This presentation highlights the significance of collaboration among educators, including both monolingual and bilingual SLPs, in developing and applying culturally responsive strategies for multilingual students. It promotes the importance of united efforts and expertise to address language, culture, disability and inclusive support strategies for multilingual learners in the school setting.

As the number of multilingual students in schools continues to rise, the roles and responsibilities of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are undergoing significant changes. It’s becoming increasingly important for educational institutions to differentiate between language differences, which are a natural part of the multilingual experience, and language disorders, which require professional intervention. The cultural and linguistic diversity among students is expanding, necessitating a unique set of competencies from educators to provide appropriate support. Both monolingual and bilingual SLPs must understand the complex interplay of language, culture, and disability when working with multilingual students.

SLPs serve as gatekeepers to their school’s educational teams. They play a pivotal role in raising awareness about how cultural factors and the process of acquiring additional languages can impact learning. Without this understanding, there could be a disproportionate identification of students for special education. Therefore, it’s essential for SLPs to be aware of the factors to consider when supporting multilingual students. They must understand the importance of implementing culturally responsive practices within the educational setting. Collaboration among SLPs and their educational team members is key to understanding the needs of multilingual students and implementing culturally responsive practices in the educational setting. The collective efforts of educators are vital in enhancing the educational experience of multilingual students, promoting inclusivity, and fostering a supportive learning environment. This presentation is designed to provide monolingual and bilingual SLPs with practical strategies and considerations for their assessments and interventions. The goal is to enable them to accurately identify students with language disorders.

Participants will be able to:
• Analyze the intersection of language, culture, and disability, recognizing the complex dynamics that multilingual students navigate.
• Identify/describe culturally responsive strategies in their work with multilingual students
• Identify the distinct roles of monolingual and bilingual Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) in working with multilingual students, appreciating the unique contributions each can make in a school setting.
• Recognize the importance of collaboration among educators, understanding how collective efforts can enhance the educational experience of multilingual students.

Time-Ordered Agenda
10 minutes Introduction
15 minutes Understanding Multilingual Students, Definition of Multilingualism, Benefits and Challenges of Multilingualism, Common Misconceptions
20 minutes Addressing Language, Culture, and Disability, Understanding the Intersection of Language, Culture, and Disability, Inclusive Support Strategies for Multilingual Learners, Case Study: Overcoming Barriers
20 minutes Culturally Responsive Strategies, Definition and Importance of Culturally Responsive Practices, Practical Strategies for Implementation, Case Study: Culturally Responsive Practice in Action
15 minutes The Role of Collaboration Within the School Setting, Importance of Collaboration among Educators, Role of Monolingual and Bilingual SLPs. Case Study: Successful Collaboration
10 minutes Conclusion and Moderated Q&A, Future Implications, Questions, and Discussion

Practitioners attending live events will be asked to answer questions at the end of the course about what they learned and how they will use the information they learned in practice. Once the questions (below) are completed, participants will receive their certificate.
One practical takeaway I plan to apply from this session is __________.
Overall, how familiar were you with today’s topic before attending this webinar?
After attending, how confident are you in applying at least one concept from this webinar?
Rate your overall satisfaction with this webinar.
One practical takeaway I will apply from this session is __________.
Practitioners attending recorded sessions demonstrate learning and attendance by passing a quiz with a score of 80% or greater. The quiz addresses questions from material presented throughout the course. Practitioners can retake the quiz if they do not initially obtain a score of at least 80%. For events including case studies, participants download, read, and utilize materials in order to participate.