15th ANNUAL EARLY HEARING DETECTION & INTERVENTION MEETING
March 13-15, 2016 • San Diego, CA
| - | 9 - Program Evaluation and Quality Improvement
Developing a specialized training program for working professionals to increase knowledge and skills to serve children who are DHH
Children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) require instruction from professionals who understand their unique academic, linguistic, and technological needs. Approximately 87% of children who are DHH attend at least some portion of their day in mainstream classroom settings, yet there is a significant shortage of appropriately trained professionals who provide educational and language intervention services. These professional shortages are particularly acute for children who are DHH and who use listening and spoken language (LSL), primarily due to advances in hearing technology (e.g., cochlear implants, hearing aids) and the need for professionals to understand how to incorporate effective LSL strategies within the child’s school day.
As students graduate from teacher training programs, a portion of open positions within school districts are filled. However, this does not address the need for current professionals to also obtain the knowledge and skills to serve children who are DHH as they enter classrooms and speech-language pathology caseloads. To address these shortages, programs can be developed to provide training to working professionals, resulting in an Endorsement or Credential to be added to the educator license. This presentation will describe one such program at Utah State University (USU). The USU program provides graduate level coursework and practicum training opportunities for currently licensed special educators and speech-language pathologists. Coursework is offered asynchronous online over three semesters. Practicum mentoring and supervision is provided within the educators’ or speech-language pathologists’ current work setting, utilizing a combination of in-person and video conferencing technology so that real-time feedback can be provided to prompt implementation of LSL strategies. This presentation will 1) describe the USU program as an example of content and format, 2) describe successes and challenges associated with real-time mentoring using video technology, and 3) provide recommendations for program implementation in other states or agencies.
- Participants will discuss the critical shortages of educators and speech-language pathologists who can effectively serve children who are DHH in general education settings.
- Participants will discuss the components of a training program that utilizes asynchronous on-line coursework and video technology to provide advanced training to current professionals.
- Participants will discuss recommendations for implementing similar programs in other states that result in an Endorsement or Credential to enhance the educational experience of children who are DHH in general education classrooms.
Presentation:
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Handouts:
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CART:
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Presenters/Authors
Lauri Nelson
(Primary Presenter), Utah State University, lauri.nelson@usu.edu;
Lauri Nelson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education in the Listening and Spoken Language Deaf Education program at Utah State University. She has a dual background in both clinical audiology and LSL deaf education and currently directs the LSL deaf education graduate training program at Utah State University.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Elizabeth Parker
(Co-Presenter), Utah State University, liz.parker@usu.edu;
Elizabeth Parker is a Clinical Instructor and Practicum Supervisor in the Listening and Spoken Language Deaf Education program, Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education at Utah State University. She has taught and mentored hundreds of students and professionals to better serve children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Marianne Huish
(Co-Presenter), Utah State University, annie.huish@usu.edu;
Marianne Ingram Huish is a Graduate Mentor in the DHH Endorsement program at Utah State University and is a licensed early childhood special educator, with expertise in Listening and Spoken Language Deaf Education.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
Mi'kel Price
(Co-Presenter), Utah State University, mikel.price@usu.edu;
Mi'kel Price is a preschool teacher in Sound Beginnings and a Graduate Mentor in the DHH Endorsement program at Utah State University. She is a licensed early childhood special educator, with expertise in Listening and Spoken Language Deaf Education.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Nonfinancial -