Student Services

Speech Language Pathology

School Speech-Language Pathologists are professionals educated in the study of human communication, its development, and its disorders. By evaluating the speech, language, communication, and swallowing skills of children and adults, the speech-language pathologist determines what communication or swallowing problems exist and the best way to treat them.

Information for Schools, Students, and Families

Consultation Support Provided

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) that work in Manitoba schools provide a consultative-collaborative service that is available to all students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. These services will vary across a continuum of supports that best meet the needs of students to maximize their learning opportunities and success.

The School SLP is an active participant in the Student Services Team. Following an inclusion model of service, the School SLP provides consultation and support to educators for classroom-based instruction, assessment and learning. As part of a school division's early identification process, classroom-based information may indicate that a student has exceptional learning needs; student-specific assessment and programming is available by request through the school division referral process to initiate SLP services.

School SLP programs and services may vary across school divisions in Manitoba based on the regional needs of students, families, educators and communities, school division policy, and the skill level and experience of the SLP. It is vital that the School SLP be pro-active and supportive of prevention, early intervention and school readiness, as well as responsive to the language, learning and literacy needs of the students.

These services include but are not limited to:

  • Student-specific assessment, evaluation, diagnosis and recommendations for programming
  • Individual therapeutic intervention
  • Individual or small group intervention programming and practice
  • Parent and school staff education
  • Classroom-based programming and supports
  • Collaborate with teachers, School and divisional teams
  • Collaboration with teachers, school and divisional teams
  • Assistive technology and/or speech generating devices
  • Referral to additional agencies
  • Collaboration with community programs
  • Program, resource and policy development

In Manitoba, early identification of exceptional needs is considered key to promoting the success of students in schools and the School SLP plays an important role in supporting families before school entry with emphasis on oral language development. Many school SLPs offer information sessions on oral language development prior to school entry.

The communication needs of students varies widely from articulation or sound development; language learning for conversation, learning, reading and writing, life-skills; fluency of talking; voice and vocal quality; and swallowing. The management of student needs in an educational setting often requires the integrated efforts of the student services team to support the student and educators in the use of technology and other assistive devices.

Professional Learning Opportunities

Manitoba Speech-Language Outcomes Measure

The Manitoba Speech-Language Pathology Outcomes Measure is a tool designed to measure change in an individual's performance as a result of speech-language pathology intervention. The measure defines standard severity and priority rating and measurement of treatment outcomes.
The measure is composed of the following components:

  • Manual
  • Standard severity scales
  • Standard priority rating
  • Standard data collection format
  • Data analysis process

The measure is designed for intersectoral use for individuals between 0-21 years of age.

To receive further information regarding the Manitoba Speech-Language Pathology Outcomes Measure, please contact:

General Enquiries
Inclusion Support Branch Education
Telephone: 204-945-7907
Toll Free in Manitoba: 1-800-282-8069, ext. 7907
Email: isbinfo@gov.mb.ca

A step by step guide for Clinicians [PowerPoint Icon 4.2MB] and Supervisors [PowerPoint Icon 1.1 MB] has been created in Microsoft PowerPoint to help Speech-Language Pathologists across the province gain familiarity and understanding of the website.

If you do not have a copy of Microsoft PowerPoint, please click here to obtain a free download so that you may view the guide.

Links

Legislation, Standards, Policies

Contact

General Enquiries
Inclusion Support Branch
Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning
Telephone: 204-945-7907
Toll Free in Manitoba: 1-800-282-8069 ext. 7907
Email: isbinfo@gov.mb.ca