Eligibility and Dismissal Criteria including "Adverse Affect"

ASHA Practice Policy

Access to Communication Services and Supports: Concerns Regarding the Application of Restrictive "Eligibility" Policies
This technical report and position statement discusses issues around policies that often preclude children and adults from accessing needed communication services and supports.

Implementing IDEA 2004 Part I: Conducting Educationally Relevant Evaluations
Read an excerpt from this resource addressing eligibility and dismissal decisions.
Implementing IDEA 2004 Part II: Developing Educationally Relevant IEPs
"Adversely Affects Educational Performance"
Appropriate Communication Services: General Eligibility Policies
Read statements from the U.S. Department of Education and learn how students with disabilities cannot be denied access to services even though they have no academic difficulties. On November 2, 2006 ASHA sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education seeking clarification on the following issues that impact school-based speech-language services:

eligibility for speech-language services when the student is not failing a course or grade, and reaffirms the letter issued in May 1980 that clarified when a speech or language impairment "adversely affects educational performance"
how to handle missed sessions due to the child's absence from school, cancellation for a class or school activity such as a field trip or an assembly, or absence of the SLP due to illness or family emergencies
the continuum of service delivery options to be considered for a student