Serving the educational needs of families in Northeast Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ

Boundary Maps | Calendar | Menus | Registration | District News

Speech / Language Pathology

> Special Education Department page

What is Speech-Language Therapy?

PVUSD offers speech therapy to help students whose speech and language skills may inhibit their academic achievement. Problems that might be addressed include:

Articulation disorders — The manner in which speech sounds are produced
Language disorders — Vocabulary development, sentence structures, appropriate use of language, etc.
Fluency disorders — Stuttering
Voice disorders

A student may qualify for speech therapy in addition to other special education services, or may receive speech therapy without the need for other services.

Additional information on:

Speech Disorders

Language Disorders

How do I ask for this help?

Referrals might originate from parents, teachers, or as a result of student screening. Parents participate in decisions concerning special education services for a student, beginning with the referral.

...for my child who is enrolled in a PVUSD school?

If a student is enrolled in a PVUSD school, the parents are asked to meet with the classroom teacher to discuss why a speech or language problem is suspected and how it might affect academic progress.

...if my child is not enrolled in PVUSD?

Children who are between 3-5 years and live within the PVUSD boundaries may be screened in all developmental areas (cognition, social/emotional, adaptive behavior, fine/gross motor/sensory processing and speech/language skills) at the Preschool Evaluation Center if a parent has concerns. Parents may call (602) 493-6130 to set up a screening appointment. Children who are between 5 and 21 years of age and attend a private school (K-12) or are home-schooled within PVUSD boundaries may be referred for a speech and language assessment if the child's skills might affect his/her academic achievement. The parents should call the district Special Education office at (602) 449-2150 to discuss the concern.

Mission Statement

To provide primary and related services by highly qualified Speech/Language Pathologists as part of a collaborative team that delivers educationally relevant integrated services to students who exhibit communication disorders. The provision of speech/language pathology services provides students with the skills to grow academically, socially, and emotionally in order to become contributing members of society. All Speech/ Language Pathologists contribute to student success through their professionalism and continuous learning.