for Language Disorders
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Frequently Asked Questions
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| Children enrolled in the DuBard School have what kinds of problems? | Those who are enrolled have a severe language, speech, or hearing disorder. These problems may exist in isolation, in combination with each other, or in conjunction with other communication disorders, including disorders of written language (i.e., dyslexia). |
| What is a language disorder? | A language disorder is characterized by a difficulty in comprehending and using spoken or written language skills. A receptive language disorder means that a child cannot understand spoken or written language. An expressive language disorder results in an inability to express thoughts or ideas through spoken or written language. |
| What are the ages of the children enrolled? | The DuBard School for Language Disorders enrolls children from ages 3-15. Younger hearing impaired children are served on an outclient basis. |
| What does the DuBard School provide? | The DuBard School provides a full-time educational program for the children enrolled until they are sufficiently competent to enter other educational settings and achieve academic success. The self-contained classes operate on an 11-month calendar. Some children may be mainstreamed into a regular education setting on a part-time basis. |
| How long do children stay in the DuBard School? | Children are usually enrolled from two to eight years depending on the degree of severity of their disorder and various other factors. |
| Why do these children need 11 months of school? | Children with severe language/speech disorders or hearing impairments require considerable instruction and maintenance to retain the skills that they have mastered during the regular school year. While short breaks are provided throughout the school year, long breaks have been found to interfere with overall progress. |
| What is apraxia? | Apraxia is an oral motor disorder that results in a severe articulation, or expressive, disorder. Children who have apraxia have difficulty sequencing automatically the sounds that are necessary for intelligible speech. |
| Why do some children with communication disorders need an intensive program instead of outclient therapy? | Children who have very severe communication disorders require an intensive program that incorporates language/speech work with pre-academic and academic learning. Language is an integral part of all learning in math, reading, spelling, etc., and must be taught in a special way so that children can achieve the understanding and use of language needed to be successful learners. |
| What is dyslexia? | Dyslexia is a language-based disorder that interferes with the acquisition and processing of language. It varies in degrees of severity and is manifested by difficulties in receptive and expressive language, including phonological processing, in reading, writing, spelling, handwriting, and sometimes in arithmetic. |
| How may a diagnosis of dyslexia be made? | A comprehensive evaluation of specific skills in receptive and expressive language, achievement, nonverbal ability, and related skills is necessary in order to make a diagnosis of dyslexia. |
| What are the qualifications of the staff? | The DuBard School is staffed by nationally certified speech-language pathologists and teachers of the deaf. In addition, some hold certification in learning disabilities and reading, as well as elementary education and school administration. |
| What other services are provided by the DuBard School? | Evaluations to diagnose speech/language and learning problems plus individual or small group therapy services are available. DuBard School personnel also provide instruction in the DuBard Association Method for professionals through staff development programs, workshops, and courses. |
| What is the university's role in the DuBard School? |
USM provides facilities and in-kind services for the
program.
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| Do USM students work in the DuBard School? | Students majoring in speech-language pathology, audiology, and education of the deaf may earn practicum hours by working with children in the school under the direct supervision of certified speech-language pathologists or teachers of the deaf. Graduates of USM, now practicing professionals, are serving language/speech disordered and hearing impaired children throughout Mississippi, around the country, and in foreign countries. |
| What is the role of the United Way? | In 1962, the United Way provided the seed money that made it possible for what is now known as the DuBard School to be established. Over the years, the support of the United Way has helped to provide services to hundreds of children. |
| How many children have received services through the DuBard School? | Since its founding in 1962, hundreds of children have been served through evaluations, enrollment, and therapy. |
| Where are they now? | Many former students have achieved success in a variety of educational settings, including regular elementary and secondary schools, vocational training programs, colleges, and universities. A number of them are now gainfully employed in business, health services, and other work settings and are living independent and well-integrated lives in society. |
| How do you enroll a child in the DuBard School? | Children enrolled must have a primary disability of language/speech disorder or hearing impairment. Anyone interested in enrolling a child in the DuBard School should contact the director of the program. |
| Is a tuition charged? | Children may be enrolled on a state-funded basis or on a tuition basis depending on individual circumstances. Fees are charged for outclient therapy. |
| How may an evaluation or outclient therapy be arranged? | These services may be arranged by contacting the school's outclient service coordinator. |
| Why is private support needed? | Financial support from state and federal sources is insufficient to meet the increasing costs of providing quality services to the children served by the DuBard School. It is for this reason that private support is increasingly important. It is the goal of the DuBard School that, through private support, no child shall be denied services due to a lack of resources. |
| How can I get more information? |
Maureen K. Martin, Ph.D., Director DuBard School for Language Disorders The University of Southern Mississippi 118 College Drive #10035 Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001 (601) 266-5223 (601) 266-6763 (fax) dubard@usm.edu |
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