Stephanie Downey Toledo is a bilingual speech language pathologist in New York City as well as a professor at Teachers College, Columbia University. She has collaborated with the LEADERS project on this module series and others.
Many think the SLP’s role in literacy is confined to the therapy room with those children identified as having speech and language impairment. However, research and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association supports the SLP as an important educator and resource in literacy for general education students, English Language Learners (ELLs), those at risk for delay, as well as those identified with speech and language impairment. The SLP’s knowledge of language development and literacy is intimately tied to reading development. As a result, SLP has a key role in supporting literacy in the school community in both special and general education.
