TSHA Eligibility Template

Training of Trainers

As you know, the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association has endorsed the use of the Statewide Eligibility Guidelines for Articulation, SI Language Only, Language Impairment in Children with Other Disabilities, and most recently Voice and Fluency. You may also be aware that prior to implementing the templates in their respective school districts, SLPs were required to attend training in the templates. The TSHA Executive Board fully supports the use of the guidelines as a statewide model for eligibility. In order to provide this training to ALL school districts in Texas, it is necessary to develop a core of prepared trainers. The TSHA Board has therefore developed a plan to train one person in each template area for each of the twenty Education Service Centers Regions in Texas. Last year we trained trainers for the SI Language Only Template and the Articulation Template at the 2005 TSHA Convention in Austin. The next two templates to be trained will be the Language Impairment in Children with Other Disabilities Template and the new Voice Template.

The “Train the Trainers” (TOT) sessions will take place over two days during the 2006 Annual TSHA Convention, on the Wednesday (March 23rd) and the Saturday (March 25th). This will allow participants to more fully enjoy the other convention activities. The training sessions will follow the general TSHA convention schedule and CEUs will be available. TSHA will absorb some of the costs of training, including one night’s lodging, some meals, and all materials for the training. Participants will be responsible for their own travel costs, remaining hotel expenses, convention registration, and other usual convention expenses. The participants are encouraged to seek financial support from their school district if possible.

The facilitators for the Language Impairment in Children with Other Disabilities Training will be Dr. Allan Bird and for the Voice Training will be Ms. Jan Lougeay and task force members. Once you have completed the training, ESC’s and districts will be encouraged to contact you to schedule training sessions. You are expected to present at least 3 trainings per year over the first three years. It would be wise to secure your district’s support in this endeavor. You will have access to on-going support from your TSHA trainers as you move through this process. You may expect to be reimbursed for your presentation time via contracts that you arrange with your ESC or the district requesting the training.

If you are interested in applying for the Train the Trainers or have any questions, please contact Debra Bankston at dbankston@sfasu.edu.