Dear Friends,

It is hard to believe Fall is here, and we are already in the month of October, which happens to be AAC Awareness and Acceptance Month. To kick off this month, our Speech Tablets for Apraxia program is now accepting applications.  This program provides an iPad and hard case for a child with CAS to use as a speech communication device as well as for practicing speech targets. Apraxia Kids has proudly offered this program for the last 10 years, providing more than 700 tablets to help children have a voice early on in their apraxia journey. We also have resources for discounts on apps, an app guide, and other information here.

As one of our goals and brand values, Apraxia Kids remains committed to providing evidence-based education to further the knowledge of CAS for professionals and families. On October 17, we will be opening the call for papers for speakers for the 2023 National Conference taking place in Plano, Texas from July 6-8.  We encourage you to mark your calendars now as additional details regarding registration will be shared in the New Year. 

Intensive Training (Apraxia Boot Camp) offered by Apraxia Kids is an in-depth, in-person learning experience for professionals to take their knowledge of childhood apraxia of speech to the next level. Training opportunities to specialize in a particular diagnosis are limited in the field of speech-language pathology. Applications open on October 10 to apply for the 2023 Boot Camp. The application, requirements, dates, and deadlines can be found by visiting our website.

October also recognizes Bullying Prevention Month. Social skills are normally developed throughout the early developmental years alongside speech and language.  When speech is delayed, social skill development can also be delayed.  Children with CAS can have difficulty with communication, learning, and social interaction, which can lead to being a target for bullying. Apraxia Kids is pleased to share information on supporting your child, developing social skills, and preventing bullying under each age group within the Parent Portal. In addition, awareness remains one of the best offensives to prevent bullying.  Apraxia Kids offers Classroom and SLP Be the Voice kits to help spread awareness and teach others about apraxia and how to help. Another great resource is our Apraxia Book List where you can find books that help with sound practice, stories about children dealing with speech difficulties, and books to inform parents and professionals about CAS.

We hope you find this information useful and are as excited as we are about upcoming events and programs offered by Apraxia Kids. We continue to strive to provide evidence-based education for parents and professionals so that all Apraxia Stars can find their voice. All of our programs that we discussed above would not be possible without the support of our wonderful apraxia community. As we approach year-end, please consider joining a Walk for Apraxia Event and raising funds or making a donation so we can continue our mission. Together, we are a strong community supporting one another to make a difference in the lives of our Apraxia Stars.

Best,
Angela Grimm
Executive Director