Speech and Language  Pathology

"The limit of my language is the limit of my world."
_Ludwig Wittgenstein
 

What is Speech-Language Therapy?

IISD offers speech therapy to help students whose speech and language skills may inhibit their academic achievement. Problems which might be addressed include:

A student may qualify for speech therapy in addition to other special education services, or may receive speech therapy without the need for other services.

How do I ask for this help?

Referrals might originate with parents, physicians, teachers, or a kindergarten screening. The parent always participates in all decisions concerning special education services for a student, beginning with the referral. The parents may need to complete some of the papers at home, and are urged to return them very quickly, because laws dictate a strict timeline for the documentation process.

...for my child who is enrolled in school?

If a student is enrolled in an IISD school, the parents are asked to meet with the classroom teacher to discuss why a speech or language problem is suspected and how it might affect academic progress and to receive the papers to be completed, ;signed, and returned to the teacher. After the speech-language pathologist assesses the student's skills, the parents are invited to a meeting to discuss the assessment and recommendations (called an "Admission, Review and Dismissal Committee," or "ARD").

...if my child is not enrolled in IISD?

Children who are between 3 and 21 years of age who live within the Irving school boundaries, but who are not enrolled in an IISD school, may be referred for a speech and language assessment if the child's skills might affect his academic achievement. This would include preschool children and home school and private school students. The parents should call the Special Education Office at (972)215-5070 to request referral papers. The student is usually tested at the neighborhood school which he would attend if enrolled. The assessment and recommendation process is the same as if he were enrolled.

Where will my child have speech therapy?

Each student receives speech therapy at his neighborhood IISD school. Parents might arrange transfers with the principal's permission and considering the constraints of the caseloads. The school office will require enrollment forms to be filed before therapy starts.

How much time will my child be in speech therapy?

The amount of time designated should be appropriate to the need of the child and his Individual Educational Plan (IEP), which will be developed at the meeting after the assessment.

How will I know if he is making progress?

Parents will be sent reports at the end of each six weeks period, and will be invited to a conference at least once a year (the ARD meeting). Parents may contact the speech-language pathologist by phone during her planning period, or immediately after school to arrange a meeting.

What other services provide language instruction?

All special education programs seek to improve language skills. A child who has severe disabilities might need the instruction available in a self-contained classroom.

If the language problem is the result of learning more than one language, a service such as English as a Second Language (ESL)or Bilingual Education might be more appropriate.