? about Spanish Speech services on IEP

January 15, 2009

My child will be going to kindergarten in the fall. His tranisition

IEP is in May. He will be going to a Spanish Immersion Program (1/2

day English, 1/2 day Spanish). He will be receiving only Speech

services for Kindergarten (without a doubt). Apraxia is his only

issue at this point in time, although we are watching for dylexia,

dygraphia -due to family history. He recieves 1 hour of speech

services through the SLP at preschool (according ot his IEP; although

due to low student numbers he gets about 90 minutes a week). I

imagine that he will get the same hour in kindergarten. I called the

disablity law center in my state and they told me that he should be

able to receive services in Spanish. They caution that I should be

careful how hard I push or the school district may say this not an

appropriate placement. I can't afford to acutally hire them to fight

my case so I'm hoping soeone here may have some ideas or a been-

there, done-that parent can help. Now for my questions:

I am considering asking for 30 minutes a week in Spanish Speech

services on top of the 1 hour in English. Does this sound like

I'm " pushing too hard " . The kindergarten students in the immersion

program aren't forced to speak in the second language but are

encouraged to. THerefore the grading at this level is really only on

listening and prereading.

If there isn't a Spanish speaking SLP available, how to I go about

getting services?

I know there was a kindergarten aide who was a certified SLP in

Columbia. Due to limited English she can't get her license here and

therefore is working as an aide for the Spanish program. Could I

somehow state that a licensed SLP from a Spanish country would be

fine? How would I state this?

Although my child is being raised in a bilingual household, I'm

approaching this from the standpoint that the immersion program is

open to all students (there are currenly a few students with severe

LD issues and a couple with autism). The idea is that if my child is

going to be graded on speaking (starting first grade), then he needs

to have accommodations made now to help later.

If anyone knows the answers or has some suggestions, they would be

greatly appreciated.

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