SLP-A The Helix School

About The Helix School 

The Helix School serves students, ages 5 to 22,  living throughout the Bay Area who have mild to moderate autism.. The school’s model and mission are based on providing an education that both  nurtures and develops students’ capabilities through an evidence-based, integrated curriculum  tailored to support a child’s developmental level, sensory processing differences, and emotional regulatory needs. The talented staff consists of educators, occupational, speech and behavioral  therapists, and mental health professionals. THS also provides services that benefit and support the Bay  Area public school district. For more information about The Helix School, please visit our website at  www.thehelixschool.org 

Our approach is relationship based and includes a variety of modalities including: kinesthetic/full body learning, experiential learning, sensory motor strategies, visuals, music, play, dance, drama, role play and therapeutic group activities. We believe in working with the “whole child” recognizing that cognitive language, social-emotional and sensory motor systems need to work together to achieve success. We stay current with best practices in education and clinical research. We value a collaborative relationship with parents, caregivers and other professionals to provide a caring and consistent environment across school and home. Our priorities are to respect, appreciate, and encourage each child’s strengths, while providing an environment through which neurodiverse people may achieve their highest potential, especially in the areas of developing a strong sense of self, building greater personal and work communities and fostering better relationships in the workplace and in their own personal lives.

Under the direction and supervision of a Speech and Language Pathologist ,the Speech and Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) assists in supplementing, enhancing, and extending speech/language therapy services by completing a variety of tasks such as, but not limited to, direct activities with students designed to develop pre-language and language skills, oral-motor control for speech production, vocalization, and use of assistive technology devices for communication. The SLPA serves students who have identified speech and language disorders and may have other disabilities as well.  This is a 10-month position.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conducts speech and language screenings, without interpretation, and using screening protocols developed by the supervising Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP); 
• provides direct assistance for speech language to students under the supervision of the SLP;
• follows and implements documented IEP plans or protocols;documents student progress toward meeting established objectives, and reports the information to the SLP;
• assists the SLP during assessments, assisting with formal documentation, preparing materials, and performing clerical duties;prepares therapy materials and/or equipment for use in the classroom and therapy activities;
• adapts or modifies instructional materials and/or equipment as determined by student needs and abilities for teacher use in the classroom;
• assists in maintaining student records, tallying data, preparing charts, records, graphs, and reports;
• assists in organizing classroom activities such as displaying educational materials, arranging furniture to facilitate instructional requirements, and creates an orderly and clean learning environment
•  implement behavior management programs for students as designed by certified staff, observe and report significant student behavior, behavioral patterns, and/or other problems to the SLP.
• Attend weekly staff, clinical, and classroom team meetings

Note: The Speech and Language Assistant is NOT able to conduct evaluations, interpret data, alter IEP plans,or perform any task without the express knowledge and approval of the supervising SLP.

Education and Experience:

Associate degree in and/or graduation from a Speech-Language Pathology assistant certificate program, OR Bachelors degree in Speech-Language Pathology or Communication Disorders with a minimum of 70 hours field work/clinical experience from a Board-approved program

Licenses and Certificates:

Current registration as an SLA with the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology at the time of appointment and must maintain current registration throughout employment in this classification.

Knowledge of:

• Speech and language pathology equipment, materials, and procedures;
• Normal speech, language, and hearing development;
• Language disorders and rehabilitation;
• Articulation disorders and rehabilitation;
• Acquired disorders and rehabilitation;
• Learning patterns in children;
• Student behavior management techniques and strategies;
• Learning problems of children with special education needs;
• English usage, punctuation, spelling, grammar, and math;
• Routine record keeping.

Ability to:

• Assist speech and language therapist with implementation of IEP
• Deal effectively with attitudes and behaviors of students;
• Effectively and tactfully communicate in both oral and written forms;
• Manage and use time effectively;
• Demonstrate appropriate conduct;
• Select, prepare, and present materials effectively;
• Maintain student progress documentation;
• Use a variety of screening tools and protocols, manage screenings and documentation;
• Provide effective implementation of therapy objectives;
• Operate instructional and office equipment;
• Ability to do simple math in order to compile reports, and maintain records and status reports;
• Interact successfully with parents, students, supervisor, school staff, and community agency representatives;
• Modify or Differentiate lessons to meet students needs and progress with guidance from SLP;
• Consult with Supervisor when students progress is not consistent;
• Develop and monitor carry over activities with classroom teacher and home;
• Develop and provide creative, appropriate lessons/materials to ensure progress towards student IEP goals;
• Consult and support Regular Education Teacher with use of pre-teach, re-teach strategies to successful inclusion and IEP goals;
• Work with students individually and in small groups;
• Develop schedules for student services that meet current IEP services.