New grant to train more autism-certified teachers


Master of Science in Special Edcucation

Students in the online Master of Science in Special Education program can log in from anywhere to access lessons and work on assignments.

The College of Education’s online Master of Science in Special Education program is primed to grow in a big way thanks to a U.S. Department of Education grant.

Beginning in the fall semester, the $1.25 million grant, Project OPERATE, will pay for the tuition of nine students who are accepted into the accelerated master’s program every year through 2020.

This could potentially make the program, with room for about 23 students, more competitive and open it up to even more students from out of state or overseas.

Because students who graduate from this 12-month program earn an autism endorsement from the state, the college is targeting educators who already teach students on the autism spectrum, said Associate Professor Elizabeth Cramer, the program leader for the Master of Science in Special Education program.

“As the number of students diagnosed with autism increases, we need to make sure there are more teachers who have the skills needed to work with them,” added Cramer.

According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in 68 children have been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This marks a noticeable increase from 2000, when only one in 150 children were diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum.

“We hope our graduates will stay in the field and that they will want to work with kids throughout their career,” Cramer said. “The need for teachers who have these specialized skills is so great.”

The disorder also is more likely to affect boys than it is girls, according to the CDC.

Seeing the growing need for lessons adapted for students with autism, South Florida educators are flocking to the online master’s program.

“Eventually that’s where I want to be – in a classroom that specializes in teaching students with autism,” said Elizabeth Lane-Smith, 22, a teacher in Dania Beach’s Collins Elementary School who will complete the online master’s program this summer. “Most schools focus on just special education and you have to go back to get your autism endorsement. With this program you get it all in one.”

While Lane-Smith was weary at first about joining the online program, her concerns about the workload and the potential lack of interaction with teachers and fellow students quickly melted away.

“The flexibility of the program is great,” Lane-Smith said. “We take classes two at a time and we can log in from anywhere.

“You’re not on your own. Your professors are there for you and you’re doing group projects. Everyone’s learning together, everyone’s growing together,” she added.

Students who are selected to have their tuition paid by the grant will be required to undertake a research project that can be presented at the annual South Florida Education Research Conference and will participate in three professional development seminars through online meeting software.

To better understand the challenges faced by working with students who manifest the disability, they will also be paired with mentors – either teachers who have worked with students on the autism spectrum for years or persons who have a relative on the autism spectrum.

Students interested in applying for the online Master of Science in Special Education program should apply by Aug. 3. Students have until July 15 to apply for Project OPERATE funding. For details, email prepare@fiu.edu.