Dr. Rita Brusca-Vega who is an Associate Professor in the School of Education and an ISPR Faculty Associate has received an award through the United States Department of Education to support a Special Education: Intense Interventions training program.  Purdue University Calumet will offer a graduate level course of study to approximately 40 candidates leading to state licensure in Special Education: Intense Interventions.  Graduate of the program will serve students with autism spectrum disorders, severe emotional disorders, moderate and severe mental retardation, traumatic brain injury, multiple disabilities and other health impairments. Experts from Riley Child Development Center of the Indiana University School of Medicine, the PUC School of Nursing, and the PUC Institute for Social and Policy Research will collaborate in the training program to provide comprehensive interdisciplinary training.   The project is funded at approximately $750,000 and begins in the Fall of 2009.