D/HH PERSONNEL PREPARATION ABSTRACT

Southwestern Project to Prepare Teachers of Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

The University of Arizona teacher preparation program in the area Deaf / Hard of Hearing is proposing several initiatives to increase the numbers of qualified teachers to serve in Arizona and neighboring states and to improve the quality of personnel serving these children. We plan to do this by a) preparing 24 new teachers over the three-year project b) attracting to the program high quality full-time and part-time graduate students, particularly minority students and those who have sensory disabilities themselves, and those willing to work in rural areas c) offering a program of course work and practicum that enables students to work effectively with a range of children who are Deaf / Hard of Hearing (D/HH) d) offering a concentration, through additional course work and practica, to prepare these pre-service teachers to effectively develop inclusive and effective programs for two specific populations: children in public school settings and children who have learning and/or behavior handicaps in addition to a primary sensory disability. The need for this program is based on the growing school population in the Southwest with a concomitant need for increased teachers. Because the majority (60-80%) of children who are D/HH are served in public schools and 30-50% of the D/HH population is estimated to have additional disabilities, focused preparation in these areas for pre-service teachers is crucial.

All students receiving support from the grant are required to take additional course work in the areas of public school inclusion and the education of children who are D/HH who also have learning, behavior, intellectual, physical and/or multiple developmental disabilities. emotional and behavioral disorders, or multiple disabilities. In partnership with faculty at the Arizona State Schools for Deaf and Blind we will develop and offer to our students and to the educational community, workshops on classroom support for D/HH students with additional learning and behavior disabilities. Students will also take a seminar in inclusive practices and complete a part-time and full-time internship with an itinerant or co-enrolled team-teacher of D/HH students, or with an itinerant or classroom teacher serving children who are D/HH who also have learning, behavior, intellectual, physical and/or multiple developmental disabilities. Students who re-locate to rural areas to complete their final internship will get additional stipend. Short-term and long-term evaluation of the program by graduates, and evaluation of graduates by their employers will provide feedback to the program and serve as the basis for modifications of courses and internships. All work will be done in partnership with the Arizona State Department of Education and the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind that serves students who are sensory-impaired throughout the State.

Shirin Antia, Ph.D, SERSP

Biographical Sketch of Dr Antia

Address, Phone, and Email for Dr Antia is:

The University of Arizona
Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, & School Psychology
Box 210069
Tucson, Arizona 85721

(520) 621-0944
(520) 621-3821 FAX

e-mail: santia@u.arizona.edu

U of A College of Education - Teacher Preparation Program -

Deaf / Hard of Hearing

Southwest Project Grant