According to the Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia, March 2002, speech/ language pathology services are defined as “the identification of children with speech / language impairments, appraisal and diagnosis of the impairment, referral for medical or other attention, provision of speech /language services for the prevention or habilitation of communication impairments, and counseling and or guidance for parents, children and teachers regarding speech and /or language impairments.”

In PWCPS, speech and language pathology staff delivers services to students in each school who meet the special education criteria for enrollment in the Program for Students with Speech and Language Impairment (SLI). Students may qualify to receive SLI services as a primary disabilitiy or as a related service.

Speech/language pathologists provide direct speech language pathology services in special education therapy rooms or in the student’s primary academic setting.  The speech language pathology staff also provides indirect services to students. Examples of indirect services include co-planning and co-teaching with classroom teachers and other service providers, adapting and incorporating general curriculum materials for use in therapy, providing communicative supports for use in the primary setting, communication related counseling, modeling strategies for families and caregivers, developing and maintaining alternative communication systems and, supporting and documenting skill generalization to general education environments.

Traci Morris

Administrative Coordinator
Phone: 703.791.7286

Robin Blaemire

Administrative Coordinator
Phone: 703.791.7420

• VDOE Speech-Language Services
• American Speech / Language / Hearing Association (ASHA)

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Carmen M. Ateca-Valdes, Special Education

Administrative Coordinator/Webmaster