Speech-Language Pathologist

Speech-Language Therapist

Speech-language therapists are communication specialists who work with students demonstrating need in one or more of the following areas: language delays, articulation deficits, and speech and communication disorders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serves as a resource to school staff members in the development of a balanced program for oral communication and speech improvement.
• Assists and guides teachers in observing, describing, and referring suspected and identified speech and language impairments.
• Provides a thorough assessment and diagnosis of speech, voice, and language impairments.
• Provides screening to identify speech-handicapped children at regular intervals and specified levels.
• Assists in proper referrals of individuals to agencies and specialists in the community.
• Provides appropriate individualized educational school/home-based programs of therapy to meet individual students' needs and correct existing speech or language handicaps.
• Progress monitoring and assessment to measure improvement towards stated IEP goals.
• Collaborates with classroom teachers and other school staff members to implement therapy by suggestions for the student's daily activities.
• Provides information, support, instruction, and counseling to parents and families when appropriate.
• Maintain a valid state driver's license and ability to drive without advanced notice

Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervises students individually or in small groups.

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Master's degree in speech and language pathology. Certification of Clinical Competence preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Pennsylvania Department of Education Certification as Speech and Language Therapist.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Other Skills and Abilities

Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program; ability to plan and implement lessons based on division and school objectives and the needs and abilities of students to whom assigned. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, parents, and community; ability to speak clearly and concisely in written or oral communication.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the therapist will regularly sit and occasionally walk and stand. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. While performing the duties of this job the employee will continuously hear conversation in a quiet and/or noisy environment.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. The therapist is directly responsible for the safety, well-being, and performance of students.