This question has been answered by BobRay. See the first response.

$(document).ready(function() {
$.fn.slideFadeToggle = function(speed, easing, callback) {
return this.animate({opacity: 'toggle', height: 'toggle'}, speed, easing, callback);
};
$('.accordion').accordion({
//defaultOpen: 'open',
speed: 'fast',
animateOpen: function (elem, opts) {
elem.children(":first").removeClass('fa fa-angle-down');
elem.children(":first").toggleClass('fa fa-angle-up');
elem.next().stop(true, true).slideFadeToggle(opts.speed);
},
animateClose: function (elem, opts) {
elem.children(":first").removeClass('fa fa-angle-up');
elem.children(":first").toggleClass('fa fa-angle-down');
elem.next().stop(true, true).slideFadeToggle(opts.speed);
}
});
});
