Grant to Improve Early Intervention Services for Children who are Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing

The focus of the preparation is on Family Centered Early Intervention and designed to improve the early language and pre-literacy skills of young children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (D/HH). We recognize the heterogeneous nature of children who are D/HH and prepare grant trainees to serve as direct service providers or consultants to improve the early language and pre-literacy skills of young children who are D/HH regardless of their mode of communication. In other words, grant scholars will learn to provide or support intervention for children who communicate through signed or spoken language, or both.

If you participate in the grant to Improve Early Language and Pre-Literacy Outcomes for Young Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (D/HH) no additional time will be added to your educational degree program. The courses and practica required of grant scholars are designed so that they fit into the regular degree schedule and are already required for your degree program or available as elective content.

If you would like more information about this grant funding opportunity, please contact Dr. Ilsa Schwarz in Audiology and Speech Pathology at ischwarz@uthsc.edu or Dr. Kimberly Wolbers in Education of the Deaf at kwolbers@utk.edu

Grant Advisory Board

Ms. Tressa Farr, Speech-Language Pathologist, Tennessee School for the Deaf
Ms. Olivia Hammons, Speech-Language Pathologist and Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Putnam County Schools
Ms. Ginger Jones, Speech-Language Pathologist and Owner, Jones Therapy Services
Ms. Marilyn Mays Owens, Speech-Language Pathologist, Jones Therapy Services
Ms. Emily Noss, Speech-Language Pathologist and Clinical Associate Professor, UTHSC Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology
Ms. Kodi Ogle, Parent and Director, Tennessee Hands and Voices
Dr. Susie Robertson, Audiologist and Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Loudon County Schools
Ms. Sarah Scott, Parent and Service Coordinator, Tennessee Early Intervention System
Ms. Alisa Weeks, Educational Consultant and Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Birth to Five Outreach Program