Interdisciplinary Advanced Certificate in Working with Young Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and their Families (IACD)
Applications for the 2023-2024 cohort are now open!
Why an Interdisciplinary Advanced Certificate in Working with Young Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and their Families?
The Interdisciplinary Advanced Certificate in Working with Young Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and their Families (IACD) prepares students to provide high-quality early childhood speech/language and education services to deaf/hard of hearing children and their families.
Due to the significant need for specialists in this field, the United States Department of Education has fully funded this program so that it is tuition-free. In order to enroll, selected students must commit to working with deaf and hard of hearing children for one year upon completion of the certificate. In addition to free tuition for all coursework associated with this program, accepted students receive a $1,000 living stipend and funding to attend one professional conference.
Why earn your Interdisciplinary Advanced Certificate in Working with Young Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and their Families at Iona?
Iona’s tuition-free IACD is designed as an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Education and Communication Sciences and Disorders departments with input from educational leaders, service providers, parents of deaf children, and the deaf community. Our program’s key elements—interprofessional education, interdisciplinary coursework and fieldwork, and collaboration with deaf mentors—rest on the three pillars of empathy, equity, and engagement.
What You’ll Learn
Upon completion, you will be prepared to provide early childhood speech/language and education services to deaf/hard of hearing children and their families. This includes equipping families with ample knowledge and resources for success in their child’s development of linguistic, cognitive, social-emotional and pre-literacy skills.
You will learn essential knowledge and skills, all taught through the prisms of empathy and respect, related to topics such as:
- American Sign Language
- Early language access
- The impact of language deprivation
- Working collaboratively with members of an interdisciplinary caregiving team
- Partnering with deaf mentors in the therapy process
- Family counseling
- Assistive technologies
- Language and literacy stimulation strategies and techniques
Program Highlights
Collaboration with Deaf Mentors
Students will have the opportunity to learn from and practice alongside deaf adults who are trained to serve as mentors for deaf children and their families
Free Tuition + $1,000 Stipend
All students who complete the program and work with deaf/hard of hearing children for 2 years are eligible for free tuition and a $1,000 stipend. (Additional funds available for conference travel.)
Rooted in Values: Empathy, Equity and Engagement
Our program not only teaches necessary knowledge and skills, but also cultural humility to understand deafness from multiple perspectives and to provide appropriate services to children and families who differ racially, culturally, linguistically, and socioeconomically.
Program Overview
Hear from co-directors Dr. Howerton-Fox and Dr. Veyvoda on the details of this exciting program and the positive impact it can have on children and families.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the program, students need to:
- be accepted into either the MSEd in Early Childhood Special Education or the MA in Communication Sciences and Disorders. (Education scholars must have or pursue certification in either Students with Disabilities (Birth-Grade 2) or Students with Disabilities (Grades 1-6) & Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2) in order to complete the program.)
- write an essay explaining why they are interested in the program and what strengths they will bring to their interdisciplinary cohort
- interview with one of the project co-directors
Contact US
Sarah Martin, Program Assistant
IACD Co-Directors
Amanda Howerton-Fox, Ph.D. (EDU)
ahowertonfox@iona.edu
(914) 633-2680
Michelle Veyvoda, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (CSD)
mveyvoda@iona.edu
(914) 633-2177
Connect with IACD on Social!
