What is SALI?
The SALI System is a comprehensive, evidence-based treatment approach for treating Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and language disorders co-occurring with other developmental disabilities. The comprehensive system includes everything needed for SLPs to effectively treat language deficits in school-age children. SALI outlines the necessary components of effective treatment of language disorders.
Although Developmental Language Disorder is one of the most prevalent learning disabilities in children, the diagnostic label did not come about until 2017. Before this date the disorder had many different labels depending on setting (medical, educational, private practice, etc) and geographic location. DLD is now well defined and the label is agreed upon amongst relevant professionals. Various advocacy organizations are dedicated to increasing awareness of DLD, but until now there have been no intervention programs designed to comprehensively and specifically treat DLD.
The SALI system allows clinicians treating language disorders to be confident that their therapy is targeted, effective, and solidly based on research. The SALI approach emphasizes explicit and systematic teaching of important components of language, including semantics, morphology, syntax, and language at the discourse level.
Quick Program Overview:
What are the components of SALI?
Semantics
When targeting vocabulary SALI focuses on providing a framework to enable the child to organize words based on meaning. When the child has a framework it is possible for them to introduce new vocabulary into their existing semantic knowledge
Morphology
Using word matrices and semantic mapping, SALI systematically teaches prefixes, suffixes, and base words. This helps expand vocabulary by allowing learners to break down unfamiliar words into meaningful parts. When students understand common word roots and affixes, they can figure out the meanings of new words and see connections between related words.
Syntax
SALI uses a unique picture labeling system to teach sentence parts and build simple to complex sentences. Building syntactical skills is an important component of intervention that is essential for language comprehension because it helps us understand the structure and meaning of sentences.
Discourse
Discourse refers to how we use language in connected ways, and SALI integrates all aspects of language so that students can have conversations, tell stories, and write paragraphs. Being able to understand and use language at this level is really important for reading comprehension, writing, and overall learning in all subjects.