Mildred Wood

Dr. Mildred Hope Fisher Wood was a pioneer who brought special education for learning disabilities to the forefront in Iowa, empowering thousands of students each year to lead productive, respected lives.

Born in Alta, Iowa, in 1920, Wood earned a B. A. degree in 1956, a master's degree in 1962, an Ed. S. degree in 1963, all from State College of Iowa; did postgraduate work at Syracuse University and the University of Oregon; and obtained her Doctorate of Education from the University of Indiana in 1970.

Wood was a pioneer educator in the field of learning disabilities, an instructor of Special Education and Child Psychology at State College of Iowa, adjunct instructor in Learning Disabilities at University of Northern Iowa, and Educational Consultant for Black Hawk County. She wrote a column for the Waterloo Courier titled "Parents and Learning Disabilities." She created and taught the first courses on learning disabilities at the University of Northern Iowa and conducted hundreds of workshops for teachers, principals, parents, psychologists and juvenile court officers. Not only was she an advocate for children, she was a mentor for parents. Wood was a charter member of the National Association for Children with Learning Disabilities and the Iowa Association. She also served as the president of the Iowa Learning Disabilities Association. She was a published author, a co-author of a diagnostic test for pre-school children, and the recipient of many awards.

Wood passed away on July 6, 2014. She was inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame in 2011.