Interdisciplinary Advanced Certificate in Working with Young Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and their Families (IACD)
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.
Program Overview
Hear from co-directors Dr. Howerton-Fox and Dr. Veyvoda as well as students on the details of this exciting program and the positive impact it can have on children and families.
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.
NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences
As part of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, students in the IACD program will develop the skills and experience needed to provide high-quality early childhood speech/language and education services to deaf/hard of hearing children and their families.
Students have the opportunity to do clinicals and rotations at NewYork-Presbyterian, ranked one of the top hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report 2024-25. Iona students may also be considered for positions within the NewYork-Presbyterian network upon graduation.
Align your Communication Sciences and Disorders degree with your career goals at the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences and earn a degree of tremendous value for your future.
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
A Tuition-Free Program
Learn how a federally-funded grant keeps the IACD program tuition-free.
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Quick Facts
Tuition and Financial Aid
- This program is tuition-free
- Students in this program receive a $1,000 stipend
- Stipend is intended to help offset living expenses and funding to attend one professional conference
What to Expect
- Be enrolled in either the MSEd in Early Childhood Special Education or the MA in Communication Sciences and Disorders
- Capstone experience
- Attend one relevant conference or PD opportunity
- Commit to working with children with disabilities for one year upon completion of the certificate
Iona has prepared me for my career in multiple ways. Through the IACD program, I gained essential knowledge about the deaf population, fostering my passion for this field.
-Bridget Graham '24MA, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Read more about Bridget
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 one year 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.
IACD Fieldwork Opportunities
IACD students engage in a culminating Capstone experience during their exit summer that is intended to give them hands-on experience working with deaf/hh children. The IACD is grateful to its community partners for providing relevant clinical experiences for our students, including:
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The Cochlear Implant Center at Westchester Medical Center
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St. Joseph’s School for the Deaf
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Lexington School for the Deaf
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New York School for the Deaf
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The Ableities Foundation
Co-Curricular and Community-Engaged Learning Opportunities
In addition to coursework, IACD students have opportunities for co-curricular Deaf culture and community-based learning activities. Experiences include, but are not limited to: The NYC Walk4Hearing, ASL Poetry Slams, #FeelTheMusic, Volunteering at events at local schools for the deaf, and attending community-based ASL classes with families of deaf children. It is expected that IACD students will take advantage of these activities in order to strengthen their ASL skills, knowledge of Deaf Culture and relationships with families in order to become more culturally responsive clinicians and educators.
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
Learn More About the IACD
Complete the IACD interest form and we will get in touch with you with more information!
Expectations
IACD students are expected to complete the program, engage in ongoing ASL learning in addition to their required coursework, engage in a culminating Capstone experience during their exit summer, attend one relevant conference or PD opportunity, and to attend at least two community-based or Deaf Cultural events throughout the program. IACD program completers must commit to working with children with disabilities for one year upon completion of the certificate.
Contact US
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
Meet Our Team
Michelle Veyvoda, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Associate Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders Department
Chair, Communication Sciences and Disorders Department
co-director, Interdisciplinary advanced certificate in working with young deaf/hh children and their families
- Office:
- Sieker Hall, Room 105 B, Bronxville Campus
- Phone:
- (914) 633-2177 (914) 633-2177
- Email:
- mveyvoda@iona.edu
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