Register for the Interprofessional Preparation Program

Teacher and young student fist bump in the classroom.

Are you a graduate student in the Allied Health Professions and considering work in a school system after graduating? Get acquainted with this unique environment by participating in the Interprofessional Preparation Program.

Deadline to apply is May 31st.

The Interprofessional Preparation of Related Services Personnel Serving Children with Disabilities, shortened to Interprofessional Preparation Program (IPP), is intended to help Related Service Personnel be effective in practicing their profession in school environments. Graduate students in various disciplines often clinically engage with special education populations. However, application in school environments requires knowledge, skill, and adaptations for the education landscape. IPP introduces graduate students to these interventions today so they are prepared for future work in school settings.

The IPP evolved from Dr. Michael C. Norman’s work in schools as Director of the HDC’s Louisiana DeafBlind Project for Children and Youth.  He observed that related services personnel, at times, did not integrate their knowledge and skills into the educational programming being offered to students.

Some examples of such programing are:

Identifying functional, physical & communication barriers to access and participation.

Recognizing the impact related services personnel can have on literacy and numeracy development.

Assisting in the modification of educational settings, activities, and curricula to ensure integration of therapeutic interventions.

Supporting well-being by embedding mindfulness activities into day-to-day classroom schedules.

Recognizing the reciprocal, ongoing relationship between healthcare and education.

Related Service Personnel are professionals who are not teachers that provide direct services to students in school environments.

Related services disciplines include:

  • Speech-language pathology
  • Audiology services
  • Interpreting services
  • Psychological services
  • Applied behavioral analysis
  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Recreation, including therapeutic recreation
  • Social work services
  • Counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling
  • Orientation and mobility services

Who is eligible for the program?

  • Graduate students with unrestricted admission to graduate training program in a related services profession
  • Matriculation simultaneous with professional discipline

What is required?

  • Completion of online shared course of study
  • Attendance and participation in bi-weekly seminars
  • Attendance and participation in bi-monthly coordinated field experiences
  • Submission of conference presentation proposal to an approved regional or national professional conference

Service Obligation

This project is made possible by the Personnel Development Program, authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a Federal program aimed at increasing the supply of qualified personnel in the field of special education. This program awards competitive grants to Institutions of Higher Education to support scholars who are preparing to provide special education and related services to children and youth with disabilities.

Scholars who receive funding agree to work in the field of special education or related services for two-years for each year of support they receive.

Program Details

IPP is a 12-month program. Graduate students initially focus on child health and healthcare, child development (birth-21 years), disability across the lifespan, as well as, laws, rules, and regulations regarding disability.  The second phase of the program integrates these topics into school settings and their respective disciplines through observations and engagement in actual school environments.  The program culminates by a four-day intensive experience in a special education program within a school environment. 

Participation Support

  • Full tuition for three-semesters of graduate work
  • Books and materials for Project coursework
  • Travel reimbursement for attendance and presentation at approved regional or national professional conference
  • Cash stipend each semester

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