, fulfilling lives—they just need the tools to do so. By working with teachers and administrators to create and improve programs to help ALL children succeed, regardless of who they are or where they come from, I hope to continue improving education systems both in the US and beyond to create a happier, healthier, safer world for all of us.