DD SUPPORT CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS AGES 3-22

Ohio law states that once a child turns age 3, the school district of residency becomes responsible for the education of your child. When you have a child with special needs, this includes assessments, the evaluation team report (ETR), and writing and carrying out the individualized education plan (IEP).

However, sometimes a child and family may need more help beyond what is the school district’s responsibility. There are several agencies and community resources that can work alongside your school district to help you meet your child’s needs and help your family understand your child’s disability.

WHERE TO BEGIN: BEYOND THE SCHOOLHOUSE DOOR

Call your local county board of developmental disabilities to begin determination of eligible services. It is never too early to call for information.

Monitoring And Linking Families To Community Services And Supports

Once determined eligible for services, your local county board can:

• Collaborate with school and attend IEP and ETR meetings as you request. The school may not automatically invite your county board representatives to meetings, so you must request that an invitation be sent.

• Refer and connect you to mental health and behavioral resources.

• Help with process of obtaining benefits.

• Refer to assess risk and needs as it relates to waiver requests.

Ages 3-13: Supporting Children

Through the Early Years

• Bridge the process from early intervention (age 3) until transitional youth (age 14).

• Be a resource for local schools.

• Provide information regarding funding sources with the county board and other local agencies.

• Monitor services provided and services needed.

Ages 14 until High School Graduation: Bridge the Transition from School to Adulthood

• Attend IEP and ETR meetings.

• Help you build a team to assist you in meeting your goals.

• Help you evaluate your strengths and weaknesses in transition areas.

• Help you to understand post secondary services.

• Facilitate discussion about college, training, employment and community living.

• Be available to act as a resource and partner.

• Help families to prepare for life after graduation by focusing on employment, benefits, and guardianship as needed. For an interactive list of best practices during all life stages, check out the Stark DD Navigation Tool at starkddnav.org.

SPEECH THERAPY FOR KIDS WHO DON’T USE WORDS

By Rebecca Mental, Ph.D., MPH, CCC-SLP

If your child doesn’t say any words, and you have elected to have them evaluated for speech therapy, you may be concerned that he or she will not be able to participate fully in their speech therapy sessions. This is not the case at all. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) is specially trained to work with children at all levels of communication ability, including those who don’t use spoken words.

An SLP will encourage your child to use spoken words through play-based therapy. They will engage with your child using a variety of toys, games and other activities while modeling words. They may also work with your child on following simple directions such as “put in” to put a chicken in its nest. Through this modeling, your child will be encouraged to use their spoken words.

Sometimes, children need other ways to communicate besides spoken language. The SLP may introduce an augmentative or alternative communication approach. This is a long name that simply means communicating in some way other than using words. The child can learn to use gestures or sign language, picture boards, a talking iPad, or other augmentative or alternative communication. Using this approach does not mean a child will never use their words, and also does not slow down their progress toward using words. In fact, it can make their progress faster.

An SLP’s main goal is to help your child communicate effectively. Through a combination of modeling speech and providing alternative means of communication, they will make sure your child learns how to best get their message across. The SLP will actively involve the parent in all therapy sessions, so that you can learn how to do the same things with your child throughout the week.