By Leslie Lindsay
I was overwhelmed with awe and pride earlier this week when my publisher contacted me to share SPEAKING OF APRAXIA (Woodbine House, 2012, www.woodbinehouse.com) had been nominated for a Reader’s Choice award. 
The idea of the book was born when my (then )2 1/2 year old daughter was diagnosed with apraxia of speech (CAS). Being a bookish kind of gal, I wanted a comprehensive guide that would explain the ABC’s of apraxia. I searched, and while I found some that satisfied my curiosty, I wanted more. A writer at heart, my friends and close family encouraged me to write my own. Fast-forward 5 years–the book has become a reality.
And now it’s up for winning an award. I couldn’t be more grateful.
But the book needs you! From the The Readers’ Choice Awards website, “[This award] give us the opportunity to celebrate the special-needs resources that inform us, support us, inspire us, give us a laugh when we need it, and otherwise contribute to our ability to parent our kids with special needs and help our children shine. Nominations begin January 14.” Please, if you have been touched by SPEAKING OF APRAXIA, I urge you to pop over to the website to nominate it. It’s really easy. The more nominations it receives, the better chance it has of making the final cut.
All you need to do is hop on to: http://specialchildren.about.com/u/ntn/readerschoice/RCA-Parenting-Book-2013/form.htm.
Please provide your own reason as to why the book should win (limit of 300 characters including spaces). Nominations accepted through February 11. After finalists are selected, voting for the winner begins.
The About.com site is owned by the New York Times Company and managed by Terri Mauro, 
mother of two children with special needs: a 22-year-old with language-based learning disabilities and a 19-year-old with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, both adopted from Russia in 1994. She estimates that she has been to 32 IEP meetings over the course of 17 years of advocating for her kids, and celebrated her final one in the winter of 2012. (image and addtional text about Ms. Mauro obtained from http://specialchildren.about.com/bio/Terri-Mauro-13624.htm on 1.17.13)
Terri is the author of 50 Ways to Support Your Child’s Special Education and The Everything Parent’s Guide to Sensory Integration Disorder. Her website Mothers With Attitude, offering “humor and help for adoptive moms, special-needs moms, any old moms at all,” was recognized as a USA Today Hot Site and a Good Housekeeping Site of the Day. She has been working as a writer for more than 25 years, and has been an editor for Hallmark Cards, First for Women magazine, and Food and Wine cookbooks. You can read more about Terri’s work experience on her Google profile.
Leslie A. Lindsay| Writer & Creative 