Interdisciplinary Training
About Interdisciplinary Training
Welcome to the Interdisciplinary Training Program at the Florida Center for Inclusive Communities (FCIC). Interdisciplinary pre-service preparation offers participants (known as trainees) an integrated education program with knowledge and methods from two or more disciplines. The program relies on the interdependent contributions of an interdisciplinary team of people which may include people with disabilities and their families, health and allied health professionals, community providers, educators, and researchers representing a variety of disciplines. Trainees are also provided with instruction, support, and mentorship from faculty and staff who are nationally recognized in the field of developmental disabilities and positive behavior support. The program’s overall mission is to develop the next generation of disability leaders who have an unrelenting desire to promote inclusion, and want to engage in opportunities for leadership, academic development, and professional growth.
Participants include undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral students in disciplines such as applied behavioral analysis, psychology, education, child & adolescent behavioral health, public health, medicine, social work, and other related disciplines. It also includes community members learning about self-advocacy and disability policy through on-the-job training. Explore the resources on this page to learn more about our programs and activities, eligibility requirements, core training modules, scholarship opportunities, and more!
Programs and Activities
The purpose of FCIC’s Interdisciplinary Training program is to build the capacity of pre-service students and professionals to promote the independence, productivity, and community inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities. To do this, we provide high-quality interdisciplinary courses and educational activities that allow participants to gain the knowledge and skills to address the service and support needs of people with disabilities. We also aim to promote allyship through learning about advocacy and disability policy.
Every training participant will receive an individualized training plan that will be customized to their field of study and interests. The length and depth of your training will be guided by your individualized training plan. In general, our training competencies include leadership, policy and advocacy, inclusion, critical thinking, self-reflection, and cultural responsiveness. Learning experiences may include academic courses, core curriculum training modules, topical training webinars, mentorship, training internships, graduate assistantships, etc. Training activities are led by faculty, researchers, former trainees, disability professionals, practitioners, people with disabilities, their family or caregivers, and other community members. FCIC’s interdisciplinary training programs and activities revolve around a core curriculum that includes participating in any of the following FCIC programs and activities:
Project iSED
Project iSED is a 5-year, $1.19 million grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (H325K200051). The program aims to prepare 34 high-quality scholars to serve as either Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) or School Social Workers (SWs) who can collaboratively design and deliver evidence-based instruction and intensive individualized interventions and supports (PBIS) in natural environments, classroom, and schools for school-aged children with severe emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). iSED trainees will complete the Positive Behavior Support Graduate certificate in conjunction with their MS degree. They may also receive mentorship and research opportunities.
Project STARS
Project STARS, which stands for “Scholars in Teaching, Applied Research, and Service,” is a 4-year $1.9 million grant provided by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Leadership Personnel Preparation Grant. It prepares school psychology students to become faculty members in higher education settings. Additionally, the program provides participants with teaching, applied research, and service expertise to help them effectively lead school, district and state-level implementations of evidence-based practices within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). Hosted at USF, Project STARS will be conducted in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Education, the Florida Center for Inclusive Communities, USF’s Institute for School Reform, and with school district personnel in Pasco County Schools and the Madison Metropolitan School District.
Project EBAS: Enhancing Behavior Analytic Services
Project EBAS is a $1.11 million grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (H325K170085). Project EBAS is designed to prepare high-quality scholars to serve as either Board-Certified Behavior Analysts or School Psychologists who can contribute to the provision of focused instruction and individualized positive behavioral interventions and supports in an interdisciplinary team-based approach for school-aged children with severe emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). EBAS trainees will complete the Positive Behavior Support Graduate certificate in conjunction with their MS degree. They may also receive mentorship and research opportunities.
Community Scholars
Community Scholars is part of a diversity pipeline program that recruits youths with disabilities as FCIC trainees to engage in paid on-the-job training (OJT). The Community Scholars are FCIC trainees and receive mentoring, development of basic administrative competencies, individualized career coaching, college counseling, and disability policy and self-advocacy training. Through the OJT experience, community scholars gain skills that can lead to gainful employment and are also introduced to post-secondary education as a real, next-step possibility. To learn more about this program, please contact Laura Rodríguez López at lrodri11@usf.edu.
Training and Research Mentorship
Interdisciplinary trainees are mentored by FCIC faculty through individual studies, internships, practica, and thesis and dissertation committees. FCIC faculty represent a variety of disciplines, including psychology, education, special education, nursing, and public health. If you are interested in working with a particular member of the FCIC faculty or staff, please contact Laura Rodríguez López at lrodri11@usf.edu. Some of our Practicum and/or Research placement opportunities with FCIC Programs include:
- Florida Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (FLPBIS)
- Program-Wide Positive Behavior Support (PWPBS)
- Interdisciplinary Center for Evaluation & Intervention (ICEI)
- Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY)
- Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (CARD)
- The Learning Academy (TLA)
- Partnership for Effective Programs for Students with Autism (PEPSA)
- The National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI)
Academic Programs and Courses
We partner with USF to offer trainees specialized education in Developmental Disabilities. Within these programs, which include a Graduate Certificate in Positive Behavior Support, we offer graduate students and non-degree seekers focused courses in:
- MHS 6065 Issues & Trends in Developmental Disabilities
- MHS 6606 Systems, Services and Supports for people with Developmental Disabilities
- MHS 6067 EBPs in Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents with Developmental Disabilities
- MHS 6410 Intensive Individualized Positive Behavior Support
- MHS 6608 School-wide Positive Behavior Support
- MHS 6605 Addressing Challenging Behavior in Young Children
- MHS 6607 Behavior Consultation & Collaborative Systems Change
To learn more about our academic offerings, please visit the Academic programs tab.
Eligibility Criteria
To join the training program, you must meet the minimum criteria:
- Be enrolled in an eligible program or activity
- Submit the trainee enrollment form
Program Requirements
All FCIC trainees are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress (if applicable), complete the core curriculum training modules, participate in a minimum of two professional development activities per semester, respond to all training evaluation surveys, and participate in AUCD’s Emerging Leaders Community. Additional requirements will vary depending on your Individualized Training Plan and will be outlined during enrollment.
Enrollment Directions
If you are interested in joining the training program, you will need to submit the Trainee Enrollment form . The enrollment form will collect the following information:
- Biographical data including name, email, phone number, address/es, academic history, and research interests, and ask you to expand on the following questions:
- The FCIC works to promote the independence, productivity, and community inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities. What experiences, if any, have you had with people with disabilities and their families?
- What are your career goals related to people with disabilities and their systems, services, and supports?
- Why do you want to join the Interdisciplinary Training Program at FCIC?
- Resume or CV.
- Name of your faculty advisor or FCIC mentor.
If eligible, after your form is received, you will receive an invitation to schedule a 30-minute Interview with Training Director, Laura Rodríguez López Ed.D., to discuss your application, interests, and fit. If you would like to contact Dr. Rodríguez López before submitting your formal application, please feel free to email her at lrodri11@usf.edu.
Scholarships
Through a generous gift from the Evin B. Hartsell Foundation, the Florida Center for Inclusive Communities (FCIC/UCEDD) is proud to offer trainees a scholarship opportunity for those living with disabilities or focusing their studies on the field of disability. The Evan B. Hartsell Endowed Memorial Scholarship is open to full or part-time students at the sophomore, junior, senior or graduate academic levels. Applicants must be active trainees of FCIC/UCEDD and pursing a major in Social Work or Counseling in the College of Behavioral & Community Sciences or Psychology in the College of Arts & Sciences, on any of the USF campuses. This scholarship will be awarded for two semesters and has preference for financial need. If there are no applicants who meet the below preferences, any CBCS FCIC/UCEDD trainee dedicated to the study of disabilities and inclusion can be awarded. To qualify for this award, applicants must have read Evin's book Abled in a Disabled World available through the USF library and submit an essay reflecting on their reading. A resume will also be requested.
Preference will be given to students in the following order:
- Students with a disability, who is a United States Military Veteran, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Student with a disability, who is a United States Military Veteran.
- Student with a disability.
This scholarship award totals $1,000 ($500 per semester for a maximum of two semesters). If you would like to apply for this scholarship, please click here to complete the application. To learn more about Evan and the amazing life he led, you may visit his website at www.evinbhartsell.com.
