School Speech Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA)

Willow ABA Services•Littleton, CO

2d•$25 - $32•Onsite

About The Position

Willow Academy is hiring a full-time, year-round, school-based Speech Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA) to support the communication needs of neurodivergent students. The SLPA provides 1:1 speech and language sessions under the direction of a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), carrying out the SLP’s lesson plans and each student’s IEP goals within a trauma-informed, ABA-based school program. The position works with students who have diverse communication profiles and complex learning and behavioral needs, with enhanced training and ongoing support from an interdisciplinary team. The SLPA provides direct and indirect support, including delivering and tracking therapy minutes, using students’ AAC systems, adapting materials, maintaining communication devices, coaching staff on communication strategies, collecting data, and documenting sessions. The role also involves coordinating with the supervising SLP, BCBAs, RBTs, special education staff, teachers, and case managers; supporting classroom carryover; contributing to caregiver updates; and attending meetings and trainings as directed. All duties are performed under the supervising SLP, who remains responsible for student services. The position is on-site at Willow Academy in Littleton, Colorado, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The school operates year-round. The role involves working in classrooms and small therapy spaces, following student behavior plans and safety procedures, and receiving training before working with students. Physical demands include sitting on the floor or at child-height tables, moving between rooms, and lifting up to 25 pounds. Pay is $25–$32 per hour, depending on education, experience, and certification status.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree or higher in speech-language pathology, communication disorders, speech sciences, or a related field.
The degree must include at least 24 semester hours in speech-language-hearing sciences; Colorado does not accept an associate degree for SLPAs.
Completion of a speech-language pathology assistant program.
At least 100 direct hours of supervised clinical practicum under an SLP.
Must meet Colorado SLPA qualifications under C.R.S. 12-305-104(4.5), added by HB25-1075; proof is verified before hire.
Background check and fingerprint clearance for school employment; the posting also states that a background and OIG check are required.
Hands-on AAC proficiency with high-tech speech-generating devices, such as TD Snap, LAMP Words for Life, or Proloquo2Go, and low-tech picture systems, including vocabulary programming, device modeling, and troubleshooting.
Ability to manage a full schedule of 1:1 sessions, track direct and indirect student minutes, and meet same-day documentation deadlines.
Ability to write clear, accurate session notes and instructional notes that staff can follow.
Working knowledge of prompting hierarchies, reinforcement, discrete trial teaching, natural environment teaching, and functional communication training, and comfort working in an ABA program.
Ability to collaborate with the supervising SLP, BCBAs, RBTs, special education teachers, and case managers within the SLP-A scope of practice.
Clear communication with the SLP, BCBAs, teachers, and families within SLP-A scope.
Calmness and flexibility when building rapport with students who have complex communication and behavior needs.
Comfort learning new data-collection and documentation software.
Willingness to receive feedback and supervision.
Authorization to work in the United States; the employer states it cannot sponsor work visas.

Nice To Haves

ASHA Certified SLPA (C-SLPA).
Experience with autistic and neurodivergent students, especially in an ABA or behavior-intensive setting.
Experience on a team with SLPs, BCBAs, and special education staff.
Familiarity with trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, and assent-based practice.
CPR/First Aid certification, or willingness to earn it.

Responsibilities

Deliver 1:1 speech and language sessions that carry out the supervising SLP’s lesson plans and each student’s IEP goals.
Follow the SLP’s weekly schedule and track direct service minutes against each student’s required IEP minutes.
Report missed or shortened sessions to the SLP the same day, including the reason, and schedule make-ups as directed.
Use trauma-informed, assent-based practices, responding to student cues, offering choices, and pausing or adapting sessions when students show distress.
Use each student’s AAC system throughout therapy, model language on the device, and use prompting levels set by the team.
Carry speech and language targets into classroom routines and ABA programming through push-in or pull-out sessions as directed by the SLP.
Prepare and adapt materials designed by the SLP, including visual schedules, core vocabulary boards, social narratives, and AAC page sets.
Program, maintain, charge, update, back up, and troubleshoot AAC devices, and keep low-tech backup boards current.
Coach RBTs, teachers, and paraprofessionals on the SLP’s communication strategies.
Collect communication data in classrooms and ABA sessions to help the SLP assess carryover.
Log indirect minutes by student to support completion of each IEP’s monthly indirect or consult minutes.
Attend team meetings with BCBAs and special education staff to coordinate speech goals, behavior plans, and instruction.
Record accurate data in student learning trees for SLP/IEP goals and mastered skills.
Write same-day session notes documenting targets, prompt levels, trial data, student response, and minutes delivered.
Write practical instructional notes that help staff implement the SLP’s plans.
Keep student files, minute logs, billing, therapy spaces, materials, and AAC equipment organized and up to date.
Prepare data summaries for the SLP to interpret.
Assist with school-wide speech and language screenings by administering screenings; the SLP interprets results.
Meet regularly with the supervising SLP for supervision and feedback, and bring student-progress questions to the SLP for decisions.
Coordinate with BCBAs and RBTs so communication goals and behavior intervention plans support each other.
Coordinate with special education teachers and case managers on session times, classroom carryover, and IEP minute tracking.
Contribute speech session notes to daily caregiver updates.
Attend IEP and parent meetings as an observer when requested by the SLP.
Participate in team trainings and Willow Way cross-training.
Follow each student’s behavior plan and the team’s safety procedures.