CHILDREN WITH COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
http://www.oafccd.com
November 1999 - Review of Policy/Program Memorandum
81
Submission to the Speech and Language Task Group ServicesGaps,
Duplications and Issues
OAFCCD is a volunteer organization which is legally incorporated with a volunteer Board of Directors. The organization is consumer driven with parent Board Members and parent led Chapters across the province.
Concerns: OAFCCD is very pleased to have a Task
Group focusing specifically on speech and language issues. The ability
to communicate is critical and without effective communication skills children
can not be educated and OAFCCD members believe that speech and language
services are important support services that should be provided by all
school boards. However, there are several areas of overlap with the other
PPM 81 Task Groups. There is overlap with the Health Task Group regarding
students with multiple disabilities. This group is a very small percentage
of the students requiring speech and language services, but they have complex
care needs and it is important that an integrated and collaborative approach
between school services and health agencies is found. In addition, many
of these students require augmentative communication systems and equipment
and it is not clear which Task Group will address this issue. There is
a similar overlap with the Psycho-Social Task Group concerning students
with behaviour disorders who also have communication disorders. This includes
students with autism spectrum disorders who will also require an integrated
approach to meet their needs.
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Service | Gaps, Duplications and Concerns | Solutions |
Service Availability | Variable interpretation of Memo 81 particularly for shared
responsibilities - articulation/speech sound production problems; fluency
disorders; and non-speech communication have resulted in a fragmented service
system for students
Only 4-8 % are currently eligible for School Health Support Services and the majority (92%) are the responsibility of school boards. |
Responsibility for speech and language services under
one Ministry, the Ministry of Education.
Transfer of Speech Language Pathology services and funds from the School Health Support Services to school boards. Access provided to specialized services at Ministry of Health and/or Ministry of Community and Social Services funded agencies. |
Service Availability | Inadequacy and inconsistency of services available across the province by school boards | Mandated and adequately funded services, based on a minimum
ratio of Speech Language Pathologists to students of 1:2250 (Lower ratio
for rural and northern areas.)
Standardization of role and responsibilities of Speech-Language Pathologist within the school system |
School Health Support Services | Confusion about the mandate and role of school health
support services
Assessment and referral process to School Health Support Services unclear and inconsistent resulting in duplicate assessments Inconsistency of service levels and delivery models across the province by Community Care Access centres (CCACs) providing School Health Support Services (SHSS) Some CCACs will not admit students to the School Health Support Service until they are required to attend school at age 6 years Speech-Language Pathology shortages related to employee uncertainty through the Divestment of Therapists and the Request for Proposal process by CCACs Competition for qualified employees from the Preschool Speech and Language Initiative |
Transfer of Speech Language Pathology services and funds from the School Health Support Services to school boards. |
Service Continuum | Inconsistency of service delivery and intervention models by school boards. | Policy direction and adequate funding that allows for provision of a full range of services by all school boards. |
Private assessments and assessments from outside agencies not always accepted by school boards. | School boards and partner agencies to establish common
protocols and seamless transitions.
Professionals who disagree, should contact each other directly and find a solution |
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No service in some school boards for students beyond primary grades. Services for adolescents limited or non-existent | Adequate funding to allow provision of on-going identification and intervention programs for students of all ages. | |
Role of Paraprofessional | Inadequate Speech-Language Pathology services results in inappropriate use of paraprofessional in delivery of services. | Adequate funding of speech and language services
SLP should be responsible for all aspects of service delivery, including supervision and monitoring of paraprofessional. |
Role and qualifications of paraprofessional involved in the delivery of speech and language services inconsistent across the province. | Adequate funding and flexibility to allow school boards
to deploy professional and paraprofessional staff
Clarification of role and qualifications of paraprofessional Adequate funding for in-service training for paraprofessional and support personnel. |
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Specialty Communication Services | Specialty speech and language services for students with Autism, Pervasive Development Disorder(PDD), Hearing Impaired, Traumatic Brain injury or neurologically impaired, etc, not always available | Increased funding to ensure equal access to specialty
services for all families and schools across the province.
Development of a collaborative team approach when school boards and agencies funded by different Ministries serve the same student or group of students. |
Student with complex communication disorders may be seen by Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) from school boards, Children's Treatment Centres and School Health Support Services | Transfer of Speech Language Pathology services and funds
from the School Health Support Services to school boards.
Role of Children's Treatment Centres and other specialty centres to be clarified and services to be available to all school boards. |
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Inadequate services and long waiting lists for students requiring augmentative communication, especially assessment, monitoring and program modification. | Augmentative Communication Services should be increased to reduce waiting lists and ensure that consistent school based services are available throughout province. | |
Preschool - School Transition | Service disruptions, duplications and gaps occur at transition
from preschool to school services.
Gaps exist where school services are inadequate, or when services are not provided for Junior Kindergarten or Senior Kindergarten age students. |
School board speech and language services to be available
to all students when they start school regardless of age
Planning for transition from preschool to school services to commence in the spring before school enrollment. |
Professional Development | Lack of professional development and in-service training for teachers regarding programming for students with communication disorders | Provision of adequate funds for curriculum modification and in-service training for teachers |
Parent Education and Training | Lack of parent education and training to support service delivery and individual student programming | Parent education and training should be one of a range of interventions provided by school speech and language services (as it is with Preschool services). Designated funding for speech and language services should include funds for parent education and training. |
Equipment | Equipment maintenance issues related to hearing systems and augmentative communication devices | Designated funding for speech and language services should include funds for equipment maintenance and qualified staff to monitor equipment. |
Inadequate funding for augmentative communication equipment
and confusion about role of Assistive Devices Program in funding such equipment
for children.
School Boards and the Assistive Devices Program both fund similar equipment, depending on whether for use at home or school. |
Designated funding for speech and language services should
include funds for equipment purchase or leasing.
Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health should clarify roles and responsibilities in funding augmentative communication equipment for children, especially regarding home and school use. While many children will need different equipment at home and school, joint planning and increased cooperation could reduce family frustration and eliminate unnecessary duplication. |