It’s been over eleven years identifying as a parent to a child diagnosed with childhood apraxia of speech. I’ll never forget that fateful day. I missed her apraxia as an infant, despite being a speech/language pathologist before she was born. I knew she was delayed. Oh yes, I was keenly aware of it. Every well-check visit the list of milestones she was meeting grew shorter and shorter. I worked with
When Ashlynn (my daughter with Logan Dias Syndrome that caused a host of disabilities) was younger, I’m not sure I ever pictured her riding an ATV. However, I remember excitedly buying her a power wheel for Christmas. She had just turned three. I had visions of her riding it up and down the sidewalk! I couldn’t wait for her to receive it! I remember taking this perfect photo and couldn’t
I never knew before I had a child with an IEP (individualized education plan), how awful these meetings can be for parents.
I have faith though that this next decade will be one of overcoming! I know ten years from now I’m going to be writing another success and triumph story, much like I did in the book I published this year called “Overcoming Apraxia.” I also want this next decade to be one of exponential growth in apraxia awareness and information so all children have the access to the best therapy.
Please, if you are a therapist reading this please have compassion and understanding for the parents. We are fighting daily battles and crying tears no one ever sees. Please be kind and attempt to be understanding. Please.
This is how inclusion is supposed to look. Every human whether they have differences or not all want the same thing. They want to feel useful, included, and loved. Her smile says it all.