Ethical Language Assessment in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Contexts: A Guide for School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists.

Purpose: This tutorial presents a social justice approach to ethical language assessments with multilingual/multidialectal learners. Ethical language assessments include practices that are compliant with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and state regulations, evidence based, culturally an...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 672 - 695
Autores principales: Smith, Julie C., Frutos, Grace
Formato: tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Jun2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=194459172&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 194459172
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        2381473X
        KTSD
      jtl: Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups
      issn: 2381473X
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: Jun2026
      vid: 11
      iid: 3
      pid: 42
      pub: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
      place: Rockville, Maryland
    artinfo:
      ui:
        194459172
        194459172
        194459172
        10.1044/2026_PERSP-25-00265
        194459172
      ppf: 672
      ppct: 23
      formats:
        fmt:
          @attributes:
            type: P
      tig:
        atl: Ethical Language Assessment in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Contexts: A Guide for School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists.
      aug:
        au:
          Smith, Julie C.
          Frutos, Grace
        affil: Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
      sug:
        subj:
          Speech-Language Pathologists Education
          Language Ethical Issues
          Cultural Diversity
          Multilingualism
          Decision Making, Ethical
          Learning Disorders Diagnosis
          Multidisciplinary Care Team
          Family
          Medical Interpreters
          Collaboration
      ab: Purpose: This tutorial presents a social justice approach to ethical language assessments with multilingual/multidialectal learners. Ethical language assessments include practices that are compliant with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and state regulations, evidence based, culturally and linguistically sustaining, of the highest quality, in the best interest of the child and family, and conducive to equitable educational opportunities and outcomes. Method/Approach: Power-deFur's (in press) seven-step ethical decision-making model is implemented to demonstrate how school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can resolve dilemmas in selecting assessment methods, multidisciplinary collaboration, and family-school partnerships. Case study scenarios illustrate how ethical language assessment practices inform special education eligibility determinations and reduce disproportionality in culturally and linguistically diverse contexts. Conclusions: Ethical language assessment practices that best inform differential diagnosis of language learning disabilities and appropriate educational supports for multilingual/multidialectal learners include sociolinguistic methods, which converge evidence from multilingual dynamic assessments, teacher reports, and parent interviews. SLPs' ethical responsibilities extend beyond direct assessment to uphold standards of ethical practice in all aspects of service delivery, continuous learning, and advocacy. Implications for Practice: Individual actions and accountability contribute to systemic change and educational equity. This tutorial provides concrete actions and resources (see Appendix A) that individual SLPs can use to critically evaluate and transform their assessment practices.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N