Childhood apraxia of speech is a rare motor disorder affecting one to two out of every one thousand children. Those with it have every muscle they need to speak correctly. Their brains just aren’t able to tell those muscles what to do – yet. With the right community and speech-language pathologist (SLP) behind them, intelligible speech is within reach for any kid with apraxia.
Apraxia Kids is here to help.
“Our mission is to strengthen the support systems for children with apraxia,” said Jaimie Barca, walk manager for Apraxia Kids. “Our focuses include training SLPs to diagnose and provide specific therapy for apraxia, funding evidence-based research into more effective forms of treatment, and educating the community so parents, teachers, and other caregivers can more readily recognize signs when a child needs help.
“Apraxia requires specialized and much more intense therapy than many other speech disorders, and there are only a few precious years when therapy can have its greatest effect. By raising awareness of apraxia, we’re ensuring that more kids receive the immediate interventions they need to reach their best outcomes.”
In addition to raising awareness in around 60 American and Canadian cities each year, the Walk for Apraxia is Apraxia Kids’ largest fundraising effort. “We also celebrate Apraxia Stars – children who inspire us by overcoming one of the most challenging speech disorders – by awarding them medals and certificates during a special ceremony,” said Jaimie.
“Our talented SLPs treat a wide range of conditions, but childhood apraxia of speech will always be nearest and dearest to my heart,” said Julie Urban, founder of Urban Speech & Occupational Therapy in Eden Prairie.
“My first private client was a little boy with childhood apraxia of speech. He made me rethink my therapeutic approach very early on in my career, ultimately compelling me to become a better SLP and devote more of my resources to such a complex disorder. He’s a big part of the reason why Urban Speech & Occupational Therapy, which is now in its fourth year of business, has become widely known as ‘The Apraxia Clinic.’
“That same little boy would go on to become an official member of the Kansas Jayhawks football team, proving that an apraxia diagnosis does not hold you back from achieving your dreams.
“Our entire team shares the same passion for apraxia, and always looks forward to supporting each year’s Twin Cities Walk for Apraxia. Around three hundred people attended the walk at Rosland Park in Edina last October, where we set up a table filled with games for the kids and had a drawing for parents to win gift cards donated by T.J. Hooligan’s and Zen Away.
“We were beaming while we watched some of our own kids receive medals for all their hard work. They also helped us carry the Apraxia Kids banner at the head of the walk – an honor we received for raising the most money for the event. Thank you to everyone who helped us raise $7,792.35; a huge increase over the $2,000 we raised last year, and the third largest donation out of all this year’s Apraxia Walks!”
UrbanSpeechMN.com | Apraxia-Kids.org