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implement a program in deafblind education. However, the Department of Special
Education felt such a program was important to meeting identified needs in the state
and thus, to that end, undertook collaborative efforts to make the program a reality.
The Department of Special Education houses the state funded Multi-University
Consortium Teacher Preparation Program in Sensory Impairments and it was decided
that this is where the new program would best fit. Coursework from the consortium
was identified in the areas of deaf/hard of hearing and blind/visual impairments that
aligned with the endorsement. These classes include "American Sign Language",
"Audiology for Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing", "A to Z Braille", and
"Ocular Disorders and Examination Techniques for Low Vision". One class in
deafblindness has long existed within the consortium and another, more advanced
class was added. In addition, an Orientation and Mobility specialist from Hilton-
Perkins International Programs, Dennis Lolli, was brought in to develop and teach a
class called "Orientation and Mobility for Individuals Who are Deafblind"; content
from this class will be added to the existing consortium class in Orientation and
Mobility that will be required for endorsement. A class in the severe disabilities
program called "Transdisciplinary Approaches in Severe Disabilities", was also
incorporated and the Department of Special Education provided funding for both
field studies and student teaching supervision. In addition, the department provided
faculty support to coordinate the programs. Further, a state grant was received that
has enabled students to receive some tuition support and USDB has contributed
tuition to support its Deaf-Blind Specialists in obtaining the endorsement.
The first cohort of students consisted mostly of the USDB deaf-blind
specialists and the challenge was how to meaningfully add to their extensive
knowledge base. Faculty worked closely with the director of Deaf-Blind Services
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