Approximately 8 percent of children in the U.S. have a diagnosed communication disorder. That number might be double or more among students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.  

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): A communication disorder is an impairment in the ability to receive, send, process, and comprehend concepts or verbal, nonverbal and graphic symbol systems. This condition affects listening, speaking, reading, writing, and social learning. Speech therapy offers support and navigational tools to affected students. 

HRS began to expand its Speech program in 2020 and to lean into programmatic integration. HRS grew from one part-time Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) to three full-staff SLPs (including our first Director of Speech & Language). The SLPs at HRS receive training in the Slingerland® Approach, as well as from a Director who has worked with HRS students for two decades. 

With grant support from a local foundation, HRS has: 

• Supported and completed an SLP Clinical Fellowship (CF)  

• Moved student records to a HIPAA-compliant, parent accessible web portal 

• Begun to offer comprehensive speech and language assessments 

Grant support has also empowered HRS to begin building a partnership with the University of Washington and its Speech Practicum program. Through this program, master’s students will receive specialized training to work with students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. Ultimately, HRS practicum participants will be empowered by this training throughout their careers. 

In 2022, with the support of an HRS family, seed money was planted to build a Speech Program Endowment. In future years, this endowment will help provide support for speech services. To learn more, please contact Jen Fukutaki in the Advancement Office.