New Rules in Indiana

Thousands of speech-language pathologists are facing new rules this year for the provision of speech and language therapy in Indiana schools. For the most part, these changes are in wording and merely affect paperwork. But one change is far more than that. It has been almost 2 months since the new law has passed, and I still can't understand this one....

A nationally-certified and state-licenced speech-language pathologist, can no longer be the sole evaluator of a language impaired student.

Let me re-state that. A specialist in receptive and expressive language, holding a Master's degree in speech-language pathology and trained to diagnose and treat language disorders can no longer be the sole evaluator of a language impaired student.

What is the rationale for such legislation?

Until this change, parents and teachers could refer students to their school's SLP. The SLP would screen the student, determine whether an evaluation was warranted, and proceed with an evaluation as necessary after obtaining parent consent. If an evaluation was made, results would be shared at a case conference with the parent, teacher, principal, and SLP. At that conference, eligibility for services would be determined and the SLP would make a recommendation regarding therapy.

No longer.

If Indiana SLPs can no longer be the sole evaluator of language impaired students:
1)Who else is supposed to be involved in the evaluation? And...
2)What exactly is that person's role supposed to be?

The answer is not clear. The new law doesn't specify these two important pieces of information. And what does that mean for the students of Indiana?

Well, I suspect that because the new law lacks clarity and makes the evaluation process more cumbersome, fewer language evaluations will be conducted and more language impairments will go undiagnosed. Students with delayed receptive and expressive language skills will be left to struggle in the classroom without support and without learning important language skills.

How big of a deal is this? Well, if a child can't tell you what's alike and what's different about an an apple and a cherry in 1st grade, how will he be able to compare and contrast the characters of "Romeo and Juliet" in high school?

Language skills are the foundation of learning.