Infant Toddler Development Specialist Page 1 of 4
The University of Central Florida (UCF)
INFANT TODDLER DEVELOPMENTAL SPECIALIST
GRANT PROGRAM
Overview
The Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist Grant Program will prepare educators, social workers, nurses and other professionals working with young children, by increasing their knowledge and skills through an interdisciplinary perspective. This program includes a Family as Faculty component and proposes to increase the quantity and quality of trained early intervention personnel through competency driven graduate level coursework. The courses will address relevant multicultural issues with a primary emphasis on children with special needs. By December 31, 2007, those working as Infant and Toddler Developmental Specialists in Florida will be required to meet a prescribed set of competencies in order to serve children under Part C of IDEA. This program has been approved as meeting all competencies for Florida’s Infant and Toddler Developmental Specialist.
Methods Courses
We recommend students start with EEX 6017 Typical and Atypical Applied Child Development, and take the remaining five courses with their cohort. Field experiences and internships will be embedded into methods courses and also in current work settings.
Proposed State of Florida Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist Certificate and
Career Options
Upon completion of the Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist program, individuals will have met Florida’s proposed educational requirements for approval as Part C providers. As an Infant and Toddler Developmental Specialist, an individual may apply for approval to provide services under IDEA, Part C for infants/toddlers with special needs through the Department of Health / Children’s Medical Services Early Intervention Unit. To prepare, individuals need an extensive knowledge base and ability to practice new ideas under the guidance of master infant caregiver/teachers and university supervisors.
Collaboration
This program will work to incorporate a multicultural, special needs, and family component throughout the course work. This program operates in collaboration with a variety of entities and sites such as the Florida Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants and Toddlers, the Department of Health / Children’s Medical Services, the Florida Department of Education / Bureau of Instructional Support and Community Services, local/regional Early Intervention Programs (EIPs), United Cerebral Palsy, Easter Seals, Early Head Start, Healthy Start, Healthy Families, UCF Office of Disability Services, and UCF Office of Minority Programs. Other partners include the Parent Resource Organization, Family Network on Disabilities; Family Cafe; Regional Policy Councils; Family Voices; Down Syndrome Congress; and the Florida Commission on Responsible Fatherhood.
Entry Requirements
To be eligible for the grant, applicants must meet the requirements below.
Educational Requirements: Applicants must have at least ONE of the following:
1. A bachelors degree from an accredited institution in one of the following fields: Early Childhood, Early Childhood Special Education, Child and Family Development, Family Life Specialist, Communication Sciences, Psychology, Social Work or an equivalent degree based on transcript evaluation.
Or
2. A bachelors degree in any field, AND five or more years experience with the 0-5 special needs population
Or
3. A bachelors degree in any field, AND a Masters degree in Education, Early Childhood Education or Special Education.
Work Experience Requirements
1. All applicants must have at least one year of work experience with infants and toddlers with special needs.
And
2. All applicants must be currently working with infants or toddlers with special needs.
Residency Requirements
1. Florida residency is required.
Future Work Requirements
1. Applicants must read and agree to the terms outlined in the Statement of Understanding and Agreement (document is in the Program Packet).
Financial Aid
For the years 2002–2007, the Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist program at the Unversity of Central Florida is funded by a federal grant from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation. Through the grant, participants tuition will be paid.
A stipend will also be provided for each course successfully completed.
Participants who receive financial assistance from this federal grant at UCF are required by IDEA to provide services to young children (0-5) with special needs for a period of two years for each year in which assistance was received, or repay all or part of the assistance.
Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist / Admissions Information:Coursework provided at:
University of Central Florida, Orlando (main) and web based programming
Dr. Linda Brant, Program Coordinator
Dr. Lynn Hartle, CO- Principle Investigator
Dr. Lee Cross, CO-Principle Investigator
Please send correspondence to email address:
/ Visit our website at:
http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~eiucf/
Students with disabilities should contact the UCF Office of Disability Services at 407-823-2371 or online at:
http://www.sds.ucf.edu/ / Department of
Child, Family, Community, Sciences
Infant Toddler Grant Program
407-823-0041
Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist Coursework
Coursework (18 semester hours)EEX 6017 / Typical and Atypical Applied Child Development
3(3,0). Focus on the stages and sequence of development and the impact of disabilities and biomedical risk factors on learning and development.
ED-Child, Family & Comm Serv
NGR 6938 / Medically Complex and Other Low Incidence Disabilities
Focus on the biomedical risk factors on development of infants and toddlers and the impact on their families
EEX 5750 / Communication with Parents and Agencies
3(3,0). Presentation of methods of interacting with community agencies, supporting and collaborating with families, developing a case management system, and facilitating program transition.
ED-Child, Family & Comm Serv
EEX 6938 / Teaming and Systems in Early Childhood Special Education
The process of teaming and collaboration in planning and delivering developmental intervention services in natural environments for infants, toddlers, and young children with disabilities.
EEX 5702 / Planning Curriculum for Pre-kindergarten Children with Disabilities
3(3,0). Focus on curriculum planning; developmentally appropriate practices and implementation of individualized instruction for pre-kindergarten children with disabilities.
ED-Child, Family & Comm Serv
EEX 6224 / Observation and Assessment of Young Children
3(3,0). Study of formal and informal observation and assessment.
ED-Child, Family & Comm Serv