Petrice Burrell's Website

The Speech and Language Program is a service provided by the Madison CUSD #12 to address Communication Disorders.  It is embedded in the Specialized Services arena therefore it is a component of the Region 1 Special Education Unit.

     Usually, a classroom teacher, social worker or a parent notices a communicative difference in a child /student and seeks help and support by completing a Speech/Language/Hearing Referral Form secured from the Speech Therapist/Pathologist.

     The referral form asks that the person completing it indicate by checking, areas of concern, as listed generically on it.  It is then turned in to the speech Therapist.  The following is a list of communicative concerns addressed by the referral form:

*Articulation - The way we say / make the Sounds... may omit, substitute or distort certain sounds.

* Language - Is many things and it includes vocabulary, syntax, listening skills and more...may have difficulty with colors, numbers, grammar, auditory memory, abstract reasoning, etc. or seems to function below same age peers.

*Voice- (the pitch, quality and loudness of speech) - may be hoarse, breathy, nasal, or talk too loud/soft.

* Fluency - (the flow or rhythm of speech) may stutter, repeat, prolong words, hesitate.

* Hearing - (the response to what the ears sense) - may appear inattentive or ask frequently for repeated information.

With the referral(s) completed and secured, the Speech and Language Pathologist selects a protocol of diagnostic materials to address the documented concern(s).  Additionally, Procedural forms are completed and the assessment and 20 step initial staffing procedure begins.  The immediate result of the 20 step initial staffing procedure is the development and the eventuate implementation of an I.E.P. (Individualized Education Program).  Therapeutic intervention follows to remediate, reduce, and/or eliminate the communicative disorder.  A year later a review of the child's I.E.P. (Individualized Education Program) occurs which involves a 7 step procedure.  This procedure lends itself to dismissal from the Speech/Language Program or the development of another I.E.P. to address current level(s) of functioning.

     Would you like more information about the occurrences of the Therapeutic Interventions?  Please check out the Speech and Language Bulletin Board.

     I'll chat again soon.  Bye!

                                                     P. Burrell, SLP