1. The History of Iowas Service Delivery Model SDOs

2. Why does Iowa have a Service Delivery Model? As a result of IDEA 97, the Iowa Service Delivery Model was developed to provide SLPs with a decision-making framework for service delivery. The purpose of this model is to help efficiently and effectively interface speech-language services with the educational programs of Iowa. In order to provide best practice speech-language services, we need to move from the traditional clinical model to a problem analysis model.

3. Rationale To be more effective in today s schools, SLPs need to discard the traditional therapist role and become interventionists in the general education environment. Prior to developing the Iowa Service Delivery Model, the committee did a review of the literature to determine if one service delivery model had been found to be more effective than another.

4. What did the research say? Research indicated that it really isn t the type of service delivery that made the difference as much as the variety of service delivery options used. The emphasis is on how the service is provided (skillbuilding, co-teaching, etc.) rather than where the service is provided (direct, indirect, pull- out).

5. How was the Iowa Model Developed? The Iowa Service Delivery Model, was developed based upon an article written by Jean Blosser and Annette Kratcoski (1997), and ASHA s Guidelines for Caseload Size and Speech Language Service Delivery in the Schools, and the Heartland Model to meet the following goals:

6. The Heartland AEA 11 Models Goals Focused on: Incorporating the expectations set forth by IDEA 97 (Least Restrictive Environments, general education curriculum, increased participation of regular education teachers and parents) A model that was inclusive of all ages birth to 21 Current research and a philosophy of service delivery (i.e. the use of a variety of service delivery options increases student outcomes) Meeting individual student needs with consideration given to the Learner, Instruction, Curriculum and Environment Improving communication between the SLP, teacher and parents

7. The Model focuses on: Guiding the equitable delivery of services between age levels (preschool, elementary, middle, secondary), severity (mild, moderate, severe) and type of communication disorder (language, articulation, voice, fluency) The provision of consistent speech-language services throughout the State of Iowa Facilitation of service delivery rather than eligibility

8. How do I decide which will be the best SDOs for a student? Laura Martins will share some ideas on how to use the SDO Decision Making Guide to assist SLPs in choosing the best SDOs for each student based on current level of functioning and student needs.