Speech-Language Therapy

The Matheny School Speech-Language therapists ensure each student has a means of communicating successfully with their teachers, therapists, and peers. They work closely with the teachers, OTs, and parents to identify and implement the most effective mode of communication for each individual student with an emphasis on independent, functional use of communication across a variety of academic and social settings.

Augmentative communication strategies are utilized to help each student access their curriculum, and maximize overall communication development. Depending on the individual needs of the student, the augmentative communication tools used range from the relatively low-tech picture symbols and single voice output switches to the most advanced Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools such as electronic speech generating devices.

Speech Therapy services are provided in individual and small group sessions, as well as integrated into classroom activities and transition activities in accordance with each student’s IEP.

Our speech therapists also assess and treat those students having oral motor, sensory and structural differences that inhibit their ability to eat, drink and swallow. They introduce compensatory techniques to maintain safety, all the while working to advance the child’s feeding skills and facilitate independent access to the most advanced diet consistency possible.

Matheny’s Independent Self-Feeding Program supports our students as they take the self-feeding skills they’ve established in the therapeutic environment and utilize them in the lunchroom. In addition to practicing their eating skills, this program places an emphasis on the social, emotional and communicative aspects of mealtime.

All of the Matheny School Speech Therapists are licensed by the State of New Jersey as Speech-Language Pathologists, have obtained the Certificate of Clinical Competence from American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and are certified School Speech-Language Specialists.