Speech, Language & Hearing

The Speech Language Hearing Department (SLH) of the Mount Vernon City School District  (MVCSD) is a division of the Student Services Department. It is composed of speech language pathologists, speech language clinicians, and a district audiologist. We are fortunate to have clinicians with multilingual language experience including Spanish, French, Haitian Creole and Caribbean varieties of English. Speech Language Pathologists in the MVCSD have certificates of clinical competence (CCC) from the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA). In order to maintain this certification demonstrated continuous study is required. Each month, our staff participate in professional development in order to enhance skills that will ensure state of the art therapeutic services for students. Therapy provided for students follow guidelines from ASHA and the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions (NYSEDOP).

Each school has an Instructional Support Team (IST). The IST meets with parents to help determine how to support students with their educational needs. Parents are a critical part of the student’s educational success. Partnership facilitates sustainable achievement during therapeutic intervention, should intervention be required.

The SLH staff provides a range of services including consultation, response to intervention (RTI), and direct therapy for children with disabilities. Students with disabilities are identified by the Committee for Special Education (CSE) and receive therapy according to his or her mandated Individualized Educational Plan (IEP). Students who need to improve their communication, may qualify for services as non-disabled students. Programs vary across schools.

Parents may be guided to community-based services including hospitals, universities, and agencies upon request.

If you have concerns about your child’s speech, language, or learning contact the Instructional Support Team (IST) in your child’s school.