Services

I provide speech and language services for the preschool students at Wilkes Elementary school as well as for Kindergarten and some first grade students. In addition, I work with students in the Adult Living Program for post high school students who continue to receive programming through the Bainbridge Island School District. Evaluations, therapy, determining accommodations and providing suggestions for parents and teachers to work with students and monitoring progress are all part of my job.

For a child to be eligible for services he or she must demonstrate a significant delay in comparison to his/her same age peers. There must be an academic impact so that the child cannot fully participate or meet his/her potential in a school setting. The child must also be in need of specially designed instruction that cannot be reasonably provided by the general education teacher.

In the public schools, students from ages 3-22, who have significant delays in articulation, receptive or expressive language, fluency or voice problems can receive services. In the preschool setting speech and language therapy is integrated within the preschool day. The teacher and para-professionals help to carry out goals and objectives as the children participate in circle time, snack, and play activities. Children are also seen individually or in small groups to work on specific goal areas.

Older children most often leave the classroom at a time chosen by the teacher and therapist cooperatively to receive services.

The topic of "language" covers many different areas. Some children need work on developing age appropriate vocabulary and grammar/syntax skills. Others need to learn how to sequence information to tell about events or create stories for both oral and written language activities in the classroom. Some children have needs in the area of social communication to learn conversational skills, proxemics, problem solving with others and learning other people's viewpoints. Recalling pertinent information and using it to complete assignments or to share with others is another language skill.

Articulation is the way a child produces speech sounds. A child may be eligible for services with only one or two sounds in error if the sounds are not considered developmentally appropriate for the child's age. On the other hand, young children can make many errors and still be considered in the average or low average range and would not be eligible in the schools. If you have concerns about your child's speech ask his or her teacher to make a referral or call me. If you have concerns about your preschool child, call Heidi Ryen, School Psychologist, who can make an appointment for your child to receive a screening through the Bainbridge Island Child Find Team.