Project Early LEAPS

Early Language and Literacy Education with AT/AAC for Pre-professional Speech-Language Pathologists and Special Educators: Interdisciplinary Preparation to Support Young Children with Complex Communication Needs Who Benefit from AT/AAC Systems (Project Early LEAPS)

This grant is funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). The focus of the project is on collaborative preparation in Family Centered Early Intervention for speech-language pathologists and special educators.  The program is designed to provided practitioners with knowledge and skills to improve the early language and pre-literacy skills of young children with complex communication needs who use or would benefit from augmentative or alternative communication systems.

We recognize the heterogeneous nature of children with complex communication needs and prepare grant trainees to serve as direct service providers and consultants to other early intervention professionals.​​​​​​​​​

For each of the five years funded, the project will provide specialized instruction for 8-10 scholars per year:  four or five graduate students from the Speech-Language Pathology program in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology at UTHSC and four or five students in the Special Education Program in the Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education at UTK.  Scholars receive three consecutive semesters of free tuition and fees for their participation.

Please click through the categories in the menu to learn more about the Early LEAPS Program.