Supports
and Services: Speech and Language Program
SPEECH LANGUAGE
IMPAIRMENT AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION ELIGIBILITY
The individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) sets the
federal standard for educating students with disabilities. Students
also qualify for special education services according to the California
Education Code. A student with a Speech Language Impairment is defined
as a pupil who has been "assessed as having a language or speech
disorder which makes him or her eligible for special education and
related services when he or she demonstrates difficulty understanding
or using spoken language to such an extent that it adversely affects
his or her educational performance and cannot be corrected without
special education and related services" (CEC, Section 56333).
Children 3 - 22 years of age who meet criteria for special education
services may be eligible for Language and Speech (LAS) services.
School-based Speech Pathologists share in the decision-making process
with the IEP team to determine how to best meet the educational
needs of individual students.
WHAT IS SCHOOL-BASED
SPEECH THERAPY?
School-based speech therapy is a related service that supports
the educational program
for students who have a disorder in communication in one or more
of the following areas:
- Articulation: The production of speech sounds significantly
interferes with communication and attracts adverse attention.
- Language: Inappropriate or inadequate acquisition, comprehension
or expression of spoken language.
- Fluency: Difficulties which result in the abnormal flow of verbal
expression to such a degree that they adversely affect communication.
Voice: A voice that is characterized by persistent, defective
vocal quality, pitch or loudness.
Service delivery models include:
- Classroom based collaborative services and school staff consultation,
designed to maximize the student's communication skills for improved
participation in curriculum activities
- Small group work designed to build speech and language skills
to support and enhance interactive communication skills through
peer modeling Individual treatment sessions for selected intense
interventions
- After school programs which include parent participation and
training.
TIPS FOR HELPING
STUDENTS WHO HAVE A COMMUNICATION DELAY
| Articulation |
Play activities which include
sound awareness and discrimination, songs, stories and games
that emphasize letter sounds
Identify a "target sound of the week".
Find objects that begin with the sound, make a sound book
with pictures, and listen for the sound when reading stories. |
| |
|
| Language- Receptive, Expressive,
Social Pragmatic |
Talk to your student about everything
you do together.
"Match plus one" - imitate the
child's verbal expression and add one word to model expanded
language at his/her appropriate learning level.
Incorporate role-playing, story-telling
and play-acting into activities.
Encourage students to tell you what they
want rather than anticipating their needs.
Gain students' attention and have child
repeat directions to check for understanding.
Break instructions into smaller parts
to assure comprehension.
Make connections in every aspect of your
child's life for understanding of new vocabulary.
Use visuals to assist story telling and
learning of daily routines. Fluency
Minimize interruptions, competition and
a barrage of questions.
Model acceptance for individual differences.
Accept and listen to the student's
message. |
| |
|
| Voice |
Consult with the school nurse
about possible medical concerns.
Provide opportunities for the student
to speak in a normal voice tone, minimizing situations where
he or she will shout or scream. |
ABOUT OUR THERAPISTS
ARE SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PROFESSIONALS
The Los Angeles Unified School District Speech and Language Program
consists of a dedicated staff of over 300 qualified speech-language
pathologists. Our therapists are state licensed and/or credentialed.
'Many also are certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association (ASHA). Continued education is supported by the district
for our therapists to maintain a keen awareness of the latest research,
technology and best clinical practices.
District therapists have specialized training to support the wide
variety of needs of the students we serve:
- After-school Phonological Program
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
- Autism Project
- Bilingual Assessment
- Hanen Parent Training Program
- Preschool Assessment
CONTACT INFORMATION
Speech and Language Program
333 S. Beaudry Avenue, 18th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 241-6200 Fax (213) 241-8433 |
