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The focus of Project Early LEAPS is on collaborative preparation in Family Centered Early Intervention for speech-language pathologists and special educators. ÌýThe program is designed to provided practitioners with knowledge and skills to improve the early language and pre-literacy skills of young children with complex communication needs who use or would benefit from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems.

We recognize the heterogeneous nature of children with complex communication needs and prepare grant trainees to serve as direct service providers and consultants to other early intervention professionals.​​​​​​​​​

At this time, Project Early LEAPS is no longer taking applications for funding, as the project is in its final year of funding from the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) in the U.S. Department of Education. Currently, the project is supporting the final 8 master’s scholars, 4 from the Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and 4 from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville Special Education program. To date 26 scholars have graduated from the two master’s programs, 13 from Speech-Langauge Pathology and 13 from Special Education, all in good standing and who are currently employed working with children.

If you would like additional information on the outcomes of this project, please contact Dr. Ilsa Schwarz in Audiology and Speech Pathology atÌýischwarz@uthsc.eduÌýor Dr. Mari Beth Coleman in Special Education atÌýmbc@utk.edu.

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