ECSE offering professional development courses through partnership with Nebraska Early Development Network



ECSE offering professional development courses through partnership with Nebraska Early Development Network

27 Sep 2018     By Kelcey Buck

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders has partnered with the Nebraska Early Development Network (EDN) to provide tuition waivers to service providers and service coordinators for three Early Childhood Special Education courses. 

Individuals employed with a Nebraska Educational Service Unit, school district, or services coordination contracting agency who have assignments with the Nebraska EDN and families/children with Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) are eligible to apply to attend up to three early intervention courses offered online. The online application is available here. Applications are due Nov. 15. 

The tuition waivers, which are funded through a grant Nebraska EDN received, cover the cost of the courses. Participants are required to pay a one-time $50 application fee to the Graduate College, and a $20 registration fee for each course. 

The professional development program was designed to improve Nebraska EDN’s abilities to meet the needs of families and young children with developmental delays, while also enhancing collaboration among service coordinators, providers, and families on IFSP teams. 

“We are excited to collaborate with the Early Development Network to provide this opportunity to birth to three providers of children with disabilities across Nebraska,” said Johanna Taylor, assistant professor of practice and Early Childhood Special Education program coordinator. “We believe that the education and training received through these courses is critical for providers working in home and community settings to effectively support these children and their families. The grant funding will expand our reach to all areas of the state and provide students with an environment for rich interdisciplinary interactions that we hope will lead to better child and family outcomes.” 

The three courses in the program include Infants with Disabilities and Home Visiting (SPED 861, offered spring 2019), Medically Fragile Infants (SPED 863, summer 2019), and Issues in Early Childhood Special Education (SPED 860, fall 2019). 

“The courses selected for this grant provide students with foundational knowledge of early intervention services, focus on using coaching practices through quality home visiting practices, and explore aspects of children that are medically fragile and their transition from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to family life in the home.” 

Participation in the program is limited. In the event that the number of applicants exceeds the available slots, participants will be selected based upon years of experience as well as previous college coursework. 

Individuals who participate in the program will also have the option to count their acquired credits toward a degree/credential from the university. In order to do so, participants would have to continue their studies at their own expense and must maintain a grade of B- or better in the courses. No degree or endorsement will be earned through participation in the three tuition-waiver courses. 

For more information about the university’s Early Childhood Special Education program or the Nebraska EDN professional development opportunity, email Taylor at johanna.taylor@unl.edu. Funding is provided through Grant Award H181A170033.


Special Education and Communication Disorders