07 Apr Hi, I’m Jaxon – by Jaxon Sullivan
“We identified our son Jaxon had a speech delay in 2019 (age of 3) while serving in the military overseas. He received speech therapy, but it wasn’t until 2021 (age of 5) that we realized he had CAS through an official diagnosis. We suspected CAS and asked for his SLP, but no one had experience with it or could diagnose it. It wasn’t until we attended a wedding post-COVID that an extended family member who was an SLP encouraged us to press the issue and pursue a diagnosis.
Thinking about where our son was in 2021 as he started PROMPT therapy and where he is now in 2025 is truly remarkable. This SLP told us that next year may be the last year that he needs a speech. We are fortunate that he has no other comorbidities and is doing well in school – but I remember our uncertainty and fears as we started this journey. I remember wondering if my son would ever be able to speak normally, if he would be able to have a normal life, and just how long the journey may last.
He is not at the finish line yet, but he is a hard worker, and we are so proud of him. While we recognize each child and each journey is unique, hopefully, at some point, his story and our journey can help another family cope with the uncertainty or unknown challenges to know that they are not alone and that there is hope for their child.” ~Ryan Sullivan, Jaxon’s Father
Hi, I’m Jaxon!
Hi! My name is Jaxon, and I have Childhood Apraxia of Speech, or CAS. But you know what? CAS does not define me. This is my story, and I want to share it with you so that kids like me know they are not alone
Talking Was Hard
When I was little, I had so much to say, but my mouth just wouldn’t cooperate. It was like my brain and my mouth weren’t on the same team. I knew the words, but getting them out was really, really hard. My family noticed that I was struggling, and they knew I needed help.
At first, it was tough to find the right people who understood what was going on. Some doctors thought I had something else, but my parents knew better. They didn’t give up, and eventually, we found out that I had CAS. That’s when everything changed.
Speech Therapy Became My Superpower
I started working with amazing speech therapists who taught me how to make sounds and put them together into words. It wasn’t easy, though! Sometimes, I had to practice the same sound over and over again. And let me tell you—saying the same word 100 times in a row isn’t exactly fun.
But my therapists made it fun! We played games, earned stickers, and sometimes even got to use the iPad. (Okay, maybe I liked the games a little too much, but hey, whatever works, right?) And even when I wanted to give up, my therapists and my family kept cheering me on.
And guess what? It worked. One sound turned into words. Words turned into sentences. And sentences turned into ME being able to say what I wanted, when I wanted.
Finding My Voice
One of the hardest parts of CAS wasn’t just the talking—it was feeling like I couldn’t be part of the conversation. Other kids talked so fast, and sometimes I just couldn’t keep up. That made it hard to make friends. But as my speech got better, so did my confidence. I started raising my hand in class, telling jokes, and playing with my friends without feeling left out.
Reading was tricky at first, too. Not because I didn’t understand the stories—I totally did—but because saying the words out loud was tough. But just like with my speech, I practiced, and I got better. Now? I love reading, and I’m catching up with my classmates fast.
The Best News Ever
After years of hard work, my therapist told me that next year might be my LAST year of speech therapy! When I heard that, I couldn’t believe it. All the practice, all the games (yes, I’m still counting those), and all the moments when I wanted to quit—it was all worth it.
I’m proof that hard work pays off. If you have CAS, I want you to know something: you can do this.
To Other Kids Like Me
If you have CAS, I want you to know that you are not alone. I know it’s hard. I know it can feel frustrating when the words don’t come out the way you want them to. But don’t give up. Keep practicing, keep playing those silly speech games, and keep believing in yourself.
You are not just a kid with CAS. You are strong, you are smart, and you have a voice. And one day, you’re going to use it to do something amazing.
My Next Adventure? YouTube!
Now that I can talk, I have BIG plans. One day, I want to be a YouTube influencer. I love making videos, and I want to share my story with as many people as possible. Because if I can find my voice, so can you.
Thank you for listening to my story. And remember—keep talking, keep trying, and never give up!
Jaxon through the years from age 3 to age 8! Watch this video to see Jaxon’s progress!
Be inspired by more stories today and learn about how you can Give Hope!
Visit, FIND HOPE, GIVE HOPE
“We identified our son Jaxon had a speech delay in 2019 (age of 3) while serving in the military overseas. He received speech therapy, but it wasn’t until 2021 (age of 5) that we realized he had CAS through an official diagnosis. We suspected CAS and asked for his SLP, but no one had experience with it or could diagnose it. It wasn’t until we attended a wedding post-COVID that an extended family member who was an SLP encouraged us to press the issue and pursue a diagnosis.
Thinking about where our son was in 2021 as he started PROMPT therapy and where he is now in 2025 is truly remarkable. This SLP told us that next year may be the last year that he needs a speech. We are fortunate that he has no other comorbidities and is doing well in school – but I remember our uncertainty and fears as we started this journey. I remember wondering if my son would ever be able to speak normally, if he would be able to have a normal life, and just how long the journey may last.
He is not at the finish line yet, but he is a hard worker, and we are so proud of him. While we recognize each child and each journey is unique, hopefully, at some point, his story and our journey can help another family cope with the uncertainty or unknown challenges to know that they are not alone and that there is hope for their child.” ~Ryan Sullivan, Jaxon’s Father
Hi, I’m Jaxon!
Hi! My name is Jaxon, and I have Childhood Apraxia of Speech, or CAS. But you know what? CAS does not define me. This is my story, and I want to share it with you so that kids like me know they are not alone
Talking Was Hard
When I was little, I had so much to say, but my mouth just wouldn’t cooperate. It was like my brain and my mouth weren’t on the same team. I knew the words, but getting them out was really, really hard. My family noticed that I was struggling, and they knew I needed help.
At first, it was tough to find the right people who understood what was going on. Some doctors thought I had something else, but my parents knew better. They didn’t give up, and eventually, we found out that I had CAS. That’s when everything changed.
Speech Therapy Became My Superpower
I started working with amazing speech therapists who taught me how to make sounds and put them together into words. It wasn’t easy, though! Sometimes, I had to practice the same sound over and over again. And let me tell you—saying the same word 100 times in a row isn’t exactly fun.
But my therapists made it fun! We played games, earned stickers, and sometimes even got to use the iPad. (Okay, maybe I liked the games a little too much, but hey, whatever works, right?) And even when I wanted to give up, my therapists and my family kept cheering me on.
And guess what? It worked. One sound turned into words. Words turned into sentences. And sentences turned into ME being able to say what I wanted, when I wanted.
Finding My Voice
One of the hardest parts of CAS wasn’t just the talking—it was feeling like I couldn’t be part of the conversation. Other kids talked so fast, and sometimes I just couldn’t keep up. That made it hard to make friends. But as my speech got better, so did my confidence. I started raising my hand in class, telling jokes, and playing with my friends without feeling left out.
Reading was tricky at first, too. Not because I didn’t understand the stories—I totally did—but because saying the words out loud was tough. But just like with my speech, I practiced, and I got better. Now? I love reading, and I’m catching up with my classmates fast.
The Best News Ever
After years of hard work, my therapist told me that next year might be my LAST year of speech therapy! When I heard that, I couldn’t believe it. All the practice, all the games (yes, I’m still counting those), and all the moments when I wanted to quit—it was all worth it.
I’m proof that hard work pays off. If you have CAS, I want you to know something: you can do this.
To Other Kids Like Me
If you have CAS, I want you to know that you are not alone. I know it’s hard. I know it can feel frustrating when the words don’t come out the way you want them to. But don’t give up. Keep practicing, keep playing those silly speech games, and keep believing in yourself.
You are not just a kid with CAS. You are strong, you are smart, and you have a voice. And one day, you’re going to use it to do something amazing.
My Next Adventure? YouTube!
Now that I can talk, I have BIG plans. One day, I want to be a YouTube influencer. I love making videos, and I want to share my story with as many people as possible. Because if I can find my voice, so can you.
Thank you for listening to my story. And remember—keep talking, keep trying, and never give up!
Jaxon through the years from age 3 to age 8! Watch this video to see Jaxon’s progress!
Be inspired by more stories today and learn about how you can Give Hope!
Visit, FIND HOPE, GIVE HOPE
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