• Speech and Language Pathologists

    Who are Speech and Language Pathologists? 

    In schools, Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders in children. In addition, speech-language pathologists provide training and education to families,caregivers and other professionals. Additionally, they provide counseling, consultative services and work collaboratively with professionals in the educational arena to determine supports and services for the whole child. (Ohio Department of Education)

    What is the role of Speech and Language Pathologists in schools?

    • Offer a unique perspective as an expert in communication development and disorders; 

    • Facilitate students’ access to the academic curriculum and functional life skills by targeting the language processes of reading, writing, speaking, listening and learning;

    • Use evidence- and research-based intervention strategies; 

    • Serve on intervention teams and multi-tiered system of support teams to collaborate in the development of intervention and accommodation plans; 

    • Provide students ages 3-21 services and support within a diverse range of service delivery models, including direct instruction and collaborative models; 

    • Serve as a schoolwide and/or district consultant and resource for administrators, educators, parents and students regarding communication disorders and language-learning disabilities; 

    • Target a wide range of communication disorders, including: 

      • Speech sound disorders 

      • Language disorders

      • Pragmatics

      • Voice and fluency disorders

    • Address communication disorders across all disability categories; 

    • Support changing communication demands of students as they transition throughout their school careers and into the community. (Ohio Department of Education)