Speech Language Services

About our Speech-Language Therapists

The North Clackamas School District Speech and Language Program consists of a dedicated staff of over 20 qualified speech-language pathologists who serve students in elementary through high school settings throughout the district. Our therapists are state licensed, and many also are certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

School-based speech-language therapy is provided for students who have difficulty communicating.  A child with a communication disorder may receive therapy in one or more of the following domains:

• Articulation: the production of speech sounds
• Language: the comprehension or expression of spoken language
• Fluency: the flow with which sounds, syllables, words and phrases are joined together when speaking
• Social Communication: the ability to understand and interact in social contexts, both verbally and nonverbally
• Voice: vocal quality, pitch or loudness

Our district therapists have specialized knowledge and training to support a varied range of additional supports for our students, including:

• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
• Bilingual Assessment
• Pediatric Feeding
• Hearing Screening
• Preschool Assessment

Tips for Supporting Students Who Have a Communication Delay

• Plan activities which include sound awareness and discrimination
• Sing songs, read stories and play games that emphasize letter sounds
• Break directions into smaller, 1-2 part chunks
• Frequently check in for understanding
• Make words and concepts as concrete as possible by using real-life items or examples
• Use visuals and graphic organizers for directions, daily routines, and new concepts
• Provide multiple opportunities/repetitions for learning new concepts
• Talk frequently with students about topics that are of high interest to them
• "Go one level up" - imitate a student’s verbal expression and add one word to model expanded language at his/her appropriate learning level
• Incorporate role-playing, story-telling and play-acting into activities
• Encourage students to tell you what they want rather than anticipating their needs
• Minimize interruptions, competition and quiz-like questioning
• Model acceptance for individual differences

To learn about the NCSD Speech-Language Program, please contact our direct line at 503-353-6125

Graduate students interested in pursuing a practicum with North Clackamas School District should ask their university supervisor to contact  Human Resources at 503-353-6000 . All practicum assignments will be provided by Human Resources.