University of massachusetts lowell in interdisciplinary personnel prep (LIPP): collaborative opportunities in applied behavior analysis and special education targeting autism and high-intensity needs

The University of Massachusetts Lowell received a $227,876 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services under the Special Education - Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program (CFDA 84.325) effective October 1, 2025, with completion targeted for September 30, 2026. The award funds the Collaborative Opportunities in Applied Behavior Analysis and Special Education Targeting Autism and High-Intensity Needs (COAST) initiative, an interdisciplinary personnel preparation program designed to recruit and train scholars in a specialized degree program combining Special Education, Applied Behavior Analysis, and Autism Studies. The program addresses critical workforce shortages in special education personnel capable of serving children with high-intensity needs and autism spectrum disorders.

UMass Lowell is executing this personnel preparation program in collaboration with Lasell University, which serves as a sub-grantee under the award. The collaborative structure leverages both institutions' expertise to deliver research-based training and professional development that prepares special education and related services personnel with the knowledge and skills required to serve children with disabilities and high-intensity needs. This award aligns with the federal program's statutory requirement to support competitive grants that address state-identified personnel preparation needs through evidence-based training in specialized instructional areas.