Dear Friends,

During the month of November we are reminded to give thanks. We give thanks for the support of our Apraxia Kids Community and for everything that you do to help us move our mission forward.

We are thrilled to announce that our 2025 National Conference will be a completely virtual and interactive event! As we work to expand our reach not only locally but across the globe, hosting a virtual conference will allow Apraxia Kids the opportunity to reach more families and professionals than we have in the past. Our goal with a virtual conference is to Create Community Connections around the world! The Call for Papers is now open. We will be looking for presentations that cover a wide range of topics related to childhood apraxia of speech across all age and severity ranges, culturally and linguistically diversified populations, and co-occurring challenges. More information about scholarships and registration will be shared in the new year, so continue to follow our social media and check your emails so you can be the first to know.

We are so honored to have celebrated over 900 Apraxia Stars so far this year at our Walk for Apraxia events across North America. Although many of our in-person Walks have already occurred, you can still register for the Virtual Walk if you missed your local Walk. We want to ensure all of our Apraxia Stars are recognized and celebrated so we encourage you to register today! Walk fundraising remains open until December 31st so you still have time to earn incentive prizes including the official 2024 Walk for Apraxia shirt designed by two of our talented Apraxia Stars.

Another great way to connect with our Apraxia Kids Community is through our new Live Virtual Support Groups! We are excited to introduce our Star Supporters group that meets the second Sunday of every month at 8:00 pm Eastern Time via Zoom. This group is a great way to meet other caregivers and discuss the apraxia journey with someone who is right there with you. We also continue to have our teen/tween support group every Sunday hosted by Elina Csapo from Young Able Voices. This group is meant for Apraxia Stars ages 12+! Each week has a fun topic to get the conversation started, but you never know where it will go! You can learn more about both of these groups here.

We also can’t wait to welcome our next class of Apraxia Kids Boot Campers into our community! Do you know an SLP looking to boost their clinical expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of CAS? Our Apraxia Kids Boot Camp is now accepting applications! Applications are due by January 6th, 2025 so we encourage all SLPs to read through the requirements and get started on this multi-step process soon!

As we look ahead to the end of the year, the holidays are quickly approaching. We have updated our store to showcase fun holiday themed apparel and even holiday ornaments. These items not only make great gifts but also help to raise awareness by encouraging open conversations about CAS. Every time you wear your Apraxia Kids gear, someone new will see the word “apraxia” for the first time. Additionally all proceeds from our store go right back to helping further the mission of Apraxia Kids!

Thank you for being a part of our organization and sharing our vision, a world where every child with apraxia of speech reaches their highest communication potential. Your ongoing support is crucial in helping us realize this vision and furthering our mission.

As we approach this season of giving, please mark your calendar for Giving Tuesday on December 3rd. Your gift, no matter the size, is an investment in the voices of tomorrow. We hope you will consider supporting Apraxia Kids and the programs and services we provide.

We are forever thankful for your commitment to Apraxia Kids,

Angela Grimm
Executive Director