Transforming Preparation of Listening and Spoken Language Specialists Through National University Collaboration 

The AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language has formally approved an innovative pilot initiative, LSLS LaunchPad, designed to transform how future professionals prepare to support children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) using Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) and their families.

A National Collaboration to Address a Critical Need
The pilot will launch in Fall 2026 through a partnership among three leading universities: Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind., Idaho State University’s Meridian, Idaho campus, and Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. Together, these institutions will pioneer a new model of graduate education that integrates Listening and Spoken Language Specialist (LSLS) certification requirements into degree programs in speech-language pathology, deaf education, and audiology. 

Sally Tannenbaum-Katsaggelos, Chair of the AG Bell Academy Board of Directors, offered her support of the initiative, noting, “After more than three decades in the field, it is incredibly meaningful and exciting to see a program like LSLS LaunchPad bring certification into the university setting—expanding access and preparing the next generation of professionals to serve children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families with excellence.” 

“LSLS LaunchPad represents one of the most significant and energizing advances in the 30-year history of the LSLS credential!” added Carol Flexer, a former Academy board chair and one of the authors of the current certification exam. “Through the introduction of an innovative graduate education model, it has the power to transform pathways to LSLS certification by enhancing professional preparation and increasing access for families who seek LSL outcomes for their children who are DHH. Congratulations to these visionary university programs for bringing renewed energy and visibility to the LSLS credential!” 

Reimagining the Pathway to Certification
Traditionally, the LSLS certification process is completed after graduation, often creating barriers related to time, cost, and access to mentorship. The LSLS LaunchPad removes these barriers by embedding certification-aligned experiences into graduate education, including:

• Academic training and supervised clinical practice with LSLS-certified faculty.
• Structured mentorship and observation experiences.
• Coursework aligned with the AG Bell LSLS Blueprint and Domains of Knowledge.
• Early tracking of certification requirements and documentation.
• Collaboration with LSLS LaunchPad scholars across university programs.

Students in participating programs will be able to complete significant portions of certification requirements before graduating, positioning them to enter the LSL workforce quickly and more confidently. 

A cornerstone of the initiative is the LSLS LaunchPad Learning Community, which will vet and align coursework with LSLS standards, support faculty and student mentorship, track candidate progress toward certification, and ensure fidelity to the AG Bell certification content standards and clinical requirements. The LSLS LaunchPad Learning Community will be guided by Drs. Jenna Voss of Butler University, Kristina Blaiser of Idaho State University, and Kameron Carden of Samford University. 

Carden shared, “The Learning Community offers an exceptional opportunity for future LSLS professionals to engage with the broader LSL field while building early collaborative relationships with both peers and seasoned professionals. Through the LSLS LaunchPad, our scholars will develop essential interprofessional skills in a structured, supportive environment. This collaborative training model ultimately strengthens their ability to serve families effectively as members of integrated care teams. The initiative also enables faculty to model interprofessional collaboration by leveraging shared expertise to deliver a cohesive, evidence-based program.” 

Expanding Access, Equity, and Workforce Readiness
The LSLS LaunchPad is designed not only to increase the number of certified professionals, but also to expand access to the profession itself. By integrating certification into accredited graduate programs, the initiative will:

• Reduce barriers for students from rural and underrepresented communities
• Increase access to LSLS-certified mentors and training experiences
• Strengthen consistency in evidence-based, auditory-verbal practice
• Improve outcomes for children who are DHH and their families nationwide

Blaiser is directing the LSLS LaunchPad program in Idaho, where there are currently two certified LSLS providers. “We are excited to build on the strong interest of graduate students and translate that energy into meaningful service delivery for families with children who are DHH throughout the state,” says Blaiser. 

By 2029, LSLS LaunchPad aims to demonstrate a scalable model that can be adopted by universities with access to certified LSLS faculty across the country and around the world. As a recent member of the AG Bell Academy board, Voss is particularly excited about the scalability of this new initiative. “What we learn through this pilot will refine the model, positioning the Academy to invite universities around the world that are already preparing listening and spoken language professionals into this critical learning community. Through the LSLS LaunchPad, these university programs will engage in a shared framework that strengthens preparation globally and expands access for the children and families served by their graduates,” says Voss. 

Now Recruiting: Future Leaders in Listening and Spoken Language
Applications will open soon for future graduate students interested in joining the inaugural LSLS LaunchPad cohorts at participating universities in the Fall of 2026. Prospective students who are passionate about working with children who are DHH and their families are encouraged to apply to participating programs and indicate their interest in the LSLS LaunchPad track. 

• Enter the workforce with advanced, specialized training
• Transition seamlessly into LSLS certification
• Deliver high-quality, family-centered LSL services