Fontbonne University is proud to announce two personnel preparation projects funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) focused on preparing professionals to serve learners who are deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) through interprofessional, family-centered intervention.

These awards will provide tuition support for interdisciplinary coursework and field experiences focused on family-centered early intervention, speech/hearing language/literacy, infant/child development, and assessment. Interdisciplinary activities also include attendance at professional forums and participation in learning community activities (e.g., journal clubs, service/advocacy events, work with Parent Mentors). Post-graduation, professionals will participate in a mentorship program to increase retention of knowledge and skills. Induction activities include: online discussion groups, attendance at professional forums, and cohort meetings. The mentor will observe professionals on the job–coaching and promoting reflective practice. Graduates will prepare professional learning materials for colleagues to enhance service delivery for young children who are DHH.

Scholars in these programs will become teachers of the deaf or speech-language pathologists qualified to serve young children who are deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) and their families. These six-semester evidence-based programs will prepare students seeking master’s degrees in Early Intervention in Deaf Education (MA) or Speech language Pathology (MS) to:

• Provide family-centered early intervention to children who are DHH, including those who are culturally/linguistically diverse;
• Participate on interdisciplinary teams to implement and evaluate intensive individualized interventions;
• Enhance language/literacy acquisition;
• Facilitate use of hearing through evidence-based strategies and technology;
• Support instruction in inclusive environments through collaborative practice.

Program scholars will be required to fulfill program requirements and a federal service obligation. The service obligation states that program graduates will be required to work with IEP eligible students for two years for every year of funding they accept.

See the descriptions of both projects below for more detail on scholar benefits.

NEW: Our EIDE program is now offered in-person or synchronously. With the choice between on-campus learning or our newly introduced synchronous online learning opportunity, EIDE scholars will be able to connect with peers, combining classroom studies with real-world coordinated experience in the community where you live, work and play.

NOTE: Funded scholars must remain a student in good standing, with a minimum GPA of 3.5 while enrolled in the program. Students who fall below this grade point average or who are placed on clinic or academic probation will forfeit the financial award. Additionally, program scholars are limited to no more than two absences throughout the duration of the program.

Interdisciplinary Preparation of Teachers of the Deaf and Speech-Language Pathologists to Provide Family-Centered Early Intervention for Young Children Who Are Deaf/Hard of Hearing (H325K20004)

Scholar benefits:

• Tuition remission for up to 36 hours of interdisciplinary coursework and field experiences
• Up to $1,000 to attend professional conferences related to serving children who are DHH, family-centered intervention, and/or inter-professional practice
• Stipend of $500 to fund scholar technology needs
• Induction year mentoring with stipend up to $500 in additional support to reach professional development goals

“Fontbonne has a long history of implementing a high-quality interprofessional personnel preparation program,” said Jenna Voss, assistant professor and associate dean of Fontbonne’s College of Education & Allied Health Professions and CDDE’s graduate deaf education program director. “Our speech-language pathology and deaf education faculty members work together to ensure students understand the role and value of both professions and how to collaborate to best serve children who are DHH and their families. We have partners across the country who lead schools for the deaf and facilitate parent support groups. They recognize the value of a Fontbonne education because they employ our graduates and recognize our alumni as major contributors in the field.”

Interdisciplinary Preparation of Teachers of the Deaf and Speech-Language Pathologists to Provide Early Intervention Services to Young Children Who Are Deaf/Hard of Hearing and their Families (H325K170008)

Scholar benefits:

• Tuition remission for up to 23 hours of interdisciplinary coursework and field experiences
• Up to $1,500 to attend professional conferences related to serving children who are DHH, family-centered intervention, and/or inter-professional practice
• Stipend of $200 per semester enrolled for purchase of books and professional materials
• Induction year mentoring with stipend up to $500 in additional support to reach professional development goals

“This grant will allow two already very successful graduate programs to prepare early interventionists and speech-language pathologists using an interprofessional model,” said Dr. Gale Rice, professor and dean of the College of Education and Allied Health Professions. “The result will be practitioners who will maximize outcomes for young children who are deaf/hard of hearing and their families. This is an innovative change in professional preparation, which tends to occur in professional silos.”

Jenna Voss, PhD, CED, LSLS Cert AVEd.
Project Director
Email: jvoss@fontbonne.edu
Phone: 314-719-8039

To apply for either project, you must first submit an application to either the EIDE or SLP program. Upon acceptance into the program of study, you will be able to apply for a scholarship. SLP program applications are due by January 15, while EIDE applications are due February 1, with cohorts of funded scholars beginning in the summer term.