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Illinois State University will be offering a graduate course of study to prepare professionals with current degrees in deaf education, speech and language pathology or audiology to work with infants/toddlers and their families.  A grant from the US Department of Education, (OSERS), CFDA 84.325K, has been awarded, and applications for the first cohort are being accepted through April 15, 2011.  All courses and supervised practicum experiences will be offered tuition free to accepted students.  This year-long, five course sequence of study is aimed at increasing the number of personnel qualified to provide early intervention for Illinois children who are deaf and hard of hearing.  Upon completion, candidates will have earned a Deaf and Hard of Hearing Listening and Spoken Language graduate certificate from Illinois State University as well as having completed the core knowledge competency areas needed to apply for the early intervention credential in Illinois.  Preference will be given to applicants who are bilingual, or from underrepresented populations, or high-need geographic areas. 

The coursework will be delivered through a combination of on-site instruction, online learning, and video conferencing instruction; connecting a Chicago based classroom with a classroom on the ISU campus.  The program will address the needs of existing personnel to improve their knowledge and skills in two primary areas:

1.  Enhancing the auditory and spoken language skills in the child; and

2.  Developing the competencies specific to working with infants, toddlers and their families

There will be three cohorts of students.  The first cohort will take two courses in Summer, 2011, and two courses in Summer, 2012.  A two semester course will be offered September through April providing students with individualized programming including hands on experiences, and field observations.  A new cohort will begin in Summer, 2012 and continue the same schedule, graduating in Summer,  2013 upon successful completion of coursework and supervised practicum experiences.

 For more information regarding application procedures, visit the website: http://www.specialeducation.ilstu.edu/certifications/dhhspecialist.shtml 
Inquiries should be addressed to Dr. Maribeth Lartz, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; 309-438-8988 or to Tracy Meehan, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; 630-336-3765