Speech and language pathologists (SLP) provide a continuum of important services to students and schools. These services include assessment, consultation, and direct therapy for students who have difficulties expressing themselves due to speech issues or due to difficulties in understanding language and/or expression, including social language. Priorities for SLP services are determined by early intervention considerations and the severity of the student's expressive, receptive and/or social language deficits, intelligibility, fluency, and voice. SLP services are accessed through referral to the school-based team. Typically, each elementary school receives one day of SLP support per week. SLPs may also provide consultative services to secondary schools when requested.
The role of the Speech-Language Pathologist is to:
- assess the communication skills of individual students following discussion with the school-based team
- interpret assessment results and suggest recommendations to parents/guardians, classroom teachers and school-based teams.
- develop goals and strategies for students who have an Inclusive Education Plan in collaboration with case managers and classroom teachers
- provide appropriate programming and materials for student with language, learning, articulation, voice or fluency disorders.
- provide direct intervention individually or in small groups sometimes within the classroom and sometimes out of the classroom
- collaborate with school staff, parents/guardians, and community agencies
- provide resources materials, strategies, and regular coaching opportunities for CEAs to support the implementation of these strategies across the student's learning day in the context of the classroom. This consultation model involves regular check-ins with CEAs to monitor a student's progress on their communication goals.
- provide assessment of and recommendations for Augmentative and Alternative communication (AAC) systems
- develop non-tech AAC systems to support receptive and expressive communication
- work with parents/guardians, school personnel, and home teams to implement AAC systems and provide training support.
Who qualifies for this service?
Students qualify for this service if they have significant delays or disorders in any of the following communication areas as determined by the Speech-Language Pathologist in consultation with the school-based team. Services are provided for a wide range of students, including those with Ministry of Education designations. Based on the "best practice" of early intervention, priority for service is given to students in the primary grades. Consultation and/or direct services focus on:
- understanding and using language related to vocabulary, concept
development, grammar, sentence structure - listening skills
- social language skills
- written language
- articulation
- fluent speech
- appropriate use of voice
- use of augmentative and alternative communication
- understanding and using language related to vocabulary, concept
What are the qualifications of a speech and language pathologist?
Speech and Language Pathologists:
- have a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology
- are a Registered member of the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of BC
How is the Service Delivered?
Speech-language pathologists may:
- perform communication assessments
- adapt and create materials
- plan cooperatively with school staff
- coach and teach CEAs to be skilled "practice partners" to implement speech and language activities throughout the school day in the context of the student's classroom
- plan speech-language programs for specific students
- provide skills training/direct therapy for small groups/individuals
- coach students in the classroom
- demonstrate specific strategies in the classroom
- develop augmentative and alternative communication systems
- conduct workshops for teachers, parents, and Certified Education Assistants (CEAs)
- consult with parents and community service providers
- consult with school-based teams