Robert Morris University (RMU), alongside three other universities, has partnered with the DePaul School for Hearing and Speech to launch a year-long teacher-of-the-deaf apprenticeship program. This program comes from the nationwide shortage of teachers of the deaf.

The DePaul School for Hearing and Speech works with students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or who have severe speech delays from birth to 8th grade. Based in Shadyside, DePaul is the only listening and spoken language (LSL) school in the tri-state area.

The new Grow-Your-Own University Integrated Deaf Education, also called GUIDE, aims to give participating students direct experience with deaf or hard-of-hearing students. Beginning in 2025, the year-long program will give participants a master’s degree and a teacher-of-the-deaf certificate.

La Roche University, Utah State University and Minot State University in North Dakota all partnered alongside RMU to form a consortium with DePaul to launch the program. Two of these schools are located in the Pittsburgh area, aligning with the location of DePaul School.

There is increasing demand for deaf certified educators, in both rural and urban areas. Vicki Donne, an RMU professor, said this program will help “bridge the gap” in teacher preparation for direct interaction with full or partially deaf students. The experience found within this program will prepare and certify student teachers to work directly with hearing impaired students.