Southeast Regional Consortium for Low Incidence Disabilities SERCLID Addressing the pervasive, critical shortage of qualified educational personnel to serve individuals (early childhood through 12 th grade) who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, and deaf-blind. AL AR FL GA LA MS OK PR TX USVI

Understanding the unique challenges…  Pervasive, critical shortage of qualified educational personnel in low incidence disabilities  Sporadic, but immediate, local needs for qualified personnel  Need for on the job training for uncertified personnel  Not a priority of institutes of higher education (IHE)  Downsizing of low incidence programs at IHEs  NCLB and HQT constraints on teacher training  Barriers to interstate mobility of personnel  Recruitment and retention challenges (i.e., personnel isolation; competing state/local priorities)  National concerns r.e. outcomes for students with low incidence disabilities

Documenting personnel shortages… The Needs Assessment in the Low Incidence Disabilities D/HH TeachersEducational Interpreters B/VI TeachersO & M Specialists DB TeachersBraille transcribers

Map of D/HH Teacher Training Programs in the Southeast Region TEXAS  Lamar University, Beaumont, TX (CED)  University of Texas health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, Texas (CED)  Baylor University Waco, TX  Stephen F. Austin State University Nacogdoches, TX  Texas Christian University Fort Worth, Texas  Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX (CED)  Texas Women’s University Denton, Texas OKLAHOMA  University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Chickasha, OK (CED)  University of Tulsa Tulsa, OK (CED) ARKANSAS  University of Arkansas – Little Rock Little Rock, AR (CED) LOUISIANA  University of New Orleans New Orleans, LA (CED) MISSISSIPPI  University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS (CED) ALABAMA  University of Montevallo Montevallo, AL (CED) GEORGIA  Georgia State University Atlanta, GA  Valdosta State University Valdosta, GA FLORIDA  University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL (CED)  Flagler College St. Augustine, FL (CED) PUERTO RICO US VIRGIN ISLANDS

Map of BVI & DB Teacher Training Programs in the Southeast Region TEXAS  Stephen F. Austin State University Nacogdoches, TX (CEC)  Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX (CEC) VI/Deaf-Blind OKLAHOMA  Northeastern State University Tahlequah, OK ARKANSAS  University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, Arkansas (CEC) LOUISIANA  University of New Orleans New Orleans, LA (CEC) MISSISSIPPI  University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, Mississippi (CEC) Severe/Deaf-Blind  Jackson State University Jackson, Mississippi ALABAMA  University of Alabama, Birmingham Birmingham, AL (CEC) VI/Deaf-Blind GEORGIA FLORIDA  Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida (CEC) PUERTO RICO US VIRGIN ISLANDS

IHE Personnel Preparation Programs Professional Development Recruitment & Retention SERCLID Consortium & Steering Committee SERCLID Consortium & Steering Committee Certification & Licensure Standards Program Approval Standards & IHE Accreditation Assessment of Qualifications SERCLID Systems Design Model

IHE Personnel Preparation Programs Emphasizing personnel preparation and, in turn, certification and recruitment Certification & Licensure Standards Recruitment & Retention SERCLID 2005 – 2006 MOU SERCLID 2005 – 2006 MOU Program Approval Standards & IHE Accreditation

IHE Personnel Preparation Programs Regional Personnel Preparation Models Multi-state models via distance technology Promoting our traditional higher education programs and supporting the development and/or expansion of RPPMs Certification & Licensure Standards with ease of interstate mobility

SERCLID Composition  Individuals with Low Incidence Disabilities  Families  Advocacy Organizations  State Education Agencies  Local Education Agencies  State Certification Officers  Higher Education Faculty  Higher Education Administrators  Resource Persons  Regional and National Partners

Southeast Regional Consortium for Low Incidence Disabilities SERCLID Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success. - Henry Ford AL AR FL GA LA MS OK PR TX USVI