No Such Thing as a Speech Only IEP

Parents often contact me for dyslexia testing and their child is already on an IEP for speech. The child is not receiving interventions for reading, writing, spelling, math, or other developmental or functional needs.

A child on an IEP has already undergone a comprehensive evaluation to determine their weaknesses.

According to Ann Guinan, Ohio Dept. of Education, Office for Exceptional Children (September 9, 2009), once a student qualifies for services in one of the 13 handicapping categories, "the IEP must address all of the students educational needs (i.e reading intervention)."

Therefore, there is no such thing as a "speech only" IEP.

If your child is getting speech only services, ask what interventions are in place to address weaknesses in reading, writing, spelling, math or other developmental or functional needs.

OCECD (Ohio Coalition for Children with Disabilities), Summer 2009 Forum