UNL offering interdisciplinary training program for graduate students in speech-language pathology, audiology and deaf education

30 Sep 2022     By Kelcey Buck

The Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders (SECD) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is currently recruiting students for the first cohort of a new interprofessional training program, the Mid-Plains Professional Upgrade Partnership – Interdisciplinary Training in Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Deaf Education (MPUP-SPADE). 

The MPUP-SPADE project is funded by a $1.17 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs. It aims to train a total of 30 students in three cohorts made up of students in the university’s graduate programs in speech-language pathology, audiology and deaf education. 

“Teachers of the Deaf (TODs), speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists (AUDs) are all responsible for assuring that the communication and language needs of children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) are met,” said Anne Thomas, SECD assistant professor of practice and coordinator of the deaf education program. “This shared goal makes it imperative that TODs, SLPs and AUDs work effectively in an interdisciplinary team-based approach.” 

The MPUP-SPADE project aims to increase the number of highly qualified personnel in each of the three areas to serve the needs of DHH students. Students participating in the MPUP-SPADE project will augment their discipline-specific curriculum with coursework and practicum opportunities related to interdisciplinary teaming, collaboration, itinerant teaching, evidence-based practice, linguistically and culturally responsive practices, and leadership. 

“TOD, SLP and AUD scholars will be paired together across three semesters of their directed field/clinical experience to engage in at least 20 hours collaborative teaming designed to provide them with real practice engaging in interprofessional collaboration,” Thomas said. “In addition, students will engage in an online professional learning community throughout their programs and will be paired with a professional mentor who will provide guidance and support to them through the latter half of their programs.” 

The first of the three cohorts MPUP-SPADE cohorts will begin in Summer 2023 with an in-person induction seminar at the university. Students will pursue a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, clinical doctorate in audiology, or master’s degree and teaching endorsement to become certified as a Teacher of the Deaf. 

The deadline to apply for the first cohort is Jan. 15, 2023. Visit go.unl.edu/mpup-spade to learn more about the project, including curriculum and application information. 

Students who are accepted for funding under the MPUP-SPADE project receive tuition assistance for more than 80% of their graduate program, travel expenses to the pre- and post- summer seminars in Lincoln, a personal copy of the latest American Psychological Association (APA) Manual, coaching from a SLP, AUD or TOD mentor, and membership to a professional organization upon completion of the program. 

The MPUP-SPADE project is supported by grant number H325K220098 from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. The statements above do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Education.