Growing up with CAS: Never stop dreaming
This month I’m excited to introduce Alyson Taylor! I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Alyson and her mother speak at the Apraxia-Kids National Conference; as well as speaking to her personally on a few occasions. Alyson is smart, witty, funny and has a great outlook on life! Oh, and she also grew up with Childhood Apraxia of Speech! Welcome Aly!
Can you tell my readers a little bit more about yourself?
Hello! My name is Alyson Taylor and I am a former child with Apraxia of Speech. It was definitely a long journey-I didn’t fully communicate until I was 7 years old, early special education courses, and 13+ years of speech therapy. Fortunately, the journey itself gave me the strength and wisdom to find success as a young adult.
With hard work and finding comfort in my speech, today I speak with what sounds like an accent. Despite this I attended and graduated from Emory University with my BA in Political Science and Spanish. I work now as a Paralegal at Thinkwell Group, an Experience Design Company known for their Theme Parks. I also volunteer and advocate for the Apraxia Cause; I’m on the Board of Directors for Apraxia Kids and also maintain my own blog “Girl With A Funny Accent.”
My family and I understand how difficult the Apraxia Journey was with limited resources in the nineties, so today it’s exciting to contribute these resources for the next generation.
What do you remember as a child about CAS and speech therapy?
As a child, I actually didn’t know about CAS. Frankly, I thought I was speaking normally and everyone else had poor hearing. It wasn’t until I was about 9 that I even became aware of Apraxia and that I spoke ‘differently’ than others.
As far as Speech Therapy, I enjoyed it when I was younger. The time passed quickly between games and toys. Also, my Speech Therapy was rather experimental. I was a Case Study at a local university studying Apraxia and how to treat it, so some of the practices were unique. One of them being peanut butter on the roof of my mouth to direct my tongue on how to say ‘R.’
Sadly, I grew to resent Speech Therapy around the teen years. Understandably so, I was doing well in my courses, transitioning into higher Honors classes, and playing Varsity sports. Speech Therapy took time away from my personal interests and goals as a teenager, so I quit attending at 15/16 years old. Best and scariest decision I ever made; choosing to live the rest of my life with a Speech Impairment in turn for my personal goals-college, career, and advocacy.
Were you ever bullied?
Um, yes!
Some bullies were worse than others I’ll admit. I knew to ignore them, stay silent, and avoid them. However, there were some bullies that my friends and family helped me with. Thank goodness, right?
Overall, I’m thankful I had engaged parents and friends that knew when to get involved and help me. I was definitely more patient with bullies than I should have been. Some of my most notable bullies were those following me around the playground, demanding I said ‘Rose’ or ‘Rabbit,’ then laughing when I did or calling me stupid for not responding at all. The other most notable bully was one that threw a snow cone at me during a Cheerleading Fundraiser and suggested that “The Retard to go back to speech.”
Thankfully that bully didn’t stain the Cheerleading Uniform. Both instances, my parents and my friends were always there to have my back, call the bullies out, and life went on. [On a side note, the snow cone Bully never bothered me again, my Dad had a one-on-one chat.]
How has apraxia affected your life, or has it? Do you have any residual issues?
For one, I still have an accent that I constantly need to explain. This past weekend at a Happy Hour I explained to two bartenders what Apraxia is. Anyone else after who asked, I lied and said I was from London. It tries my patience sometimes, I want to enjoy my night out like anyone else without constantly explaining why I speak the way I do. I know those asking don’t know better, but it does try my friends’ and my own patience sometimes.
Aside from my personal life, it hasn’t affected my professional life and I’ve been fortunate enough that no one has asked about it during an interview. Additionally, Apraxia gave me the tools I need for success-being resourceful, adaptable, and always working hard to figure it out. These skills help in any field and I truly believe it helped me get to where I am at now.
Most parents are so worried about the future when their child gets an apraxia diagnosis. What would you tell them?
All parents worry about their child and their future-Apraxia or not. Sadly though, Apraxia is an immediate threat to their child’s potential. With it, parents lose hope and quit dreaming for their child to achieve those grandiose goals-like becoming a doctor, a lawyer, a firefighter, etc. They begin to settle for the bare minimum-for them to talk.
My advice would be to never quit dreaming, to never quit being hopeful for your child. If you’re not hopeful for them, then who else will be?
What do you wish more people knew about apraxia?
In the very beginning of the Apraxia Journey, many adults say that their child isn’t speaking. To a certain extent that’s true; however, in a child’s perspective they are in fact communicating. In their heads, they are saying the words correctly yet everyone else cannot understand them. The purpose of speech therapy isn’t only to help the child speak, it’s retraining their mind as to what is considered communication and what is actual gibberish. I wish more people knew that treating Apraxia isn’t only physical practice through therapy, but it’s also mental training. You are changing what a child’s brain determines as the ‘right’ way and the ‘wrong’ way.
What would you tell a child who is currently struggling to speak or who lives with a dx of CAS?
- Find your strengths and interests; cling onto those and appreciate them. We easily know our weaknesses (everyone seems to tell us), but our strengths are what carries us.
- Live as if you had nothing to fear or be embarrassed about. (Yes, this means speak up in class when you know the right answer)
- Find your friends, stay with your friends, and thank your friends.
What do you think professionals such as teachers and therapists need to know about CAS?
Professionals should understand that CAS hinders a child’s execution and delivery, but it does not hinder their intent. A child wants to succeed and be rewarded for their hard work
Professionals should never confuse lack of delivery for lack of intent. A professional should never claim that a child will never succeed or be rewarded. In either incident, the professional is contributing to a child’s downfall more so than equipping them for success.
Growing up CAS is part of an ongoing series that aims to celebrate neurodiversity and highlight those who have grown up with Childhood Apraxia of Speech and related struggles. If you are interested in being featured, send an email to lauraslpmommy@gmail.com