IDEA language re speech therapists

[Guest guest]

Hi. This month is Speech/Language Awareness Month, and ASHA has a template

message to send about maintaining the " highest qualified provider " language in

IDEA. Current IDEA law requires that the speech therapists (SLP's) treating our

kids be fully qualified by state standards (i.e., using the same standards as

non-school SLP's).  The bills that have passed both Houses of Congress

(H.R.1350 and S.1248) no longer contain this requirement. That could result in

our

kids being treated by unqualified personnel (e.g., students vs. fully qualified

SLP's).  In other words, someone who could not legally work with our kids

across the street from the school WILL BE ABLE TO treat them inside the school. 

As those of us with children who have speech/language impairments (such as my

son, who has apraxia) know, the wrong kind of therapy can actually hurt rather

than help!

 

So please take a moment to go to this link:

 

http://capwiz.com/asha/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=3629671

 

When you get there, please delete the message currently contained (it's

outdated, as the Senate bill has just passed the Senate), and cut/paste the

following letter in its place.  Then just fill out your contact info as

requested and

send. (If you don't want to cut/paste, then you can send their letter as is -

it's just a bit outdated is all. It'll still work, but I think my letter will

be more effective because it's more up to date.)

 

Or, if you're computer challenged, please send me your name and full mailing

address and I'll do it for you.  Thanks!!

 

LETTER:

 

I am writing you about S.1248, the Individuals with Disabilities Education

Improvement Act of 2003, which was just passed by the full Senate recently.

 

School-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in our state, as elsewhere,

serve children with disabilities in collaboration with regular and special

education teachers and other related service providers.  These children may have

apraxia, aphasia, dyslexia, mental retardation, specific learning

disabilities, brain damage, stuttering, deafness, and/or other conditions or

disorders. 

To ensure appropriate care for these children, SLPs have received specialized

graduate-level education and clinical training in communication disorders that

is recognized by our state through its licensure process. 

 

I am very concerned that S.1248 does not ensure that children with

disabilities will have access to qualified school-based related service

professionals,

including speech-language pathologists.  Current IDEA law requires state

education agencies to maintain the same personnel standards for school-based

professionals as found in all other settings outside of the school building.  If

the

final bill that emerges from conference committee does not contain changes to

the language in current S.1248,. children with disabilities will eventually

wind up receiving services from individuals deemed " qualified " by the schools

but considered unqualified in every other setting.  We wouldn't want emergency

medical technicians performing major heart surgery; and we shouldn't allow un-

or under-qualified individuals to direct the care of important educational

services to children with disabilities.

 

I hope that you will work with the members of the conference committee (once

appointed) in changing the personnel standards language in their bill.  I look

forward to hearing from you about your efforts and your position on this

matter.