The purpose of this program is to provide quality non-traditional training to selected individuals throughout the state of Texas that will lead to an increase the number of qualified and certified teachers serving students who are deaf or hard of hearing in the State of Texas.

This program will provide teachers an innovative opportunity that will prepare them for Deaf Education Certification. These individuals will, through innovative and alternative means, obtain the necessary course work, training and experiences that will lead to certification.

The focus will be to provide high quality training with embedded flexibility for students who are in need of nontraditional means of training. The majority of the curriculum and training will be provided through electronic means either via ITV, TETN or Web-based instruction (such as Blackboard or WebCT). Practicum sites will be developed in collaboration with the Regional Day Schools for the Deaf throughout the state to facilitate each cohort member’s access to students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Curricula will include topics such as: emergent language and literacy in young children who are deaf or hard of hearing; accessing the general curriculum for students who are deaf or hard of hearing; psycho-social aspects of deafness and hearing impairment; development or oral communication for students who are deaf or hard of hearing; audiology / aural habilitation for students who are deaf or hard of hearing; and two practicum. Embedded within several of the courses will be opportunities for the cohorts to experience and utilize a variety of communication methodologies, such as oral, total communication, signed English, and American Sign Language. Additionally, the cohort will be provided bilingual/bicultural awareness training and positive behavior support training as they apply to students who are deaf or hard of hearing. The curricula will be designed with state and national standards for Deaf Education, as well as, the current ExCet competencies as its foundation. TEKS awareness will be an integral part of the preparation as well as demonstrated proficiency in providing modifications of the TEKS as accommodations for students’ special needs.