Ankita Bhattashali

Ankita Bhattashali earned her PhD from the University of Kansas in the Department of Special Education, with a specialization in Early Childhood Unified programs. She also holds an MS in Special Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Social Work from Osmania University, India.

Her professional experience includes teaching in preschool classrooms in Illinois and serving as a University Supervisor, where she provided coaching and feedback to student teachers, and co-taught undergraduate and graduate courses during her doctoral training at the University of Kansas. Additionally, she has worked at a non-profit organization in India as a project coordinator and academic lead.

Dr. Bhattashali’s work focuses on supporting practitioners in partnering effectively with families and translating research into practice to support all children in inclusive learning environments. Her research interests include teacher preparation, early childhood inclusive education, and family–professional partnerships in the United States. She also examines parents’ perceptions of disability and inclusive education in international contexts. To address her research questions, she primarily uses qualitative and mixed-methods research designs. Dr. Bhattashali has authored and co-authored multiple scholarly articles and book chapters in these areas.