KY Grant to Train Teachers of the Visually Impaired

2014 Kentucky Grant to Train Teachers of the Visually Impaired Abstract This state funded grant is to train Teachers of the Visually Impaired, due to a critical shortage of qualified teachers in this area. In year three of the grant, the majority of the monies for the Teacher Preparation Program in Visual Impairments will go towards salaries. A full-time clinical assistant professor will act as Program Faculty Chair, expand programs in blindness and visual impairment, teach courses, supervise students, provide service to the field, engage in research, and provide technical assistance and outreach to districts across the state. A clinical instructor will work four days a week to teach courses, supervise students, and provide technical assistance and outreach to districts across the state. A part-time instructor trained at the doctoral level will be utilized to teach two courses in braille. In addition, monies will also go towards additional student teaching/internship supervision, program materials, equipment, travel, and programming for students. The first cohort consisting of 15 students started in the fall of 2013. These graduate level students represent diverse backgrounds and locations across the state are expected to complete the program in May of 2015. A second cohort of students will start in the fall of 2014, which is expected to be about 15 students, but no more than 20. Students have the option to take courses face-to-face, or they also may use their computer to log-in via Adobe Connect to virtually join in classes.