Enriching Doctoral Preparation: The National
Leadership Consortium in Sensory Disabilities
Brooke Smith, Ph.D., COMS, Salus University
Michael Berhmann, Ph.D., George Mason University
Kimberly Avila, M.A., COMS, NLCSD Fellow, George Mason
University
OSEP Project Directors’ Conference
Washington, D.C.
July, 2013
The contents of this publication were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of
Education, #H325V090001. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy
of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal
Government Project Officer, Glinda Hill.
NLCSD Mission
To increase, through specialized doctoral
training, the number and quality of leadership
personnel competent in the areas of higher
education and research to improve education
services for infants, children and youth who
have sensory disabilities (deafness/hard of
hearing, blindness/low vision, and
deafblindness),including those with multiple
disabilities.
NLCSD History
•
Expansion of National Center for Leadership in
Visual Impairment (NCLVI)
•
Began 1/2010
•
Salus is fiscal agent
NLCSD Collaborative Model
Fellows
Public
Advisory
Council
University
Consortium
OSEP
Salus
NLCSD Community
•
23 IHEs with doctoral programs in DB, DHH, BVI
(18 IHEs have Fellows)
•
27 Fellows in 2 cohorts (4 DB, 11 DHH, 12 BVI)
•
24 Public Advisory Council members (advocacy,
policy, parent & education groups)
•
4 Leadership Team members (Audrey Smith, BVI;
Brooke Smith, BVI; John Killoran, DB; Heather
Hayes, DHH)
•
OSEP FPO is Ms. Glinda Hill
Project Objectives
1.
Produce 27 doctoral leaders in D/HH, DB, B/VI
B/VI
2.
Create and utilize a Consortium to provide
participatory guidance in the design and
implementation of a multi-university, doctoral-level
leadership preparation program in the special
education sensory disabilities
3.
Develop and implement a Research-Based
Enrichment Program
4.
Create an inclusive Community of Learners
composed of professionals, including individuals
with disabilities and parents, who are involved in
the education of students with sensory disabilities.
Projected Outcomes
The quality and
quantity of
leadership in low
incidence sensory
disabilities will be
greatly augmented
Increased
collaboration and
efficiency with
which research
informs practice in
relation to teacher
preparation
Enhanced
academic
performance of
children who are
D/HH, B/VI, and
DB
Enrichment Program
•
Four-year program that augments Fellows’ work
in their respective universities
•
Includes technologically-mediated (Blackboard,
webinars) & face–to–face components
(meetings, conferences)
•
Led by Consortium member faculty and Fellow
volunteers
Enrichment Program
•
Focus on research and leadership in
sensory disabilities
•
Year 1: Research in Low Incidence
Populations
•
Year 2: Development of a Research Topic
•
Year 3: Grant Writing
•
Year 4: The Professoriate
9
Opportunities for Interactions
Fellow-to-Fellow
Fellow-to-Faculty
Faculty-to-Faculty
Project Information
•
•
•
•
•
Fellows receive full tuition & living stipend which is
differential based on location
Travel to conferences and annual NLCSD meetings
Fellows may not work more than 20 hours / week and
are required to maintain an on-campus physical
presence
Service obligation:
o 1 for 1 if enter IHE/personnel preparation
o 2 for 1 if enter non-IHE
Anticipated graduation dates:
o Cohort 1: Spring 2014
o Cohort 2: Spring 2015
Impact of NCLVI & NLCSD
•
Upon graduation, there will be:
o
o
•
27 doctoral leaders trained in sensory disabilities
(BVI, DB, DHH) through NLCSD
19 doctoral leaders were previously trained in
vision impairment (NCLVI)
A total of 46 highly qualified leaders in our field
Enrichment Program
•
•
Community of learners – research on low
incidence
Vehicle for:
o
o
•
National networking
Pulling people from outside their university into
Fellows’ dissertation research
July 2011 Face to Face
o
o
Fellows reported that one of the most important
aspects was the time spent in roundtable discussions
with consortium and PAC members
Hearing from Consortium and PAC on research
needs
A Fellow/Advisor
Perspective…
Coordination
and
Integration
Future
prospects
Focus
Fellowship and
Doctoral
Program
Opportunities
Networking
Collaboration
Coordination and Integration

Fellowship participation takes careful coordination and
integration in order to meet all requirements presented by the
Fellowship and University doctoral program.

Advisor skillfully planned how these two elements will interact
during my doctoral program.

Program of studies and logistics must be re-visited periodically
throughout
Focus
•
•
•
NLCSD requires:
o Completion within four years
 Requires Fellows to make decisions to leave
full time work and other obligations
o Participation in enrichment program
o Attendance at conferences, webinars and other
programs
NLCSD requires fellows to be FOCUSED!
o Doctoral program and enrichment can be
intense!
Obtainable:
o Despite intensity, a doctorate is obtainable in four
years
Opportunities
•
•
•
•
Learning from leaders in our fields
Conference attendance
Special events and presentations
o Dr. Larry Wexler Grant presentation
Funding
o NLCSD has made it possible to work
toward a Ph.D with the support
Collaboration and Networking
•
Collaboration and networking with
o The Fellows!!!

o
o
o
o
Diverse backgrounds, experiences and research
interests
Leaders/professors/researchers in the fields
 researchers who understand the complicated and
unique considerations for conducting studies on
low-incidence populations and in highly esoteric
areas of inquiry that have multiple safety
considerations
 Example: orientation and mobility research
Other universities
Research opportunities
Possible employment opportunities
Future Prospects
•
•
•
Extraordinary opportunity with life long
connections
Promotes life long learning
NLCSD employment requirement criteria
o Considerations
o Personnel Preparation
Questions for Discussion
•
How does this differ from your existing
leadership program?
•
What type of activities could enhance the
enrichment program?
•
How could these be shared with you outside of
the Consortium?