Many parents of a child with a disability can “almost” walk in their child’s shoes. As a parent of a daughter who is significantly disabled by autism, mental retardation, OCD and seizures—Donna is one of those Moms.

Advocacy efforts surrounding her daughter’s life quickly took a turn to include nurses and nursing students with disabilities. Through her efforts, the secret is out— disability is part of life…even for nurses!

Donna graduated from the University of Bridgeport School of Nursing. She received a certificate as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, a MS in Nursing from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University.

She is a tireless advocate for inclusion of nurses with disabilities in nursing practice and founder of the nonprofit resource network for nurses and nursing students with disabilities called www.ExceptionalNurse.com.

Donna has conducted research on the experiences of nursing students with disabilities and published numerous articles on disability-related topics. She is the author of Nursing Students with Disabilities Change the Course and Leave No Nurse Behind: Nurses working with disabilities.

Pediatrics and developmental disabilities are her areas of special interest. She has been a faculty member in nursing education for over 25 years.

To learn more about Donna’s work and find information and resources for nurses and students with disabilities visit www.ExceptionalNurse.com.