Texas Tech University

Project TEDD: Training Educators in Dual Diagnosis

Texas Tech University's Virginia Murray Sowell Center for Research and Education in Sensory Disabilities is implementing Project TEDD: Training Educators in Dual Diagnosis, an initiative to address a state need for K-12 educators who specialize in teaching students who have a dual diagnosis of an intellectual and developmental disability and a mental health condition. Developmental disabilities are severe, chronic disabilities that occur before the age of 22, such as autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injury, and epilepsy.

Project TEDD Logo: the words Project TEDD, Training Educators in Dual Diagnosis surrounding a circle enclosing a map of the state of Texas. The map has a stylized image of a person reaching for an apple. The state is bisected by a shaded area and a stylized depiction of a red apple.

Project TEDD is funded by a $1.5 million grant from the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities. Project TEDD is a train-the-trainer program designed to increase knowledge and skills of those working with children with dual diagnosis.

Project TEDD is providing 400 Texas special educators/professionals with access to train-the-trainer workshops so that they may in turn train other educators/professionals/parents with necessary skills for recognizing, understanding, and working with individuals with dual diagnosis. The first year of training started in December 2020 at the Region 17 Education Service Center (ESC) in Lubbock. The focus of the project then expanded the train-the-trainer workshops to the remaining 19 ESCs in Texas. We currently have another two years for completion of this project. The goal is to train a total of 400 teachers/professionals by the end of the project. Each teacher/professional is expected to train at least 5 other individuals, totaling 2,000 or potentially more across Texas. To date, the trained educators (trainers) have trained another 1,323 individuals (teachers, other professionals, parents). The trainers will themselves become a resource within their respective school districts and/or ESCs for several years as they continue training numerous other educators and related professionals.

This project will enhance the competencies of educators in K-12 settings who work with students with dual diagnosis. The educators will receive knowledge in the areas of identification, referral, assessment, behavior, and academic best practices. These educators will receive advanced training in collaboration and communication, crisis intervention, and working with families. This new knowledge will enable educators to make meaningful changes in their school districts and support collaboration with agencies outside of school settings serving individuals with dual diagnosis. Project TEDD is creating new leaders in dual diagnosis in K-12 settings through its use of the train-the-trainer model. This model facilitates systemic change by developing individuals who can continue to train educators and related professionals serving students with dual diagnosis for numerous years in Texas.

Training is limited to 20 participants per ESC, and nominations will be accepted from Special Education Directors. Each school district will be able to nominate one or more special education teachers to attend the workshop held at their regional ESC. All workshop attendees will be expected to train at least 5 teachers, parents, or related professionals from their school district. If you need more information about this project, contact Dr. Wayne Moore (wayne.c.l.moore@ttu.edu, 806-834-1680 or Dr. Rosita Moore (rosita.moore@ttu.edu, 806-834-6185). 

This work is supported by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities through a grant from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Washington, D.C. 20201, with a 100% federal funding award totaling $6,121,860. Council efforts are those of the grantee and do not necessarily represent the official views of nor are endorsed by ACL, HHS, or the U.S. government.

Project TEDD: Training Educators in Dual Diagnosis