Speech-Language Services
ACPS Speech-Language Services
ACPS offers a broad range of special education services, including speech and language. The focus of school-based speech-language services is to improve the communication abilities of students.
Speech-language pathologists are licensed health care providers who assess, diagnose, treat and help to prevent disorders related to speech, language, communication, voice, swallowing, and fluency.
Our speech pathologists do the following:
- Screen students to find out if they need further speech and language testing.
- Evaluate speech and language skills.
- Determine if children need specialized instruction.
- Work with children who are at risk for communication and learning problems.
- Work as part of Polk's School Support Team to determine if a child is eligible for services.
- If a child is eligible for services they help to develop an individualized education program (IEP).
Polk Speech Pathologists
Ms. Nicole Dobson
Nicole Dobson grew up in New Mexico where she attended bilingual elementary school. She moved to northern Virginia where she attended middle and high school in Arlington. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Linguistics/Child Language Development and Spanish from the University of Mary Washington. She graduated with a master’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Dual Certification-Bilingual Extension from Teachers College, Columbia University in December 2017. Over the spring 2018, she worked in Fairfax County Public Schools. She holds a NYS Teaching Certificate as a Teacher of Students with Speech Language Disorders-Bilingual Education Assessment (NYSED TSSLD-BEA). She is passionate about working with elementary school children and multicultural and bilingual populations. Nicole is excited to grow with ACPS. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with friends, snowboarding, and playing tennis.
Email: nicole.dobson@acps.k12.va.us
Degrees and Certifications:
B.A. Linguistics/Child Language Development and Spanish
M.S. CF-SLP, NYSED TSSLD-BEA