Roles and Responsibilities of Speech-Language Pathologists in Schools

Published: 2010-06-07

Two new ASHA documents on the Roles and Responsibilities of Speech-Language Pathologists in Schools are available for ASHA members.  The Position Statement and Professional Issues Statement documents replace the Guidelines on the Roles and Responsibilities of the School-Based Speech-Language Pathologist approved in 2000.  These documents describe the critical roles and responsibilities that should provide the basis for speech-language services in schools to promote efficient and effective outcomes for students. The roles and responsibilities outlined in the documents reflect educational reform, evolving professional practices, and legal mandates.  These policy documents will be important reference documents for school-based SLPs.  The following members of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Roles and Responsibilities of the School-Based SLP developed the documents: Barbara Ehren (ASHA chair), Frances Block, Catherine Crowley, Ellen Estomin, Sue Ann Goldman, and Susan Karr (ASHA ex officio). Vice President for Professional Practices in Speech-Language Pathology Brian Shulman (2006-2008) and Vice President for Speech-Language Pathology Practice Julie Noel (2009-2011) served as the ASHA monitoring vice presidents with contributions from ASHA staff member Deborah Adamczyk.  Please go to the ASHA Web site at: http://www.asha.org/docs/html/PI2010-00317.html,  http://www.asha.org/docs/html/PS2010-00318.html to access the documents.