2010 CASANA Award Program
Honoring individuals who have improved the lives of children with apraxia of speech
CASANA asked you for nominations of individuals, both speech professionals and parents, who have contributed in substantial ways to the well being of multiple children with apraxia of speech through their service, advocacy, or support. We were seeking to recognize those who go beyond just helping their own child or fulfilling the basic requirements of their job as a speech-language pathologist. We were impressed with the number of nominations!!! A review panel of parents evaluated the nominations and recommended the winners which we are excited to tell you about! Please read about 3 outstanding individuals below! They will officially be presented with their awards at the 2010 National Conference on Childhood Apraxia of Speech in Pittsburgh, PA, July 8 - 10, 2010.
2010 CASANA Award Winners
 CONSUMER ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR for CHILDREN WITH APRAXIA OF SPEECH - CANADA
CONSUMER ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR FOR CHILDREN WITH APRAXIA OF SPEECH - USA
SPEECH PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR FOR CHILDREN WITH APRAXIA OF SPEECH
CONSUMER ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR FOR CHILDREN WITH APRAXIA OF SPEECH - CANADA
Robin McMillan
Despite learning of her son’s diagnosis of childhood apraxia of speech just 1 ½ years ago, Robin McMillan has been a woman on a dedicated mission to build awareness and support for CAS in her community of Ottawa, Ontario. For this reason, Robin is the recipient of the 2010 Consumer Advocate of the Year for Children with Apraxia of Speech Award (Canada). Within 6 months of her son’s diagnosis, Robin was sitting at the CASANA National Conference sessions absorbing the information, connecting with other parents and gaining confidence in her understanding of what help and services her child both needed and deserved. However, it concerned Robin that despite her own professional background in early learning and child care, she had never heard of childhood apraxia of speech before her own son’s diagnosis.
Robin returned to Ottawa and began to make a difference not just for her child but for other families of affected children. She started a parent group called Ottawa Parents of Children with Apraxia. The group meets monthly and provides an opportunity to share advice, information and support among parents who are traveling the same journey. Plans are underway for children with apraxia to also meet and have the opportunity to play together on a regular basis. Additionally, Robin is working with city officials on a speech and language summer camp planned for next summer. Last fall, Robin organized a Walk for Children with Apraxia on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill, carrying a large apraxia banner straight to the seat of the Canadian government! Congratulations Robin and thank you for these efforts leading to your selection as the 2010 Consumer Advocate for Children with Apraxia (Canada)!
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CONSUMER ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR FOR CHILDREN WITH APRAXIA OF SPEECH - UNITED STATES
Michele Wasikowski
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Michele Wasikowski, while raising her own child with apraxia of speech, quickly noted that there were few identified local resources or support for families such as her own. She searched and found CASANA, the only national nonprofit dedicated to children with apraxia and their families. From there Michele took advantage of every possible learning opportunity she could by flying the country to attend workshops and the annual national conference; volunteer her time at them, and get connected with national staff and apraxia experts. Not content to just personally benefit from the knowledge and support she gained, Michele wanted to ease the struggle for other families and started a local support group for parents of children with CAS. From there, she founded the Apraxia Resource Center of Connecticut, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to providing education, support, and resources for families and professionals. Because of Michele’s ongoing efforts to help and support other families and educate her community, she is receiving the 2010 Consumer Advocate of the Year for Children with Apraxia of Speech Award (USA).
The many parents who nominated Michele all point out her “warm heart”, passion and incredible resilience as a parent. It is these qualities that inspire them to forge on, pursuing the best possible outcomes for their children affected by apraxia. Michele is described as a leader who is always “paying it forward” and is never too busy to reach out to the parents of newly diagnosed children or to dedicate her time planning fundraisers or educational events for the organization she founded. Michele exudes not just a depth of knowledge and enthusiasm but also hope. As the founder of the only state level organization providing support and resources for families of children affected by apraxia, Michele is most deserving of the Consumer Advocate of the Year (USA) award!
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SPEECH PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR FOR CHILDREN WITH APRAXIA OF SPEECH
Janelle Stevens, M.A., CCC-SLP
An incredible advocate for families and with a passion for working with children who have apraxia of speech, Janelle Stevens is the recipient of the 2010 Speech Professional of the Year for Children with Apraxia of Speech Award. Janelle, a senior speech-language Pathologist at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, has the admiration of colleagues both inside the hospital and in the community. These professionals note that Janelle is an expert clinician who does not hesitate to share her specialty knowledge and experience with apraxia in order to educate other speech-language professionals, preservice university students, school districts, parents and the community. Janelle freely consults with and mentors those who seek her out for her understanding of CAS. Her generous sharing of time and knowledge increases awareness and skills of other professionals working with children who have apraxia of speech. Despite being regarded as a local “expert,” Janelle continues to seek out workshops, journal articles, and other sources in order to continue building her own skills.
Supporting her nomination are parents who have seen Janelle’s talents and expertise influence and change the course of their children’s lives. Janelle is described as having “walked families through very tough times” in which young children with apraxia had severely limited speech and communication ability while their families were hurting, struggled to understand and to arrange the services so desperately needed. With empathy, patience, and dedication, Janelle helps guide and educate families while she provides extraordinary and effective speech therapy for the children. Further, she also supports families by regularly collaborating with school settings and attending IEP meetings to help plan for a child’s educational needs. Janelle also has coordinated a parent support group, providing the group with presentations and facilitating discussions for parents who attend the meetings. Congratulations to Janelle (Ms. ‘Nell to her young clients) and thank you for your dedication to improving the lives of children with apraxia of speech and their families!
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