Is SLPI a new assessment in Michigan?
SLPI has been a tool used in Michigan since 1989 when the Michigan School for the Deaf (MSD) began to assess the sign communication skills of all MSD employees working for the school. Several years later, the school, in response to the need and requests from outside of the school system, the Community SLPI program was created. This was done to allow other governmental entities outside of MSD, agencies, and individuals not employed at MSD to be able to utilize this tool to obtain documentation of sign language proficiency levels of their employees (or potential employees) to ensure effective communication when interacting with deaf and hard of hearing individuals. In 2002, the SLPI program was transferred to report under Low Incidence Outreach with services provided to educational systems throughout the state of Michigan..
