Carolina Summer Institute

An online educational opportunity presented by The Children’s Cochlear Implant Center at UNC

March 2026: Eight-week virtual classroom opens

July 13-17 2026: Live LSL session practice with a coach

Agenda

The 2026 Carolina Summer Institute consists of online coursework and in-person practice of Listening and Spoken Language therapy with LSLS certified coaches. This two-part training is for audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and teachers of the deaf who wish to develop skills in Listening and Spoken Language Therapy for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Course Specifics:

An eight-week, online course designed to provide the basic knowledge, tools and resources in LSL therapy.
Participants will explore LSL topics through readings, videos and application assignments.
Live online meetings (every Wednesday, 3 pm Eastern during the 8-week course) with instructors
to review the learning from that specific week.
Topics Addressed:
- What is a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist?
- Audiology 101
- Auditory Brain Development, Function and Strategies
- Auditory Memory & Auditory Learning (this is covered in 2 parts over 2 weeks)
- Language Development & Strategies
- Speech Development
- Parent Participation Sessions & Strengths Based Coaching
Live practicum:
- - 4 live LSL parent participation sessions with LSLS coach in Durham, NC
  - 2 participants paired with a LSLS coach
  - Planning sessions, role-playing and therapy with coach each day
  - Daily strengths-based coaching conversations with coach
Cost: All participants are to pay a $100 deposit at time of registration
- State of NC employees – $100
- NC resident but not an employee of the state of NC – $750
- Out of state residents – $1500
ASHA CE Provider approval does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products or clinical procedure.

Coaches*:
Sandra Hancock, MS, LSLS Cert AVT
Lillian Henderson, MSP, LSLS Cert AVT
Virginia Madorin, MA, LSLS Cert. AVEd
Sarah Spencer, MS, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert AV AVT
Erin Thompson, MS, LSLS Cert AVT

*Hancock, Henderson, Spencer, and Thompson are employees of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), and Madorin is an employee of the NC Department of Public Instruction, and will not receive additional compensation. There are no nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

Carolina Summer Institute