Multiple Disabilities including Deaf Blindness (All Grades)
Program Overview
This graduate program will prepare you to work with learners with significant, severe/multiple disabilities in both self-contained special education classrooms and inclusive general education environments through the principles of Universal Design for Learning. You will learn to use strategies to teach communication skills to learners with cerebral palsy (CP), traumatic brain injury (TBI), DeafBlindness, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and intellectual disabilities using augmentative and alternative communication devices (AAC), tangible symbols, and other assistive technology (AT). Graduates from this program go on to work as specialized teachers of learners with multiple disabilities, including DeafBlindness, in NYC’s District 75, as inclusion support providers (SETTS or SEIT), and as collaborative team teachers with general education teachers in both public and private schools, private early intervention agencies, hospitals, and clinics.
Coursework and Clinical Experiences
Courses are offered in the afternoon and evening. Select courses have required hours of classroom experience (fieldwork) in a New York City public school. Students also participate in supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum) as the culmination of their course of study. Student teaching and/or practicum requires five full days per week for at least one semester.
Credits
30-36
Certification
Students with Disabilities All Grades (PreK-12) with an extension annotation in Severe and Multiple Disabilities
Eligibility and Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0; or a master’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.5
- A liberal arts or science major or interdisciplinary concentration of at least 30 credits.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- A personal statement
To Apply
This program accepts applications each Fall semester.
We’re launching a new graduate admission application! The application will be available in late summer 2025. While you wait for the application to launch, view the How to Apply page for full application requirements. Join our School of Education email list for updates.
Application Deadlines
Fall Start
- March 15
Spring Start
- October 15
Visit How to Apply for information about deadline extensions.