Speech & Language

Speech Pathologists work with all students that have been identified to benefit from these services. These clinicians provide support to students with Individualized Education Plans (IEP's), students with mild speech and language needs, and students that need intermittent walk-in services.

Speech or Language Impairments

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines speech-language impairment as “a communication disorder such as stuttering, impaired articulation, language impairment or a voice impairment that adversely affects a student’s educational performance.”

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent speech, language, voice, swallowing, fluency, and other related disorders:

• Articulation disorder means the absence of or incorrect production of speech sounds or phonological processes that are developmentally appropriate, i.e., sounds that should be in a student’s repertoire based on developmental norms and are not.
  
• Language disorder means a breakdown in communication as characterized by problems in expressing needs, ideas, or information that may be accompanied by problems in understanding. This may include disorders in social communication.
  
• Fluency disorder means the intrusion or repetition of sounds, syllables, and words; prolongation of sounds; avoidance of words; silent blocks; or inappropriate inhalation, exhalation or phonation patterns. These disfluencies may be accompanied by facial and body movements associated with effort to speak.
  
• Voice disorder means the absence of voice or presence of abnormal quality, pitch, resonance, loudness, or duration
  

Education and Speech-Language Pathology: A Team Approach

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are a vital part of the educational team in d303 schools. SLPs work with administrators, teachers, parents, social workers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, psychologists, nurses, and other staff members to help support student learning and remediate communication impairments. Speech-Language Pathologists in all d303 schools help students with communication disorders in a variety of settings using a variety of techniques appropriate to the student’s educational and communication needs.

Speech-Language Pathologists offer:

• Assessment
  
• Consultation
  
• Individual/small group interventions
  
• Parent meetings
  
• Special Education student support
  
• Community resources
  
• Direct and indirect services
  
• Augmentative and alternative communication
  

Speech-Language Pathologists Role

Support Students in their Academic Setting by helping them to:

• Improve their ability to effectively communicate in school
  
• Use age-appropriate articulation skills
  
• Use language to understand the speech of others
  
• Use language to effectively express their needs to others
  
• Use smooth and easy, fluent speech
  
• Use the best quality voice possible
  

Supporting Parents to:

• Effectively participate in their child’s education
  
• Understand the special education process and services
  
• Understand the typical development of speech and language skills
  
• Understand communication skills within a school setting
  
• Build school-parent partnerships to reinforce good communication skills at home
  

Assisting Educators and other Support Personnel to:

• Understand typical speech and language development
  
• Facilitate appropriate referrals to SLPs
  
• Understand how speech and language skills translate to the curriculum and literacy
  
• Meet communication needs for students of varying skill levels
  
• Participate in the special education process
  
• Support and participate in RtI interventions