Enriching Doctoral Preparation: The National Leadership Consortium in Sensory Disabilities
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Transcript of Enriching Doctoral Preparation: The National Leadership Consortium in Sensory Disabilities
Brooke Smith, Ph.D., COMS, Salus UniversityMichael Berhmann, Ph.D., George Mason University
Kimberly Avila, M.A., COMS, NLCSD Fellow, George Mason University
OSEP Project Directors’ ConferenceWashington, D.C.
July, 2013
The contents of this publication were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, #H325V090001. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government Project Officer, Glinda Hill.
Enriching Doctoral Preparation: The National Leadership Consortium in
Sensory Disabilities
To increase, through specialized doctoral training, the number and quality of leadership personnel competent in the areas of higher education and research to improve education services for infants, children and youth who have sensory disabilities (deafness/hard of hearing, blindness/low vision, and deafblindness),including those with multiple disabilities.
NLCSD Mission
NLCSD History• Expansion of National Center for Leadership in
Visual Impairment (NCLVI)
• Began 1/2010
• Salus is fiscal agent
Fellows
OSEP
SalusUniversity Consortium
Public Advisory Council
NLCSD Collaborative Model
NLCSD Community• 23 IHEs with doctoral programs in DB, DHH, BVI (18 IHEs
have Fellows)
• 27 Fellows in 2 cohorts (4 DB, 11 DHH, 12 BVI)
• 24 Public Advisory Council members (advocacy, policy, parent & education groups)
• 4 Leadership Team members (Audrey Smith, BVI; Brooke Smith, BVI; John Killoran, DB; Heather Hayes, DHH)
• OSEP FPO is Ms. Glinda Hill
Project Objectives1. Produce 27 doctoral leaders in D/HH, DB, B/VI B/VI
2. Create and utilize a Consortium to provide participatory guidance in the design and implementation of a multi-university, doctoral-level leadership preparation program in the special education sensory disabilities
3. Develop and implement a Research-Based Enrichment Program
4. Create an inclusive Community of Learners composed of professionals, including individuals with disabilities and parents, who are involved in the education of students with sensory disabilities.
Projected Outcomes
The quality and quantity of
leadership in low incidence sensory disabilities will be
greatly augmented
Increased collaboration and
efficiency with which research
informs practice in relation to teacher
preparation
Enhanced academic
performance of children who are D/HH, B/VI, and
DB
Enrichment Program • Four-year program that augments Fellows’ work
in their respective universities
• Includes technologically-mediated (Blackboard, webinars) & face–to–face components (meetings, conferences)
• Led by Consortium member faculty and Fellow volunteers
Enrichment Program• Focus on research and leadership in
sensory disabilities• Year 1: Research in Low Incidence
Populations• Year 2: Development of a Research Topic• Year 3: Grant Writing• Year 4: The Professoriate
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Faculty-to-Faculty
Fellow-to-Faculty
Fellow-to-Fellow
Opportunities for Interactions
Project Information• Fellows receive full tuition & living stipend which is
differential based on location• Travel to conferences and annual NLCSD meetings• Fellows may not work more than 20 hours / week and
are required to maintain an on-campus physical presence
• Service obligation: o 1 for 1 if enter IHE/personnel preparation o 2 for 1 if enter non-IHE
• Anticipated graduation dates: o Cohort 1: Spring 2014 o Cohort 2: Spring 2015
Impact of NCLVI & NLCSD• Upon graduation, there will be:
o 27 doctoral leaders trained in sensory disabilities (BVI, DB, DHH) through NLCSD
o 19 doctoral leaders were previously trained in vision impairment (NCLVI)
• A total of 46 highly qualified leaders in our field
Enrichment Program• Community of learners – research on low
incidence• Vehicle for:
o National networkingo Pulling people from outside their university into
Fellows’ dissertation research• July 2011 Face to Face
o Fellows reported that one of the most important aspects was the time spent in roundtable discussions with consortium and PAC members
o Hearing from Consortium and PAC on research needs
A Fellow/Advisor Perspective…
Fellowship and Doctoral Program
Coordination and
Integration
FocusFuture
prospects
OpportunitiesNetworking
Collaboration
Fellowship and Doctoral Program
Fellowship participation takes careful coordination and integration in order to meet all requirements presented by the Fellowship and University doctoral program.
Advisor skillfully planned how these two elements will interact during my doctoral program. Program of studies and logistics must be re-visited periodically
throughout
Coordination and Integration
Focus• NLCSD requires:
o Completion within four years Requires Fellows to make decisions to leave
full time work and other obligationso Participation in enrichment programo Attendance at conferences, webinars and other
programs • NLCSD requires fellows to be FOCUSED!
o Doctoral program and enrichment can be intense!
• Obtainable:o Despite intensity, a doctorate is obtainable in four
years
Opportunities• Learning from leaders in our fields• Conference attendance• Special events and presentations
o Dr. Larry Wexler Grant presentation• Funding
o NLCSD has made it possible to work toward a Ph.D with the support
Collaboration and Networking• Collaboration and networking with
o The Fellows!!! Diverse backgrounds, experiences and research interests
o Leaders/professors/researchers in the fields researchers who understand the complicated and
unique considerations for conducting studies on low-incidence populations and in highly esoteric areas of inquiry that have multiple safety considerations
Example: orientation and mobility research o Other universitieso Research opportunitieso Possible employment opportunities
Future Prospects• Extraordinary opportunity with life long
connections• Promotes life long learning • NLCSD employment requirement criteria
o Considerationso Personnel Preparation
Questions for Discussion• How does this differ from your existing
leadership program?
• What type of activities could enhance the enrichment program?
• How could these be shared with you outside of the Consortium?