Preparing Special Education Teachers with Endorsement in Deafblindness and Occupational Therapists Through an Interdisciplinary Program to Improve Services
Funding available: 2021 – 2024
The Department of Special Education’s Deafblind Program and the College of Health’s Occupational Therapy Program have been awarded a $997,423.41 teacher preparation grant from the U.S. Department of Education/Office of Special Education Programs. The majority of funds will go to student scholarships for graduate students.
Personnel Preparation Grant
The purpose of this 5-year project is to improve the quality and increase the number of highly qualified personnel prepared to serve school-age learners with deafblindness through interdisciplinary teams. The project will support and prepare 28 master's level scholars at the University of Utah (U of U), 16 special education teachers with an endorsement in deafblindess (TSDBs) and 12 occupational therapists (OTs), who by the end of their respective programs have demonstrated the national professional competencies in their discipline and additional project competencies related to interdisciplinary teaming. Emphasis will be placed on preparing these professionals to provide specialized services to the diverse population of students with deafblindness and their families.
Occupational Therapy Program
The grant will provide scholarships to students who have been accepted to both the Masters in Occupational Therapy program and Project TSDBOT. The total scholarship amount will be $20,500, distributed during the 1st and 2nd year of the program.
The Deafblind Program
The grant will provide scholarships to students who have been accepted to both the Masters in Special Education program (for the Deafblind endorsement) and Project TSDBOT. The total scholarship amount will be $25,625, distributed across the length of the program. Scholars may be eligible for a partial tuition benefit (waiver) in some semesters
Eligible Applicants for Occupational Therapy Program
To participate in this project, scholars will need to be accepted into the Masters in Occupational Therapy program and accepted into the project. The following information pertains only to the TSDBOT Project.
For information about applying to the Masters in Occupational Therapy Program Visit U Health's Masters of Occupational Therapy Page
Submission Information
Submit an electronic copy of the completed application (posted above) and all other required information to Dr. Lorie Richards.
Scholarship Recipients
The number of available scholarships is limited. Scholarship recipients will be notified between March and when the positions are filled. MOT/OTD scholars will begin their MOT/OTD program in August of the year they are accepted and the TSDBOT program will begin the following Spring.
Eligible Applicants The Deafblind Program
This project is for Special Education teachers who are interested in obtaining a master's degree and endorsement in deafblindness. Applicants must already have or be working toward obtaining their teaching license as a special education teacher (e.g., TVI, DHH, early childhood, severe, general SPED). To participate in this project, scholars will need to be accepted into the special education master's program and accepted into the project.
For information about applying to the Masters in Special Education Program please Visit our Masters Admissions Page.
Submission Information
Submit an electronic copy of the completed application (posted above) and all other required information to Dr. Sarah Ivy at sarah.ivy@utah.edu.
Scholarship Recipients
The number of available scholarships is limited. For DB scholars, applications will be accepted each year (2021-2024), until the available scholarships are awarded each year. Scholarship recipients will be notified between October and November, and are expected to begin their Master’s program that January.
Contact Dr. Sarah Ivy to discuss the requirements of the program in detail if you are interested in applying.
**NOTE** INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED