Project ACCESS (LBSII Multiple Disabilities - Masters)
Next Cohort begins Summer 2026. Applications accepted beginning January 2026.
Access to Integrated Employment for Students with Severe Disabilities
Master's Degree Program at the University of Illinois
Funding from Project ACCESS supports teachers of students with severe disabilities who are enrolled in the LBSII Multiple Disabilities off-campus program. Teachers who receive funding from ACCESS gain expertise in effective, research-based strategies for educating students with severe disabilities. They also receive specialized training in the areas of transition, secondary curriculum, and employment through participation in a series of intensive collaborative seminars with faculty and students from UIUC’s school social work program. These seminars emphasize an interdisciplinary focus to preparing students with severe disabilities to transition from school to competitive integrated employment. The program leads to a master’s degree in special education and teacher licensure as a Learning and Behavior Specialist II (LBSII) in Multiple Disabilities.
Program Features
- Courses taught using distance education and face-to-face instruction by UIUC faculty
- Intensive interdisciplinary collaborative seminars with UIUC’s school social work program
- 2 courses per semester offered conveniently after school hours
- All courses completed as a cohort
- Applied assignments you can implement in your classroom
- An induction program that provides opportunities for ongoing networking, training, and mentoring once the program ends.
Funding
This program is supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. Project ACCESS provides LBSII Multiple Disabilities program participants with a:
- Tuition stipend that covers two-thirds of the cost of tuition
- Reduced, off-campus tuition rate of $1,000 per course
- Fee waiver for most university fees
- Textbook stipend
Participants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to qualify for funding and sign a service agreement indicating that they will work in their field for two years for every year of funding received.
Application Process
Applicants should submit an online application to the special education program via the Graduate College website: https://grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply
All applicants will be considered for funding.
For More Information Please Contact:
Dr. Yvonne Carey, Project Coordinator, Department of Special Education, at ycarey@illinois.edu
Dr. Stacy K. Dymond, Professor, Department of Special Education, at sdymond@illinois.edu
Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.