The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded two separate grants, expected to total more than $2.1 million combined, to University of Northern Colorado faculty to provide specialized training in critical areas to boost both the quality and quantity of teachers of students with disabilities.

Associate Professor Paula Conroy will lead a program to prepare teachers of students with visual impairments and orientation and mobility, while Professor John Luckner will direct a separate project to prepare teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Conroy's project, titled "Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments and Orientation and Mobility Instructors: Personnel Preparation to Meet the Needs of Diverse Learners," will provide specialized training to improve skills of up to 10 beginning teachers annually. The online program will lead to a credential as a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist from the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals in addition to a teacher educator license from most states, including Colorado. The project was awarded $247,503 for the first year, with anticipated funding totaling $1,244,128 over five years. The project is fully funded by