Sadia Warsi

Dr. Sadia Warsi is a Professor of Special Education at National Louis University in Chicago, with over two decades of experience in special education and inclusive teaching. She earned her PhD in Special Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago, focusing on emergent literacy development of homeless children. Her expertise encompasses differentiated instruction, equitable learning environments, trauma-informed instruction, and multicultural competency. Dr. Warsi's research centers on poverty and literacy, literacy development in diverse environments, and experiences of refugee children in inclusive settings. She teaches courses in early childhood education, special education assessment, literacy instruction, and family collaboration. She has published extensively on refugee students with disabilities, Muslim representation in children's literature, trauma-informed practices, and family engagement in special education. Her book Beyond Labels: Understanding Refugee Students with Disabilities in Educational Contexts was published by Myers Education Press in 2025. She presents nationally and internationally on inclusive classroom design and cultural responsiveness in education. Before her academic career, Dr. Warsi taught in Chicago Public Schools as both an inclusion and self-contained special education teacher, giving her practical classroom experience that informs her university teaching and research. She has received the Excellence in Teaching Award from National Louis University.