Texas Tech University

Phoebe Aoko Okungu, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Special Education

Email: phoebe.okungu@ttu.edu

Phone: (806) 834-0286

Office: Education 227

Phoebe Okungu is an Assistant Professor of Special Education in the Special Education department of at Texas Tech University (TTU). She also coordinates the TTU DeafBlind Program. Prior to joining TTU in 2016, Dr. Okungu was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Services at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA), Texas for two years.

Phoebe was born and raised in Kenya, and prior to coming to the United States she was a lecturer at the Kenya Institute of Special Education where she prepared teachers to serve students with special needs.  

Phoebe received her PhD in Special Education from Texas Tech University (TTU) in 2014, M.Phil.in Special Education from the University of Oslo, Norway (2005), and Bachelor of Education from Kenyatta University, Kenya (2000). As a doctoral student at TTU, Phoebe was a recipient of the AT&T fellowship for 4 years. She has interests in qualitative and interventional research, with special populations as the main focus.

Dr. Phoebe Okungu, Ph.D.

Education

  • Texas Tech University, U.S.A. – 2010-2014
  • University of Oslo, Norway.- 2003- 2005
  • Kenyatta University, Kenya- 1997 – 2000
  • Kenya Institute of Special Education – 1993-1995

Areas of Expertise

  • Accommodations for persons with visual impairments
  • Qualitative Research
  • Differentiated Instruction
  • Special skills in Braille medium
  • Online instruction with certificate from SFA

Selected Publications

Okungu, A. Phoebe, Griffin-Shirley, N., & Pogrund, R. (2019). Accommodation needs for teachers who are blind, and teach students with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness 1-12. journals.sagepub.com/home/jvb SAGE Publications     

Okungu Phoebe, Depountis Vicki & Molloy-Daugherty Dellae (2019). The Development of an Application that supports body awareness for children with visual impairments and additional disabilities. Vision Rehabilitation International, 10, 1-8

Okungu, Phoebe A., Mullins, Frank E., & Lechtenberger DeAnne (2017). Twenty characteristics of an effective conflict management response team. Journal of Human Services: Training Research and Practice, 2, 1-17.

Rebecca, J. C., Mullins, E. Frank., Okungu, A. Phoebe, & Sinclair, Thomas (2016). Supporting Systems Change Via participatory Decision Making: Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Program Development. Journal of Human Services, Training, Research and Practice, 1(1), 2-15.

Devender, B., Okungu, A. P., Meeks, M. K., & Griffin-Shirley, N. (2015). A single subject study on orientation and mobility for students with autism spectrum disorders and visual impairment. The International Journal of Orientation and Mobility 7(1), 34-43.

Devender, B., Griffin-Shirley, N., Okungu, A. P., Ogot, O. P., & Meeks, M. K. (2014): A review of intervention studies conducted with individuals with autism and sensory impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 108, 299-309