About Apraxia Kids

Claudio Capone, Regional VP of Business Development and Strategic Planning, Trinity Health – New England

Claudio is a seasoned health care executive with over 20 years of experience in both national and small health systems creating growth strategies that drive profitability.
His expertise is in:

Health system strategic development through expert data analysis, ensuring physician alignment and developing service lines.
Creating initiatives to grow inpatient and outpatient service lines that consider market demand and organizational capabilities.
Developing strategies for ambulatory expansion and diversification through market demand analyses, provider and staffing needs, and facility solutions while factoring in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
Leading the assessment of mergers, acquisitions, technology investments, and operational initiatives with C-Suite executives and Board Members that drive growth.

He holds a master’s in healthcare management and a bachelor’s in political science.

He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives

Amber, a Senior Manager in the Assurance & Advisory Group at Grossman Yanak & Ford LLP, has more than ten years of experience in public accounting. She specializes in providing assurance services for a variety of clients including manufacturers and not-for-profit organizations. She also has experience with construction accounting, business acquisition transaction work and performing audits of employee benefit plans.

Amber earned a B.S. degree in accounting and finance in 2013, graduating summa cum laude from St. Vincent College. A certified public accountant (CPA) licensed in the state of Pennsylvania, Amber is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA). The PICPA recognized Amber’s contributions to the accounting profession by naming her as a recipient of the 2024 Young Leader award.

Amber shares her enthusiasm for the profession with future accountants as she serves as an adjunct professor at her alma mater, Saint Vincent College.

Sarah White is a nonprofit consultant with over 15 years of experience working in finance, administration, development, and communications for social service, health care, higher education, and other nonprofit organizations.  Her experience and MBA in Nonprofit Management give Sarah a unique perspective on how each aspect of a nonprofit – from program service delivery and website development, to technology and human resources (and everything in between) – impacts an organization’s bottom line and its ability to accomplish its mission.  Sarah is also fluent in Spanish and has experience living and working in Mexico.  Sarah is a native Texan where she lives with her husband and daughter who has Childhood Apraxia of Speech.  In her free time, Sarah enjoys reading, volunteering, and traveling.

Stephanie Fera is the managing partner of Gabriel Fera, P.C. A Pittsburgh law firm specializing in labor, employment, and municipal law. Stephanie represents clients in labor negotiations, grievance and interest arbitration, representation before the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board and the Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the State Civil Service Commission, and before the state and federal courts. Stephanie also represents clients as County, Municipal Authority, or Municipal Solicitor, and regularly does HR training and consulting. Stephanie obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Prior to law school, she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and spent several years in retail management where her role involved various human resource functions and responsibilities. Stephanie was recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star each year beginning in 2017 through 2022.

Stephanie has served on the Board of Directors for Apraxia Kids since 2018.

Paula is an attorney admitted to practice law in both California and her home country, Guatemala, and holds a master’s degree in computer and communications law from Queen Mary University of London. She is also a Certified Information Privacy Professional and a Certified Information Privacy Manager with over 10 years of global experience in data protection and privacy. Paula currently works remotely as Holland & Knight’s International Compliance Senior Analyst leading and supporting privacy and compliance programs in their LATAM offices.  Paula’s professional experiences, personal journey as a parent and passion for diversity and inclusion, led her to become an advocate for apraxia and bilingualism after her first born was diagnosed with severe apraxia. Their own struggles to find the appropriate supports in the middle of a global pandemic ignited her commitment to help others, both locally and abroad, understand this disorder. Her hope is that by raising awareness and sharing resources, every child with CAS will have access to the best support possible for their own unique journey. Paula is a native Spanish speaker and currently resides in Texas with her husband and their two bilingual daughters.

eff brings more than 25 years of experience in fundraising, marketing, client service, and management to the firm. He has held a variety of roles in the alternative investment market, including Gryphon Investors, Resource Capital Funds, Brooklands Capital Strategies (a division of TPG Capital). Ares Management, Oak Hill, and Probitas Partners.

Amber Vecchio, PMP, CMQ/OE, CF APMP joined Apraxia Kids as a board member in 2023. Her eight-year-old daughter Delaney was diagnosed with Apraxia of Speech four years ago and continues to receive speech therapy services in second grade and through outpatient support. Her journey to an Apraxia diagnosis was difficult through COVID-19, but once Apraxia Kids’ resources were identified, Delaney’s speech significantly improved.

Amber is a Technical Proposal Manager at Smile Digital Health and lives in the Pittsburgh, PA area. She is a designated Project Management Professional with the Project Management Institute, a Certified Manager of Quality and Organizational Excellence with the American Society for Quality and has a Foundation Certification with the Association for Proposal Management Professionals. Her professional background includes working in emergency management and disaster response, with a more recent focus on digital healthcare. Amber is passionate about advocating for community awareness and legislative change to focus on supporting caregivers, SLPs, educators, and legislators around a variety of topics that improve the lives of kids with CAS.

Neil Kilby is the Managing Director of Atticus Road, a branding agency that specialises in finding voices for brands and designing, developing and positioning them for growth. He has over 15 years experience in brand strategy, has been responsible for multiple leading tourism brands in New Zealand, and has successfully introduced and grown brands in various industries in the United States, Europe and Australasia.

Neil holds a BA Honours Degree in Business from Sheffield Hallam University in England. He started his career on the Graduate Training Scheme for Enterprise Rent-A-Car, where he managed multiple branches in East Anglia, including their largest in Europe, before emigrating to New Zealand in 2005. In NZ, he held numerous senior marketing roles before founding Atticus Road in 2015, and also currently serves as a Business Mentor for Business Mentors NZ and is an advisory Board Member for Yrless, a NZ based internet services provider.

Neil resides in Otatara with his wife and three children; Harpur, Harry and Corban. Harry was diagnosed with severe Apraxia in 2022, aged 4.

Alyson Taylor is an advocate for individuals with apraxia, using her personal journey to inspire others to find their voice. Diagnosed with apraxia, she understands the challenges of navigating speech and communication difficulties. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Emory University and a master’s in business from Penn State. Based in Los Angeles, Alyson works in the legal operations team at CyberArk, a leading cybersecurity company. Beyond her career, she actively volunteers to support individuals and families affected by apraxia, promoting awareness, evidence-based research, and greater inclusion for those with the disorder.

Maria Grigos is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders at New York University. Dr. Grigos also directs the Motor Speech Lab at NYU. Her scholarly work combines the use of perceptual, acoustic and kinematic methods to pursue two lines of research. The first centers on the study of speech motor control and motor learning across the lifespan. The second focuses on translational research where she studies the efficacy of motor-based intervention in childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Research in the Motor Speech Lab is funded by the NIH National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and the Once Upon a Time Foundation. Dr. Grigos holds clinical certification from the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association, and is licensed in speech-language pathology in New York State.

Dr. Molly Beiting is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Beiting completed her clinical training at the University of Maryland and worked as a pediatric SLP before earning a doctorate from Temple University and completing postdoctoral training at Syracuse University. Dr. Beiting’s research focuses on improving assessment and treatment for children with speech disorders, with an emphasis on childhood apraxia of speech. She is interested in the interplay between speech and co-occurring disorders (e.g., autism, language, literacy), and how we can better support individuals with complex communication profiles across the lifespan. Additionally, Dr. Beiting is committed to fostering collaboration among researchers, families, and clinicians, recognizing the value of diverse perspectives and expertise for enhancing research and clinical practice. She is looking forward to teaching her first Apraxia Kids Bootcamp cohort in 2025!

Sarah Carmody is a multilingual pediatric SLP who owns a small private practice in southern NJ. She has a background in broad pediatric service delivery within the medical setting, having served in large hospital systems for several years and worked extensively with multilingual children and families across the outpatient, private, and school setting. Through her private practice, Sarah now specializes in assessment and treatment of complex speech production difficulties and motor speech disorders. Sarah also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Widener University. She has a passion for teaching, and enjoys advancing the knowledge of SLPs, other professionals, and family/community members as it pertains to supporting individuals with CAS across the lifespan. Sarah is a proud graduate of the Apraxia Kids Intensive Training Institute (“Boot Camp”) and has served as on the instructional team for Boot Camp for the 2023 and 2025 cohorts.

Amy is the Director of Clinical Education for the PROMPT Institute and a treatment clinician at Children’s Minnesota with over 25 years of direct clinical practice experience. She has extensive experience working with children with developmental delays, motor speech disorders, autism, and language disorders in a variety of settings. She is a member of the Apraxia Kids Professional Advisory Council. In addition, she is a nationally recognized speaker on subjects related to motor speech disorders, connecting with caregivers, communicating with colleagues, supervision, and PROMPT. She became a Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPT) Instructor in 2008. Amy has special interests in learning design and teaching.

Elaine Dolgin-Lieberman, MA, CCC-SLP, is a pediatric speech language pathologist in private practice, with special interest in evaluating and treating preschool and school-aged children with motor speech sound disorders. She is a member of the Apraxia Kids Professional Advisory Council and a graduate of the Apraxia Kids Intensive CAS Training (2011). She is recognized by Apraxia Kids as having Advanced Training and Clinical Expertise in Childhood Apraxia of Speech. Elaine is a graduate supervisor and clinical instructor in the Graduate Communication Disorders Program at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry where she teaches an annual summer elective on Childhood Apraxia of Speech. Elaine has provided workshops on evidenced-based therapy strategies. Elaine is the secretary of Westchester Speech Language Hearing Association.

Dr. Christina Gildersleeve-Neumann is a Professor and the Associate Program Director at St. Augustine University. She has been working with individuals with CAS for over 20 years. Christina’s clinical, research, and teaching expertise focus on severe speech sound disorders with an emphasis on the assessment and intervention of childhood apraxia of speech in monolingual and multilingual individuals and typical and atypical speech development in Spanish-English bilinguals.

Dr Iuzzini-Seigel is Associate Professor and director of the Communication, Movement and Learning Lab at Marquette University. Her research focuses on diagnosis and treatment of childhood apraxia of speech and other speech sound disorders. She aims to care for the whole child and develop clinically useful tools to improve quality of care for children with communication disorders.

Edwin Maas is clinical researcher and Associate Professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Temple University. His translational and clinical research centers on speech disorders, in particular apraxia of speech in children and adults, and has two distinct but related lines motivated by two clinical challenges.

The first research line focuses on how to improve diagnosis of speech disorders, in particular differentiating between apraxia of speech and other speech disorders. This translational research line encompasses studies to characterize the nature of speech disorders in terms of underlying processes and mechanisms, and studies to identify sensitive and objective measures (such as acoustic and reaction time measures) that may differentiate speech disorders (including possible subtypes), and predict treatment response and long-term outcomes (prognosis).

The second research line focuses on improving treatment outcomes for children and adults with speech disorders. This line involves clinical trials research (single-case experimental designs and randomized controlled trials) to (a) determine efficacy, (b) optimize treatment parameters, and (3) identify predictors of treatment response in order to facilitate personalized, optimally targeted intervention.

The long-term goals of this research are to improve diagnostic tools and intervention methods, and thereby improve the communicative quality of life and well-being of individuals with speech disorders.

Edwin has published 50 peer-reviewed articles, and his research has been funded by NIDCD, Apraxia‐Kids, and the American Speech‐Language‐Hearing Foundation.

Dr Patricia McCabe is Professor of Speech Pathology at The University of Sydney, Australia. She is a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist and Fellow of Speech Pathology Australia. Tricia researches and practices in the area of moderate-severe speech impairments in children and adults. Within this she has a number of interests including (a) treatments for Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) (b) the comparison of speech treatments to demonstrate relative effectiveness and efficiency and (c) the use of ultrasound for biofeedback in speech pathology.

Dr McCabe has lead the 15 year project to develop the ReST intervention from first principles. With her colleagues, Dr Elizabeth Murray and Dr Kirrie Ballard, she completed the first ever CAS Randomized Control Trial comparing ReST with the Nuffield Dyspraxia Program (3rd ed). Her team produced one quarter of all papers published on treatments for CAS in the period 2010-2024. One paper is the most cited CAS treatment paper. Dr McCabe has a career publication record of more than 100 papers and chapters. She has recently led the first ever RCT comparing DTTC with usual care. This project has recruited 60 children across 9 sites in 2 countries and has been funded by the Australian government.

Dr McCabe welcomes enquiries from families, clinicians and potential research students and collaborators about any CAS topic.

Dr. Lisa Mitchell serves as the Clinical Director of Clearly Speaking, a pediatric private practice with three clinics across New Hampshire. With over 20 years of experience as a pediatric speech-language pathologist, Dr. Mitchell specializes in treating children with complex speech sound disorders, with a particular focus on Childhood Apraxia of Speech.

Amy Skinder-Meredith, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is a Clinical Professor at Washington State University-Spokane, where she is Chair and has been the director of Camp Candoo, an intensive summer program for children with CAS. She has worked in the public schools, hospitals, university clinic, and private practice settings for over 30 years. She has published and presented her research on CAS at national conferences and is on the Professional Advisory Council for Apraxia-Kids. She enjoys the constant learning that comes with working with kids with CAS as they get older and sharing the journey of what’s worked at workshops for practicing speech-language pathologists and families nationally and internationally. She co-authored of Here’s How to Treat Childhood Apraxia of Speech, 3rd edition with Margaret (Dee) Fish.

CI Morgan is an Elizabeth Blackburn NHMRC Investigator grant fellow (#1195955, 2020-2025) and Head of Speech and Language at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and a Dame Kate Campbell Professor of Speech Pathology at the University of Melbourne. CI Morgan’s research career has focused on elucidating the genetics and neurobiology of child speech and language disorders. CI Morgan’s ongoing vision is to bring neuro-scientific evidence for child speech and language disorder into everyday clinical practice, to improve diagnosis, prognosis and treatment and ultimately optimise outcomes for affected children and their families. CI Morgan has maintained a clinical role throughout the 25 years of her research career.

Of specific relevance here, CI Morgan’s work on genetic causes for speech disorder led to a world-first ‘speech genetics’ clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital Victoria, with national patient intake. This is the first clinic of its kind, internationally, delivering genetic diagnoses directly to families of children with severe speech disorder. CI Morgan is Director of this clinic, the model for which has now been adopted by the Mayo Clinic in the US. CI Morgan is internationally renowned for her expertise in speech and language phenotyping to lead to gene discovery and targeted therapies. She is sought after to lead speech phenotyping in international studies, eg. by the Max Planck Institute, Radboud University, Boston Children’s, the Pasteur Institute and Sick Kids. Her expertise is increasingly sought after by Government bodies (UK, Victoria, NSW) and global health organisations such as the NIH and WHO. CI Morgan has an exceptional track record of consumer engagement, working with over 30 consumer groups and currently sitting on 8 Consumer Advisory Boards associated with rare genetic disease, including ataxias. Her track record means she is well placed to complete the clinical-research and translational roles in the present grant.

Dr. Megan Overby, currently an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at Curtin University, is a retired Associate Professor from Duquesne University. She has over 30 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist in schools, hospitals, agencies, and university clinics in addition to having maintained a private practice early in her career. Megan’s research has explored issues in speech sound disorders and literacy, with a particular focus on childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Her research in CAS has considered potential early red flags of the disorder, differences in infancy demonstrated by children later diagnosed with CAS, and parent expectations for long-term outcomes of young children with apraxia. She has been a member of the Apraxia Kids Professional Advisory Board since 2018 and has been an instructor in Apraxia Kids’ Childhood Apraxia of Speech Intensive Training “Boot Camp.” Megan presents regularly at conferences and workshops and has authored multiple publications and textbook chapters.

Nancy Potter, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and recently retired as a professor in Speech & Hearing Sciences at Washington State University in Spokane, Washington. Dr. Potter earned her PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is an experienced clinician who has worked in just about every setting. Her federally funded research program is focused on identifying and treating motor speech disorders in babies, children, and adolescents. Dr. Potter’s current research, Babble Boot Camp, looks at starting speech therapy as young as eight weeks of age in babies with classic galactosemia, a known genetic risk for severe speech and language disorders. She is the co-author the Babble Boot Camp Basic Training course available through Northern Speech Services. She has published and presented her research nationally and internationally. Dr. Potter has given numerous workshops for practicing speech-language pathologists across the country on assessment and treatment of CAS and dysarthria.

Dr. Jonathan Preston is a speech-language pathologist and clinical researcher focusing on speech sound disorders. He received his PhD from Syracuse University in 2008 and completed postdoctoral training at Haskins Laboratories, an affiliate of Yale University. He is a Professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at Syracuse University and is a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. His research focuses on neurolinguistically-motivated and evidence based treatments for speech sound disorders. He is currently involved in multiple clinical trials studying artificial intelligence, biofeedback treatments, and service delivery models for children with persisting speech sound errors and childhood apraxia of speech.

Brooke Rea is a Canadian pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist. She owns a private Centre in Guelph, Ontario dedicated to assessing, treating and supporting children with motor speech disorders including childhood apraxia of speech and childhood dysarthria. She spends considerable time supporting and teaching professionals and parents on their journeys with CAS, throughout Ontario and Canada. She is a graduate of the Apraxia Kids Intensive Training Institute (Boot Camp, 2014) and is Apraxia Kids Recognized for Advanced Training and Expertise in Childhood Apraxia of Speech. Brooke has lectured at numerous university and college programs and has been an invited speaker at conferences and workshops across North America to speak about childhood apraxia and pediatric motor speech disorders. In addition, Brooke also provides clinical supervision and support to students and SLPs working with CAS. Brooke is a licensed speech-language pathologist with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (Canada) and a Certified SLP with Speech-Language & Audiology of Canada. Brooke’s passion for childhood apraxia of speech runs deep; she is a founding board member and current Chair of Apraxia Kids Canada, a multi-year Apraxia Kids Walk Coordinator and fundraiser, conference speaker, and has been an Intensive Training instructor. She is excited to serve on the Professional Advisory Council to represent Canada and Canadian needs with respect to Apraxia Kids and their mission.

Dr. Edythe Strand is Emeritus Speech Pathologist, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, and Emeritus Professor, Mayo College of Medicine. Dr. Strand’s research has focused on developmental, acquired and progressive apraxia of speech, and issues related to intelligibility and comprehensibility in degenerative dysarthria. She is an experienced clinician who has worked in the public schools, private practice, and hospital and clinic settings. Dr. Strand’s publications include many articles and book chapters related to motor speech disorders. She is an ASHA fellow and has been awarded Honors of the Association of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association; Honors of the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences, and the ASHFoundation, Frank R. Kleffner Lifetime Clinical Career Award.

Nancy Tarshis, a speech-language pathologist/special educator and former Director of Early Childhood Programming at The Quad Preparatory School, dedicated to 2E children K-12. For 27 years, she was on the clinical team at Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center at Einstein College of Medicine, serving as Supervisor of Speech/Language Services for 21 of them. While there, she trained more than 400 SLPs currently practicing worldwide. As Emeritus at CERC, she participates in ongoing research and lectures to pediatric fellows and medical residents. She serves as adjunct clinical instructor at several New York City graduate programs, and consults on social-emotional learning to public and private schools. Nancy is deeply experienced in a wide variety of treatment methodologies, including Social Thinking. She is the co-author of their early learner curriculum, We Thinkers Volumes 1& 2 and the Social Thinking Group Collaboration Play and Problem Solving Scale (GPS). Nancy’s private work includes Altogether Social, a social cognitive practice, serving pediatric clients through adulthood offering individual and group sessions as well as trainings for parents and professionals. Through her work as a member of the Social Thinking© Speaking and Training Collaborative Nancy provides consultations to schools both nationally and internationally. Additionally, she is a member of the professional advisory board of Apraxia Kids.