The Impact of State and Federal Legislation on Public School Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinicians
This study reports the effects of Massachusetts Law Chapter 766 on 211 public-school speech, language, and hearing clinicians approximately 14 months after its September 1974 implementation. Data revealed that since the implementation of Chapter 766, there has been a 38% reduction in case load numbers and a 22% increase in number of clinicians hired. Clinician case load profiles have changed and now reflect significantly greater numbers of children with language disorders and more severely handicapping conditions. Clinicians reported a significant increase in interaction with other specialists, paperwork and administrative duties, inservice education, supervision, preschool screening, writing behavioral objectives, and other education-related activities. They expressed high interest in training that would better prepare them to participate as an integral part of total educational services.