SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SERVICES

  • What are Speech and Language Services?  The development of age-appropriate speech and language skills is essential to the learning process and to a student’s social, emotional, and academic growth. Students must be able to comprehend language, express their thoughts and opinions, interact effectively and efficiently with peers and adults, and produce speech which others can easily understand.  The Mullica Township School District provides speech and language services to students ages 3-21 who demonstrate a need to improve their speech and language skills in articulation, language, fluency, or voice in order to achieve academic success.
  • How are students referred for speech and language services?  Students can be referred for speech and language services by their parents or their classroom teachers if they are concerned about a student’s speech and language proficiency. The goal of these services is to help students develop the speech and language skills necessary for positive interpersonal relationships and academic success.

 

PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES

 

Physical Therapy is a related service, which is designed to help students access their school environment and participate safely and to the best of their ability in their academic curriculum. School physical therapists address functional limitations such as difficulties with mobility, transitions or gross motor skills, as well as interventions that address impairments that contribute to those functional limitations such as posture, balance, strength, and coordination. Difficulties in these areas must impact upon student participation in their educational program and environment.

 

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES

 

School-based occupational therapy is a related service that helps a child access, participate, and progress with activities relevant to the school day within their school environment. Occupational therapists use purposeful and functional tasks to facilitate a child’s active participation in self-maintenance, academic and vocational pursuits that occur in school environments. Using direct and indirect services, as well as assistive technology and environmental modifications, school occupational therapists collaborate with teachers, other educational staff, and parents to help implement a child’s education program.