This project will alleviate the need for professionals trained in the areas of visual impairment, deafness, deaf blindness, and orientation and mobility, as well as for professionals with expertise in the dual diagnosis of autism and sensory impairments in rural, remote, and high-need areas in the states of Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, Texas, and Wyoming. The aim is to train 40 effective teachers during the life of the project. METHOD: Activities of this project include: (a) identify, recruit, and train professionals in rural, remote, and high-need locations to increase the capacity to serve students with sensory impairments from birth through secondary transition age; (b) providing specialized training in effective strategies for working with students with sensory impairments and autism spectrum disorder, ending in a graduate certificate in sensory impairment and autism spectrum disorder; (c) providing a high quality personnel preparation program to scholars via a hybrid program that uses distance education, face-to-face instruction, and local support; and (d) establishing and maintaining ongoing collaboration between Texas Tech University and each participating state to meet the current and future personnel needs for students with sensory impairments and those who may have autism.
Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)
Autism Research Database (AFD)
