Shawn A. Robinson

Shawn Anthony Robinson, PhD, is a senior research associate in the Wisconsin's Equity and Inclusion Laboratory and instructional program manager in the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Robinson’s scholarship focuses on the intersection of race, dyslexia, and giftedness (i.e., creativity and leadership), and how the misidentification of behavior/emotional disorders neglects the academic and social development of African American boys with an actual learning disability in Special Education. Robinson also brings a wealth of academic experience, training, and knowledge about the psychological development of dyslexia, which he learned as a graduate student and practitioner in the field. His undergraduate work was completed at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, his master’s at DePaul University, and his doctorate in language and literacy from Cardinal Stritch University. Robinson’s research stems from his lived experiences as an African American male who was in Special Education throughout his entire PreK-12 journey and graduated after his final two years in an alternative high school reading at an elementary level. Based on his personal academic journey and research interests, Robinson is a volunteer with Special Olympics, runs summer reading programs through the Boys and Girls Club, and serves on the board of directors of the International Dyslexia Association.

Current Work:

Robinson has written over thirty publications that include guest editing special issues, book chapters, edited books, journal articles, and a children’s graphic novel. His current scholarship is focused around eliminating barriers that constrain students with learning disabilities from receiving appropriate standardized assessment and reading intervention, and other factors which may contribute to the failure of reading. In addition, Robinson is designing out-of-school literacy programs that provide access to reading curriculum that is based on scientific research to students and their parents from underserved communities. In his current roles in the Wei LAB and with the International Dyslexia Association, Robinson is raising awareness and advocating for policy to improve teacher preparation/training programs at universities in order to better serve students with dyslexia. Robinson is currently guest editing a book with Peter Lang publisher that includes voices of mothers from around the world who share their experiences raising children with dyslexia and the resistance these families face when fighting the school districts for academic access and equality. Further, Robinson is writing a series of children’s graphic novels based on the story of an African American boy with dyslexia. He hopes to give access through these books so other children can see themselves as “scholars” and begin to change their mindset.

Research Area Keyword(s):

Qualitative, narrative, dyslexia, race, and creativity