School-aged children with SLI: the ICF as a framework for collaborative service delivery.
Reports of associated disabilities among children with specific language impairment (SLI) and children with other developmental disabilities are widespread. Clinicians require a broader definition of SLI that recognizes associated disabilities because it is their goal to impact children's everyday functioning. In this paper, we explore SLI from a broader perspective in which consideration is given to features known to be common across different developmental disabilities. The World Health Organization's (2001) International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is utilized as an organizational and conceptual framework for considering how knowledge of commonalities across developmental disabilities may be used to promote collaborative service delivery in an educational setting. This framework can potentially provide a coherent and comprehensive approach to treating SLI and its associated disabilities without overburdening clinical services.


OBJECTIVE
As a result of this activity, the reader will be able to: (1) describe the potential role of the ICF in facilitating collaborative service delivery in the school setting; (2) identify and describe the commonalities among SLI and its associated disabilities; and (3) describe how knowledge of commonalities may inform approaches to service delivery.
Campbell
Wenonah N
WN
Doctoral Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Elborn College, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ont. N6G 1H1, Canada. wcampbe@uwo.ca
Skarakis-Doyle
Elizabeth
E
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003191:Comprehensive Health Care; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004519:Education, Special; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D014944:World Health Organization