We currently have 3 Department of Education Speech Language Pathologists (or more widely known as speech therapists) servicing Mount Ommaney Special School (MOSS) and the Early Childhood Development Program (ECDP). Emma Goldston and Vickie Saunders service MOSS, whilst Laura Kane services the ECDP.
Our approach
The Department of Education provides speech-language therapy services for students with special needs in communication, enrolled in state schools or registered for Early Childhood Development Programs. The focus of these services is to enhance students' educational programs and outcomes. The Department of Education provides speech language therapy services to assist schools with identifying and addressing barriers to learning. These services support students with speech, language and communication needs, or with eating and drinking difficulties, to achieve in education.
Speech language pathologists in schools:
- Work as members of the education team (which can include the student, parents/carers, teachers, teacher aides and other specialist support personnel) to determine educational needs of students with speech, language and communication needs and/or eating and drinking difficulties.
- Assist in developing individual communication systems for those students who are non-speaking.
- help education teams to adjust the curriculum and use appropriate teaching strategies to support students' communication
- Assist in delivering programs that enhance or support students' communication and literacy skills necessary for access and participation in the curriculum.
- train teachers or teacher aides in ways they can support students
- Work with the administration team to provide school-wide communication supports such as developing guidelines, policies and school-wide communication strategies.
- Consult with and provide resources to school staff, parents and the school community.
- Liaise with other agencies
To assist students in achieving their educational outcomes, speech-language pathologists use specialised knowledge of:
- Speech
- Language
- Social interaction skills
- Communication strategies such as Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC)
- Voice
- Fluency
- Eating, drinking and swallowing
- Literacy development for students with complex communication needs
Speech language pathologists contribute to students' educational programs by:
- Planning with teachers to provide classroom activities to enhance communication competencies
- Advising on the communication requirements for literacy and numeracy development and strategies to assist students to develop these
- Advising parents about speech and language development and how they can assist their children to develop spoken language competence
- Assessing students' communication development and skills as well as working with school teams on how to monitor their communication skills in class
- Identifying students with significant difficulties with reading and spelling difficulties, and providing strategies to support them in class
- Providing in-class support and/or intervention programs to support students with complex communication needs
- Determining the communication requirements of classroom activities, resources and assessments and advising on modifications to support specific student needs
- Working collaboratively with the education team to support students' positive behaviour
- Advising on the use of technology to support communication and literacy skills
- Providing support and strategies for students who require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems and strategies
- Providing support and strategies for students with eating and drinking difficulties and swallowing disabilities
For more information please contact the school.