Speech therapy labeled as Special Ed/Special Needs - anyone with experience?

**Chimichanga** · 04-07-2011, 07:36 PM

DD1 will be starting kindergarten this fall. She has some issues pronouncing certain sounds. I.e - she'll say "look at the no" instead of "look at the snow" And difficulty with some "f" sounds, sometimes "g" sounds.

We had the district speech therapist come and evaluate her a few weeks ago because it was free. We just got his evaluation - basically what we had anticipated. He called DH to say he'd set up a conference and we would work out a plan for her. The therapist said we should be getting a packet of information in the mail.

All is well and good. Got the packet today... we're getting information about special ed classes.

Whoa - put on the brakes.

To me (and I may be wrong!) special ed = slower learners. I realize things have changed a LOT since I was in grade school and I'm sure the conference with the therapist will go over this. I was in speech when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade because I had a lisp. I went to therapy twice a week - I was taken out of class but definitely wasn't in a different/special class.

I don't want DD put into a different class because she has a speech impediment. I don't want her labeled as special ed. True - she will need some extra assistance, but her learning abilities are at or above her peers.

I will be attending the conference with DH (no way I'm letting him go alone - this is too important to me). I'm sure I will get a lot more information, but does anyone have any experience with this? Specifically in Wisconsin, but any state would be great.

As if I wasn't anxious enough about her starting school...

**Grenouille** · 04-07-2011, 07:48 PM

I think it is standard forms that you were sent, not forms specific to your child's needs. They typically have to do a full intake, even just for speech therapy. I'm an elementary teacher and have worked for 2 years as a special ed assistant, and that has been my experience.

**karlatta** · 04-07-2011, 07:50 PM

A speeches delay is considered special ed. It needs to be so that the school can provide the services she needs (therapy, generally). It's part of the way things are funded and stuff.

Is the packet maybe generic information about the special ed program, maybe? Having a special ed student, you have the right to information about all of her options, even ones that you don't prefer and that the school wouldn't even recommend. I would bet it's something like that. Just general information, not a specific recommendation for your child.

My son will soon be tested by the school and will likely qualify for special ed under a speech disorder. I'll have to go to a meeting to learn all about how special ed works, but I know that they'll be talking about the program in general and that he won't be placed in a separate classroom. (Texas is a very inclusive state.)

I wouldn't get worked up about it at all. Go to the meeting and see what they say. And remember that there's nothing wrong at all with having a child in special ed if that's what ends up happening. It doesn't mean anything bad. It just means she needs some help in certain areas.

**adamseve** · 04-07-2011, 08:06 PM

As others have mentioned, speech and language is part of the special ed arm. It's how it receives its funding. Based on what you described, I highly doubt she will be placed in a different classroom but rather receive "pull out" or "push in" services to address her speech needs. Best of luck!

**PookiePrincess** · 04-07-2011, 08:09 PM

Speech services fall under the special ed umbrella. I doubt she'll be in a completely different classroom full time, usually it's a pull out program and the amount of time she receives depends on the extent of her speech issues.

**pocahontas** · 04-07-2011, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by adamseve

As others have mentioned, speech and language is part of the special ed arm. It's how it receives its funding. Based on what you described, I highly doubt she will be placed in a different classroom but rather receive "pull out" or "push in" services to address her speech needs. Best of luck!

THIS. As a Special Ed. resource teacher I pulled kids out of their REGULAR classroom for services (not speech but other SPED service). There is no "special or separate class" in our building for kids receiving services. They sit in their regular class with peers a few of whom may have delays also and receive services but are pulled out an agreed upon number of times a week (which you'll probably discuss at the meeting). It's standard, for example, for our ST to pull kids twice a week for 30 minutes. They receive service in her room and then back to their regular class they go. (FWIW, I was like you and received speech in the 3rd grade because of mispronouciation of my "s", "sh" and "ch" sounds. And it's very different nowadays than when we were in school IIRC.)

**allyray231** · 04-08-2011, 04:58 AM

When a child comes into a school setting with a delay or some type of therapy-a lot of time they are labeled for school reasons as a child with a distability of X. My son is a child with a disability of speech. My son does get special education classes in the afternoon because he gets OT as well.

A child with just a speech delay will be in a mainstream classroom with "pull outs" Like the others girls said most of the time there is no seperate class. In our district, the only kids in inclusion classes are kids with major emotional and educational issues.

Just a quick note-my son has been getting services since he was 3 for speech and OT. Once school started we were actually GLAD that he was getting the extra help duing the day. He was never academically behind the other kids. He is doing amazing and his confidence has improved greatly. I have friends who had to fight and get help for their kids, a lot of times being turned down. Now is the time to get them the help. Be glad that your district is willing to help her.

The other thing is at this age, kids don't know the difference. My son's best friend is a little boy with down syndrome and to Aiden he is no different. He also has two kids in his class that have severe autism and again-Aiden sees no difference. That is a great thing to teach a child.

**VASLP** · 04-08-2011, 05:04 AM

I am an SLP and when I was working in the schools the services have always been part of the Special Ed program. As others have mentioned it's due to the funding sources. Don't let the label scare you. Special Ed is much different than when we were in schools and doesn't have anything to do with learning capabilities. The title is what also allows the services to be free to you as part of an early intervention program.

**marchfamily** · 04-08-2011, 05:24 AM

You've received great info about speech services falling under the SpecEd umbrella.

special ed = slower learners

Not necessarily. Some children learn differently. My daughter is in SpecEd, but she is holding her own academically. She has difficulty with sensory distractions (she has hyper sense of hearing and smell). So, the school accommodates her learning style by giving her visual charts to show the steps of a project.

In December, my kindergartner was not reading at all. In March, something clicked and she is reading above expected level.

**mcgwigan** · 04-08-2011, 05:30 AM

I'm also thinking that you just got standard forms. I can remember being in speech when I was in K or 1st grade and it was a pull-out from class like the other posters described -I know that was a long time ago, but my neice goes to the same school and it's still done the same way -she also received speech service. I'm kind of expecting my 3 yo to need some speech therapy as well since he doesn't quite have the ennunciation (sp??) I think he should have at this point.