My Child Can’t Get Speech At School, Now What Do I Do?

If you’re a parent seeking speech therapy for your child, you might be surprised at the hurdles involved in receiving school-based services. Schools have strict guidelines for qualifying students for speech therapy. In this post, we’ll explore some of these barriers and offer alternatives to ensure your child receives the support they need.

Why Is There So Much Red Tape in School-Based Speech Therapy?

School-based speech services are essential and valuable, but because of limited resources, schools must prioritize which students they can serve. Here are some of the common factors that affect eligibility:

1. Strict Qualification Criteria

   • Public schools base eligibility on whether a child’s communication challenges are significantly impacting their academic performance. For children who may need support but aren’t severely affected in the classroom, this can mean not qualifying—even if they would benefit from therapy.

2. Assessments Are Limited to Academic Impact

   • In schools, speech therapy assessments are usually structured to determine how communication challenges affect a child’s educational performance. This means that issues like mild articulation delays or social communication struggles may not be prioritized if they aren’t seen as directly interfering with academic work. These “gray areas” often leave parents feeling like their child’s needs are overlooked.

3. Long Wait Times and Overloaded Caseloads

   • Schools typically have one or a few Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) for the entire student body, which can lead to high caseloads and long wait times for assessments and services. The demand often exceeds the resources, leading to extended delays for parents seeking evaluations and services.

4. Funding Limitations and Resource Constraints

   • Many school districts face budget constraints, and speech therapy is one area where resources may be limited. These financial limitations mean that schools must carefully allocate therapy time, often prioritizing students with the most severe needs.

How Private Speech Therapy Can Help

For families who don’t want to wait or whose children don’t meet the school’s eligibility criteria, private speech therapy can be a game-changer. Here’s how it can provide an alternative to the restrictions of school-based services:

1. No Qualification Barriers

   • In private therapy, there are no strict eligibility criteria. We evaluate each child individually, allowing us to create a plan that meets their unique communication needs. Whether your child has a mild articulation delay or needs social communication support, private therapy can address it.

2. Customized, Child-Centered Care

   • Private speech therapy is highly customizable. We don’t have to follow school-specific criteria, so we can focus entirely on what will help your child grow. Therapy can target academic-related skills and everyday communication abilities that improve your child’s interactions at home, with friends, and in the community.

3. Flexible Scheduling and Immediate Start Times

   • In private therapy, there’s no waiting list or scheduling conflicts with school hours. Sessions are flexible, allowing us to work around your family’s needs.

4. Family Involvement and Support for Carryover

   • Another benefit of private therapy is the ability to involve parents in every step of the process. I’ll provide strategies, activities, and resources for you to use at home, so you can reinforce what we’re working on in therapy, creating faster and more lasting progress.

Making the Decision That’s Right for Your Child

Deciding on speech therapy options can feel overwhelming, especially with so many rules and limitations in school-based services. Private therapy can be an empowering choice, giving you control over your child’s communication journey and ensuring they receive support tailored to their needs.

If you’re curious about private therapy or wondering if it might be a fit for your child, I’d be happy to chat with you.

Ready to Get Started? Contact me today for a consultation. Let’s build a plan that works for your child—without the red tape.