特別支援教育にかかわる言語聴覚士の立場から―印西市での取り組みについて

The role of speech-language-hearing therapist in special needs education : A report from Inzai city

　乳幼児期からの一貫した支援体制を目指す印西市の取り組みについて，また言語聴覚士が特別支援教育にかかわってきた中で，担っている役割について報告する．

　子ども発達センターでは，発達障害児の早期発見，早期支援を目標とする取り組みを行っている．乳幼児期から行ってきた支援を途切れることなく学校へ引き継ぐ体制作りのために，特別支援教育にかかわってきた．現在，幼児から就労までの総合的支援ネットワーク作りや，支援を必要としている幼児・児童生徒についての情報を関係機関が共有し支援に活かしていく「相談支援ファイル」の活用に取り組んでいる．

　言語聴覚士は，指導を通して幼児期から長くケースにかかわることが多いため，情報をつなぐコーディネーターの役割を担うことができる．今後は，各地域の特性を活かした体制作りに言語聴覚士が参画していくことも視野に入れることが必要となるであろう．

　This article reports on the efforts made in Inzai city for a continuous and consistent support system from a child's infancy, and the role of the speech-language-hearing therapists (SLHTs) in special needs education.

　The most important job of the Child Development Center of Inzai is early detection and immediate support for children with developmental disorders.　In special needs education, we have provided schools with the information about the support that a child had received from his or her infancy to ensure continuous support.　The current challenge is to construct an overall support network starting from the child's infancy to getting employment, and to create a "Consultation Support File" for all relevant parties to share information about the child with special needs.

　The SLHT supports a given case over a long period from early childhood, so he or she can also serve as a coordinator who has access to a lot of information about the child.　Each region should develop its own support system which best fits the local characteristic.　SLHTs should participate in the developmental process because SLHTs have a wide range of facts and knowledge including information about child care, welfare, education, and medical treatment, in addition to characteristics of the child's language and communication.