SHIFT: School-based, High-quality Interdisciplinary Field Training to Improve Outcomes for Children with Disabilities

The SHIFT Project is a federally funded personnel preparation program preparing graduate students to work collaboratively in school settings serving children and youth with disabilities.

 

Now accepting applications!

Please submit an application and a faculty recommendation letter by November 30, 2026. 

Submit SHIFT application
Download Faculty Recommendation

 

LSUHSC students conduct hearing test on toddler as he plays with blocks in his classroom.

SHIFT

School-Based, High-Quality Interdisciplinary Field Training to Improve Outcomes for Children with Disabilities

Learn more about this $1.2 Million investment in Louisiana Schools

 

A Team Approach to Supporting Students

 

SHIFT brings together graduate students from multiple disciplines to learn, collaborate, and prepare for careers serving children and youth with disabilities in school settings.  Through interdisciplinary training, students gain the skills needed to work as part of a coordinated support team.

Occupational Therapy

Audiology

Physical Therapy

Counseling

Speech-Language Pathology

 

Developing Skills for Real-World Impact

 
Through interdisciplinary coursework, family engagement activities, communities of practice, and school-based capstone experiences, scholars develop the knowledge and skills needed to improve educational outcomes for students with complex support needs.
 
Several adult students working on laptops in pods as they listen to virtual presenters.

Interdisciplinary Coursework

Learn with and from students in other disciplines while developing the knowledge and collaborative skills needed to support students with disabilities.

Scholar wearing purple LSU shirt adn mardi gras beads stands smiling with two young children at their school parade.

Family Engagement Activities

Build meaningful partnerships with families and gain insight into the lived experiences that shape student outcomes.

Three scholars smile and laugh as they work on group project together.

Communities of Practice

Connect with peers, faculty, and professionals to share ideas, strengthen problem-solving skills, and explore effective practices.

Two LSUHSC students take toddler's blood pressure in his classroom.

School-Based Capstone Experiences

Apply classroom learning in real school settings while working alongside students, families, educators, and related service providers.

Funding Acknowledgement

 

SHIFT: School-based, High-quality Interdisciplinary Field Training to Improve Outcomes for Children with Disabilities (Focus Area B) is supported by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), through Grant No. H325K260026 under the Personnel Development Program (Assistance Listing Number 84.325K). The project is administered by the Human Development Center at LSU Health New Orleans.

The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and endorsement by the Federal Government should not be assumed.