Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Logo
Special Education

Communication Impairment

The capacity to use expressive and/or receptive language is significantly limited, impaired, or delayed and is exhibited by difficulties in one or more of the following areas: speech, such as articulation and/or voice; conveying, understanding, or using spoken, written, or symbolic language. The term may include a student with impaired articulation, stuttering, language impairment, or voice impairment if such impairment adversely affects the student's educational performance.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
ASHA is an organization working to promote a better quality of life for children and adults with communication disorders. ASHA strives to advance knowledge about the causes and treatment of hearing, speech, and language problems.

Aphasia Fact Sheet
Provided by the National Aphasia Association, this fact sheet describes what aphasia is, different types of aphasia and answers frequently asked questions about aphasia.

Apraxia-KIDS
The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association is a non-profit publicly funded organization whose mission is to strengthen the support systems in the lives of children with apraxia so that each child is afforded their best opportunity to develop speech. The website provides electronic and print information to families, professionals, policy-makers and other members of the public.

Breaking the Barriers
Breaking the Barriers is a national effort supported by TASH that is focused on ensuring the right to communicate for people with disabilities. The vision of Breaking the Barriers is that all people with disability labels, who do not communicate through speech, have means of communication which allows their fullest participation in the world; that people can communicate using their chosen method; and that their communication is respected by others.

Developmental Speech and Language Disorders - LD OnLine
LD OnLine is a national educational service of public television station WETA in Washington, D.C. LD OnLine offers online services and produces video programs dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with speech and language disorders. This is an interactive guide to learning disabilities for parents, teachers, and children.

Division for Communicative Disabilities and Deafness (DCDD)
The primary mission DCDD, a division of the Council for Exceptional Children, is to promote the welfare, development and education of infants, toddlers, children and youth with communicative disabilities or who are deaf and hard of hearing. Furthermore, DCDD seeks to promote growth in professionals and families as a means to better understand the development of communicative abilities and the prevention of communicative disabilities.

National Aphasia Association (NAA)
The National Aphasia Association, NAA, is a nonprofit organization that promotes public education, research, rehabilitation and support services to assist people with aphasia and their families.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
NIDCD is one of the Institutes that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIDCD is mandated to conduct and support biomedical and behavioral research and research training in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language.

Speech and Language Impairments (NICHCY)
The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) provides information and resources about speech and language impairments.

Last Updated: June 1, 2006

 
Contact Us

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149

Voice: (781) 338-3000
TTY: (800) 439-2370

Directions

Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.