Training opportunities to specialize in a particular diagnosis are limited in the field of speech-language pathology. Intensive Training (Apraxia Kids Boot Camp) offered by Apraxia Kids, is an in-depth, in-person learning experience to take your knowledge of childhood apraxia of speech to the next level.
Intensive Training
WHAT IS “APRAXIA KIDS BOOT CAMP”?
Apraxia Kids Boot Camp is an intensive, advanced training program. Apraxia Kids Boot Camp was designed to strategically identify and intensively train qualified speech-language pathologists in order to boost their clinical expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS).
Boot Camp applications are now open!
We are happy to announce that applications for the Apraxia Kids 2025 Intensive Training (Boot Camp) are now open and consists of two separate parts! Part ONE submissions are due January 2, 2025. Part TWO submissions are due January 6, 2025. Here is more information about the 2025 Boot Camp:
WHEN: Tuesday August 5, starting around 4:00pm EST to Saturday August 9, ending at 1:00pm EST.
WHERE: Duquesne University, Pittsburgh PA. Hotel to be announced.
COST: $1,650 USD which includes your hotel stay for 4 nights (Tuesday through Friday nights), all meals during the boot camp timeframe, and all materials for the course. Each attendee is also responsible for cost of travel to and from the Pittsburgh hotel. An initial deposit of $300 USD will be due March 31, 2025. The final payment of $1,350 will be due June 16, 2025.
HOW TO APPLY: Please click the link below to start your application. There are 2 different parts to the application. The first part (due January 2, 2025) entails completion of demographic information as well as responses to specific questions. The second part (due January 6, 2025) will be the upload of a brief video responding to a prompt.
PREREQISITES: Must be listed in the Apraxia Kids SLP Directory by January 6, 2025. If you are not currently listed, you must complete both sections of the application for the directory by December 1, 2024. In addition, all instruction is in English, so attendees must be English proficient for learning. Please see section below for all of the prerequisites for boot camp attendees.
Requirements for Applying to the 2025 Apraxia Kids Intensive Training
Is an SLP with a minimum of 5 years of clinical experience post graduate school and has experience providing direct speech intervention with children with CAS.
Is a clinician who has treated at least 5-10 children with apraxia of speech in the past and feels reasonably successful with this client population.
Is listed in the Apraxia Kids SLP Directory (or is in the process of being listed and will be completed by application deadline.)
Is a clinician who has access to a child with apraxia of speech to complete their required case study as part of the intensive training.
Is a clinician who has a good understanding of phonetic transcription.
Has attended within the last five years, continuing education on CAS from a variety of instructors and on a variety of topics, and is able to discuss how such training has informed their clinical practice for assessment and treatment.
Has the capacity in their current employment setting to accept new clients for both assessment and treatment and is committed to serving as a local resource for other professionals and families.
Is committed to maintaining an ongoing relationship with Apraxia Kids to support education of other professionals and families through volunteering within their local community and beyond.
Will continue to engage in learning opportunities and report those back to Apraxia Kids to maintain status of having Advanced Training and Expertise in CAS.
**Please note** Clinicians with limited experience (i.e. new practitioners or those who have seen less than 5 children with CAS) or those with quite extensive, existing expertise and reputation for their work with this population are not the target audience for this training.
What has been the impact of Apraxia Kids Boot Camp?
More than 170 speech-language pathologists in the US and Canada have been trained through the Apraxia Kids Boot Camp. These graduates have gone on to educate other SLPs in their communities, organize a Walk for Apraxia or other fundraising events, speak at our National Conference, and present On-Demand Webinars on advanced topics. They serve as experts to provide appropriate assessment, treatment and support to children and families in their communities.
What makes Apraxia Kids Boot Camp different than other training opportunities?
Unlike other training opportunities, Apraxia Kids Boot Camp has a 6-month mentorship following the training where participants can receive feedback on their case study. Such mentorship is rare to find without additional cost.
Apraxia Kids Boot Camp Graduates
Interested in hearing first-hand accounts of what Boot Camp is really like?
Check out these blogs from our graduates where they recount their experiences and share advice for potential students!
THE IMPACT OF APRAXIA KIDS BOOT CAMP
What do past graduates say about their experience attending boot camp?
It is a lot of work, a big time commitment, but TOTALLY worth it! In the end, you will feel more confident in your skills and meet some wonderful people along the way. – Jill H.
Attending boot camp has been a pivotal experience within my career as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Prior to attending boot camp I was passionate about treating CAS, but now I have the knowledge and skills to go along with that passion in order to make a difference in the lives of children with CAS. I want to thank Apraxia Kids for providing me with an experience that has shaped the trajectory of my career as a Speech-Language Pathologist and allowed me to gain such valuable knowledge and skills. – Alicia K.
I would highly recommend this experience to anyone that considers themselves a lifelong learner! I was able to hone my critical thinking skills with regard to research and add many new tools and ideas to my assessment and treatment protocols. I cannot recommend this experience enough!! – Kristin M.
I would encourage seasoned speech therapists to move forward with applying for the boot camp, as I truly feel it was one of the most rewarding and educational experiences I’ve ever taken part in. While the course requires significant effort and dedication, the long-term benefits to your professional growth and clinical skills make it a valuable and worthwhile investment. – Kim G.
Boot Camp is a wonderful and unique opportunity to learn directly from some of the most talented SLPs in the field. It comes with a lot of work (before, during, and after the actual training), however, the guidance and knowledge that you’ll receive is worth it if CAS is something you are truly passionate about. You’ll leave feeling more confident in assessing and treating CAS! – Nicole W.
Do it!! Know it’s a lot of work, but you can do it and it’ll all be worth it. Lean on the support of your small group and cohort. The amount of knowledge and expertise you’ll gain is priceless. Boot Camp was by far the most beneficial experience of my career post graduate school. – Lauren H.
Go for it! This was the best learning experience I have had since graduate school, and you won’t regret it. Although the training is intense and requires a lot of work, the knowledge, skill, and confidence you gain from this training are absolutely worth the effort. – Jordan B.
I have taken many courses aimed at Apraxia, but the Boot Camp exceeded my expectations. I’m going to be honest, it is hard work that requires time and organization. But it’s worth 200%. I also need to congratulate the excellent team of professionals, mentors, and Apraxia Kids for the excellent organization of everything. – Carol M.
Do it! The four (intense) days of Bootcamp helped to both affirm the areas that I already felt competent in, and show me the areas that I wanted to continue to grow in. If you are interested in advancing your skill set as a provider to this very special population, this is the training for you! – Jennifer H.
DO IT! It is very intense and a huge time commitment but in the end it is worth all the time and effort! I loved getting to know other SLPs who share a similar passion for CAS and motor speech disorders. You add so many tools to your CAS evaluation and treatment toolbox – it is SO worth it! – Angela S.
Don’t think twice – just do it! I had such an amazing bootcamp experience that I wish I could do it again. This was one of my best learning experiences post grad school – 100% value added to my clinical practice! – Heera C.
Apraxia Kids is the only source of intensive apraxia of speech education for speech-language pathologists. With your support, we can provide our one-of-a-kind training to more speech therapists across the country.
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