Speech Language Assistant

As a Speech Language Assistant in The Parkland School Division, you will be part of enacting our vision, mission and foundational statements.

**Vision**
Our students possess the confidence, resilience, insight and skills required to thrive in and positively impact the world.

**Mission**
We assure supportive learning environments, meaningful experiences and healthy relationships that create opportunities to develop resilience, to gain diversity in perspectives and to achieve enduring success.

**Function and Purpose of Position**
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Speech Language Assistants assist therapists with many instructional and non‑instructional tasks in the classroom and with other school activities. Speech Language Assistants work as members of the school and as members of a student support team. Speech Language Assistants have met PSD’s mandatory educational requirements. The minimum mandatory educational requirement is a Speech Language Assistant Certificate or comparable education.
Speech Language Assistants may:

- Work under the supervision of one therapists or several different therapists in collaboration with teachers.
- Work independently with students or in the classroom with the therapists
- Work with a particular special needs student or a group of students within a class or in a special program
- Work as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Perform clerical tasks in the classroom or school

The Speech Language Assistant provides routine and repetitive instructional support. Under the direction of the therapists, the Speech Language Assistant assists the student in acquiring the education and skills necessary for advancement in the educational setting. To reach this objective, the Speech Language Assistant follows an individually prescribed learning program, through team planning and working one-on-one with the student(s). This involves routine recording, basic charting and logging of observations on anecdotal record sheets or data sheets. Speech Language Assistant does provide personal care to students.

**Instructional Support**
- Provide assistance in all curriculum or developmental areas/one on one or in small groups as directed by therapists.
- Modify and adapt the program for individual students as directed by the classroom therapists or multidisciplinary team.
- Assist in the implementation of Individual Program Plan (IPP) goals and adaptive devices.
- Assist students with access to their environment.
- Providing assistance to communicate with peers and adults in the school (e.g. American Sign - Language, assistive tech. devices).

**Behaviour**:

- Under direction of the therapists, observe, chart and monitor individual student progress and behavior.

- Provide behavioural management assistance for students with behavioural disorders (implementing predetermined non-aversive disciplinary methods and nonviolent crisis intervention techniques to diffuse escalating negative behaviour patterns).
- Deal with student behaviour and assists with classroom discipline.

**Speech Therapy/Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy**:

- Help student with speech language difficulties, as instructed by Speech Pathologist.
- Update progress on a daily basis for Individual Program Plan purposes.
- Model and practice speech program
- Liaise with members of Therapy Team to monitor student progress and use of Assistive Technology / Devices.

**Communication and Reporting**:

- As requested by the therapists, communicate observations regarding health and behaviours to the therapists (as gathered inlogs, charts, and data sheets).
- Maintain accurate medication data sheets, record medical situations.
- Participate in student team conferences when requested by the therapists.
- Under the direction of the classroom therapists, maintain a home-school communication book (therapists to initial before book sent home).

**Community Living and Vocational Skills**:

- Facilitate the development of social skills.
- Assist students in recreation activities (crafts, preparing meals).

**Student Personal Development**:

- Assist in building the self-esteem and self-confidence of students.
- Encourage students to participate in classroom activities to build skills.
- Provide and encourage routine and repetitive personal care to students.
- Administer first aid as required.

**Other Duties**:

- May provide Braille to students starting to learn Braille (specification).
- May provide signing to students (American Sign Language or Signed Exact English) (specification).
- Other duties as assigned (specification).

**Education and Experience**
a) Education:
i) High School Diploma
ii) Speech Language Assistant Diploma/Certificate
iii) First Aid certificate would be an asset
iv) Courses related to working with students with special needs OR that are specifically related to the above-mentioned duties.
b) Experience:
i) 1 to 3 years of related experience.
Equivalencies will be considered.

**Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes**:

- Good oral and written commu