6 Easy Things Every Speech-Needs Patient Should Ask About Inclusion
What Is Inclusion?
Special education services are provided to children in different ways. Inclusion gives children a chance to play with and talk to their peers. Children with special needs are placed in the classroom with kids who don’t have special needs. Children who are learning in a typical way can be good talking and listening models. They can all learn language skills together. Other children can help show your child how to make friends.
The classroom teacher, you, and your child’s specialists will work together to help your child. You will be in touch with the teacher to know what’s happening in the classroom.
Why Would the Team Consider Inclusion?
Sometimes the best way to help children is to work inside the classroom. Other students in the classroom are good models. They are your child’s talking partners. By watching, the teacher can understand what your child needs to learn better. Giving your child a chance to talk to other kids can also help one of your child’s specialists—the speech-language pathologist, or SLP.
How Can an SLP Continue to Help My Child?
Your child may have received help from an SLP for some time now. The SLP may have come to your house. Or perhaps you took your child to the SLP’s office. The SLP has been a partner in your child’s language development. The SLP will continue to help your child and you in different ways, such as by:
Going into the class, helping your child or a small group during regular class activities
Bringing your child out to a quieter room to work alone or with a few other children
Showing the teacher how to help with communication in class
Giving you tips to work with your child at home
What Questions Should I Ask the SLP?
If your child needs to work with an SLP, you may want to ask her:
Where will you work with my child, in class or outside of class?
How will you and his teacher work together?
Will you help the teacher to understand the problem and how to help?
Will my child still be with the other children most of the time?
How will we know he is becoming a better talker?
What can I do to help my child talk better?
Let’s Talk Permission is granted for unlimited copying of “Let’s Talk.” © American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2010 8064-35
Sandy Dorsey, President, All About Speech, Little Voices, Big Conversations.
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