"My visit to Integris Health last October to observe the INTEGRIS speech pathologists effectively deliver direct services to students in remote/rural OK schools was key to clarifying the mechanics and the art of telepractice in speech/language. While the Root River Education District's telepractice model will honor our region's educational concerns and inclinations, I routinely reference the efficiency and effectiveness of the "Integris Model" as something we aspire to. "

Jeanne Juenger, MS, CCC/SLP, Speech/Language Pathologist, Root River Education District ~ Harmony, MN

Yesterday, August 1, 2006, after nearly three years of preparation, Root
River Education District made education history by conducting the first
known, MN Department Of Education (DOE)-authorized, due process-based, telepractice sessions in speech/language in the State of Minnesota, that is, we provided direct speech/language services via telecommunication technologies. While our technologies consisted of free conferencing downloads and trialed web collaboration solutions, the equivalent of two tin cans tied together with string, we launched off towards a brave, new world!

Three students of varying ages and types and severity of communication
challenges and cognitive skills, assisted by a paraprofessional, worked
with me from a school +50 miles from my home office. We went on
video-tours of our workspaces, practiced giving commands intelligibly to
my dogs, shared online files, engaged in purposeful, social written
language skills using the chat/instant messaging feature, and even
applied visual effects such as moustaches and bushy eyebrows to our
images just to keep our perspectives straight! It was the most fun I
ever had at working that hard!

Some of our next steps include digitally recording speech/language/voice
samples for analysis, creating, maintaining, and accessing online work
samples (student "folders") and intervention materials, engaging in
document collaboration, and conducting online parent/teacher meetings,
but really, the world is the limit! As more business-class technologies
become available, applications to special education services will
expand.