VIDBE-Q Volume 67 Issue 4
designed to prepare students to work as interveners with children and youth who
are deafblind. The USU Intervener Training Program was developed and field
tested from 2005 to 2007 as part of a federal FIPSE Grant (Funds for the
Improvement of Post-Secondary Education). Evaluation data showed the
coursework to be effective and rated highly by students. In 2008, this training
program became part of a Deafblind Program of Studies, and was officially
adopted by USU Distance Education program.
The USU Intervener Training Program has been offered year round since
then, and to date, has provided training to hundreds of interveners. It is a hybrid
training model in that, in most cases, prospective interveners complete the
coursework while on-the-job with a student who is deafblind. Course content,
readings, and assignments are designed to be applicable to their actual day to day
work. Besides being focused on the training of interveners, the coursework can be
useful to teachers, related service providers, technical assistance providers, parents,
and others working with children and youth with deafblindness. Approximately
1700 individuals have participated in the coursework since it was first offered. The
Intervener Training Program consists of the 3 courses listed below, which must be
completed in sequential order.
Course 1: Introduction to Deafblindness
