May 9 , 2007 Press Release

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UNH to Receive $2.4 Million to Train Special Education Personnel

U.S. Department of Education funds will help prepare 120 new teachers and speech-language pathologists over four years

WASHINGTON, DC – United States Senator John Sununu (R-NH) announced today (5/9) that the University of New Hampshire is slated to receive $2.4 million through the U.S. Department of Education for programs that provide special education personnel with advanced skills. With reports of a shortage of such instructors in New Hampshire, this UNH initiative aims to make sure school districts have the personnel they need to support students with disabilities.

“Since coming to Congress in 1997, I have worked to ensure that New Hampshire communities have the resources they need to educate special needs children. These grants will help UNH prepare special education teachers for service in our schools, providing comprehensive instruction and support that makes a difference for children with disabilities and their families,” said Sununu. “Special education continues to be an issue of great importance to New Hampshire cities and towns. During my time in the Senate and House, federal funding for these programs has more than tripled. Moving forward, I will continue to work to ensure that the federal government meets its commitment to pay 40 percent of special education costs.”

“Special education teachers are increasingly working with children with disabilities,” said John Aber, vice president for research at the University of New Hampshire. “This significant training award involving new curricula development, teacher certification, and graduate student support significantly contributes to our interdisciplinary research and outreach efforts in disabilities and special education. UNH’s Institute on Disability is a premier research and outreach institution to the State and is a nationally recognized university center of excellence on disability. Its interdisciplinary collaboration with UNH’s departments of education and communications sciences and disorders will ensure that the next generation of special education teachers are ready to meet pressing societal needs.”

These Department of Education resources, to be made available over a period of four years, will support a UNH initiative, through the Institute on Disability, to provide special education personnel the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to meet the needs of children with disabilities and their families. UNH plans to direct the funds to three specific projects, details for which follow:

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) teachers: Resources will be used to prepare 40 New Hampshire certified ECSE teachers, who will work with infants, toddlers, and pre-school age children with disabilities. Existing UNH curriculum offerings will be enhanced with additional course content and opportunities for students to work in the field.

Augmentative and Alternative communication specialists: UNH’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will use funds to support at least 40 master’s level graduate students who are enrolled in speech pathology programs.

Certified teachers for students with developmental disabilities: Resources will be used to certify 40 teachers who will be devoted to working with students who have low incidence disabilities, like autism, so they have better access to learn from the general education curriculum.

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