For two decades, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has provided funding to prepare UCF graduate students to serve the growing number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Now, its latest contribution will support a more inclusive iteration of this project.

Supported by a five-year, $1.25 million personnel preparation award from the ED, Project ASD 7 aims to increase the number of fully credentialed special education teachers and speech-language pathologists in the workforce. The Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute (TJEEI) and the School of Teacher Education — both housed within the College of Community Innovation and Education — is partnering with the UCF School of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the College of Health Professions and Sciences to facilitate preparing scholars to do just that.

“This project is a collaborative grant that continues the work of Project ASD 6,” says Kelly Schaffer, associate director of the TJEEI and principal investigator for the project. “With this new funding, 46 scholars will be supported as they complete their master’s degrees in either exceptional student education or communication science disorders while working together to earn the graduate certificate in ASD.”

The graduate certificate in ASD consists of four courses that constitute the requirements for endorsement by the state of Florida. By incorporating these requirements into both degree programs, Project ASD 7 ensures students in both disciplines receive state endorsement.

Since January 2004, various iterations of Project ASD have addressed the critical need for special educators who serve school-age children identified with intellectual disabilities and emotional disorders. The program provides funding for up to 36 credit hours and has seen over 600 graduates to date.

Qualified special education personnel are in high demand. The Florida Department of Education ranked autism second on its list of teacher certification shortage areas for the 2022-23 school year. A 2024  USDoE report shows 49 of 50 states reporting insufficient numbers of special education teachers and speech-language pathologists. Additionally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national employment rate for speech-language pathologists is projected to grow 19% from 2022 to 2032 — much faster than average.

Jacqueline Towson, associate professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders and co-principal investigator of the project, reiterates the need for trained and credentialed specialists. She says this latest version of Project ASD is especially exciting due to its focus on increasing the number of specialists from minoritized backgrounds.

“Speech-language pathologists are disproportionally represented in our field,” Towson says. “This project will help meet the needs of our diverse clinical population.”

The central benefit of the program is its interdisciplinary structure. With a strong focus on collaboration, the project prepares scholars to work with professionals in different areas of specialization. Schaffer says this approach not only reflects the daily reality in the field but also has a positive effect on individuals with ASD.

“By building interdisciplinary collaboration, we develop strong skillsets so that teams who support people with ASD can work together more effectively,” Schaffer says. “A team consists of multiple professionals providing a variety of services — this might include a psychologist, a speech-language pathologist, a behavior analyst and an educator. Working together with a common goal for a child is the best way to set that child up for success.”

Towson adds that interprofessional education and practice is essential to working as a special education teacher or speech-language pathologist.

“Project ASD gives our students the opportunity to learn with and from each other to provide better outcomes for the children and families they will serve in the future,” Towson says.

Soyoung Park, assistant professor in the School of Teacher Education, joins Schaffer and Towson as a new co-principal investigator for the project. Park, an expert in training special education teachers, says she is thrilled to collaborate with colleagues in a variety of fields to prepare educators to support students with ASD.

“Project ASD 7 will provide teachers and speech-language pathologists with rigorous, evidence-based instructional practices that will be more accessible for students. Our hope is that by increasing the quality of training for teachers and speech pathologists, we will empower students with ASD to realize their full potential,” Park says.

The project offers a wealth of valuable advantages. Enrolled students are eligible to receive a scholarship of $250 per course. They may also attend state and national conferences and complete internships with UCF-affiliated schools, organizations and educational agencies in the Central Florida region. To help scholars integrate coursework and field experiences, the program uniquely incorporates the use of mentor demonstration sites via live seminars, synchronous and asynchronous online presentations, and video streaming.

In addition to these short-term benefits, Park and the other members of the project also foresee long-term benefits to local educational communities, as program participants take their new knowledge and share it with fellow special educators and the families of students with disabilities to promote a more inclusive learning environment.

Many students and graduates consider Project ASD instrumental in shaping their career path. Kyra Liebertz, a current scholar, says her drive to become an effective and knowledgeable speech-language pathologist motivated her to apply.

“The opportunity to specialize in autism studies aligned perfectly with my professional goals,” Liebertz says. “Through coursework and hands-on experiences, I’ve developed skills in assessment, intervention planning and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. Joining Project ASD has inspired me to pursue a career in high-needs schools, particularly in Seminole County, where I can make a meaningful impact on underserved populations.”

Going forward, Schaffer is confident Project ASD will continue to meet the needs of the workforce and provide scholars with the optimal training necessary to excel in their careers.

“We have a solid strategy for success,” Schaffer says. “As a minority-serving institution, we can help people learn a lot about others and their perspectives. Opening our graduates’ eyes to multiple perspectives to create a more effective environment for students is the ultimate goal.”

Those wanting to learn more about Project ASD and how to get involved should reach out to projectasd@ucf.edu.