All posts tagged: Small Talk: All About Apraxia

Apraxia Monday: “Apraxia…You Just Gotta Practice!”

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By Leslie Lindsay I wanted to share with you a personal moment–and one that I think will touch you, whether you have a child with CAS, or not.  [Portions of this post originally appeared as a guest blog on Say What Y’all, hosted by Haley Villines.  Thanks, Haley for allowing me to be a guest on your blog]. You won’t soon forget her.  The red hair and blue eyes the size of saucers will linger in your memory.  So, too will the fact that she is as fire-y and energetic as that copper hair that cascades down her back, framing her freckled face with possibility.  And when you hear her speak, you may have an inkling that she once suffered from moderate to severe childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), or you may be none the wiser. Although Kate is a bright, creative, and eager soon-to-be 2nd grader, she has overcome a road block most of us never have to deal with: a struggle to communicate expressively.  I won’t bore you with the early days of …

Apraxia Monday: A logo for Apraxia…really?!

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By Leslie Lindsay Awhile back, when I was organizing and facilitating my Small Talk: All About Apraxia group this past fall, I had this little logo: Small Talk (click here to see logo) I picked it because it was cute and fun and I thought it represented apraxia well.  Why?  Well, I am sure some of the participants were wondering the same thing…here’s a little explanation: First, CAS (apraxia) affects both boys and girls.  Not equally though.  Seems boys are the lucky ones, outnumbering girls by about 2:1 in terms of prevelance. CAS also affects all cultures.  It is hard to say whether CAS affects kiddos in Brazil, for example but I am sure it does.  You will find websites devoted to it in the U.K., in Canada, and “down under.”  It’s definitely a world-wide phenomonen. Sometimes–as a parent dealing with CAS–you feel you have the “world on your shoulders,” as this clipart depicts. And what about the children it affects?  I am sure they often feel the same way… Of course, the heart in the middle represents the love we have for our …

Apraxia Monday: Kate visits Small Talk: All About Apraxia

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By Leslie Lindsay A few weeks ago, I was busy preparing for my Small Talk:  All About Apraxia group.  It was our first night and I needed a little help stuffing the folders I had prepared for each participant.  So, I did what any good–over-scheduled mom would do:  I enlisted the help of my children.  “Why not?”I thought.   After all, it’s because of my daughter that I even have a group dedicated to helping other parents of children with apraxia.  So, Kate Riley and I sat down and stuffed folders. About half-way through, she looked up at me and said, “This looks important, is this your job?”  Well, yes.  I suppose it is.  Depends on how you define “job.”  I don’t get paid to do this–at least not in the typical  dollars and cents kind of payment–but I do get some kind of payment for my services…it comes from helping others.  It comes from a smile on their face, or a kind word of appreciation.  It comes when they tell me that they took the next …

Apraxia Monday: Word Study

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By Leslie Lindsay Each day, I am reminded that my daughter has apraxia.  It’s not so apparent anymore.  Her speech has really developed since she was diagnosed way back when (she’s 6 now), her vocabulary is huge–even if she doesn’t articulate so well.  But, there was a time when I knew absolutely nothing about speech pathology.  Nothing. Fast-forward 4 1/2 years and I know waaay more about speech pathology than I ever, in my wildest dreams imagined.  In elementary school, there were “speech teachers,” whom some of my classmates would see on occassion.  Later, I learned these folks were actually speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and I really had no idea they worked anywhere but within schools. Entering High School, there were “speech teachers,” but of a different sort.  These speech  teachers taught speech & debate, improvisational theater, radio & television broadcast…all of which I was involved with when I was a student. And then, I had a baby (some years later).  And this baby grew to become a non-verbal toddler.  And she was diagnosed with speech apraxia (CAS).  …

A Little Literacy, Please: Updates

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By Leslie Lindsay I am not sure where the day went…well, okay–I do.  It started bright and early on this crisp, almost-fall-but-not-quite Tuesday.  Yesterday was Labor Day and I am feeling like it’s Monday, sooo…forgive me for being a little “off.”  (Though some of you may beg to differ that I am always a little off)! Crazy morning getting kids off to school with at least one meltdown by Kid #2 who is usually a saint, but today decided to change places with Kid #1’s morning-o-drama.  Kid #1 dropped off at school, #2 to pre-K (across town), book revisions, appointment for mom, quick bite while I completed more revisions in the minivan as I mooched off of the FedEx Store’s Internet, pre-K pick-up followed by Target Tuesday, home to unload Target goodies, flip through mail, “kid-swap” so I could run to the OB for the lovely annual exam (ugh)…uh, too much information??!  Home to prepare dinner and cram in a little 1st grade homework before I had to dash off to Cirriculum Nite.  Of course, …

Apraxia Monday: Updates

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By Leslie Lindsay You will have to excuse my lame post today…but I will give you a few updates in the apraxia community: My family has registered for the Fall Apraxia Walk in Chicagoland at Ty Warner Park.  This walk is sponsored by CASANA with coordinators from the Windy City Apraxia Network.  The day of fun is scheduled for Saturday, October 15th 2011.  Break in your walking shoes and come support CAS!  For more information, or to register on line, see http://www.apraxia-kids.org/chicagowalk  Do it before September 26th and get a FREE tee-shirt.  Registration is $20/adults and $10/kids “Small Talk: All About Apraxia” is gearing up for the FALL sesssion!  It’s 5 weeks of everything you ever wanted to know about apraxia.  Our first meeting will be Thursday, September 15th from 7-9pm at Panera Bread in Naperville, IL.  Please, ask your friends, family, teachers…anyone who may be interested in sharing and learning experiences with CAS.  It’s FREE!   Email me, leslie_lindsay@hotmail.com for more inforamation or to place your name on the interest list. I’ll be guest blogging …