VIDBE-Q Volume 69 Issue 3
• Very few states have a stand-alone program
• Most states embed coursework into existing TVI or TOD coursework
• Few states have a license or endorsement for teachers of the deafblind
• Ohio has no license or endorsement for teachers of the deafblind
A deeper examination of five exemplary programs across the country was
conducted and used as a framework for developing the Certificate in Deafblindness
Education program. Additionally, the new framework modeled the long standing
and highly popular Autism Certificate at Bowling Green State University, one of
the LISD Collaborative partners. We also created an interest survey to disseminate
to potential applicants to gauge interest for the new certificate program and survey
results were very positive.
Program Structure
The new certificate program is a 15-credit hour graduate level program and
can be completed in 3 semesters (fall, spring, summer). There are 5 courses in the
program and each course in 3 credit hours and 8 weeks in duration. All coursework
is delivered online through the Shawnee State University Blackboard system in
both a synchronous and asynchronous format. Fifteen students will be selected for
each cohort of students, beginning this fall 2024. Tuition for coursework and all
materials will be available through grant funding from the Ohio Department of
Education and Workforce.
