It’s all about the ripples: The 7th Annual Apraxia Awareness Day
Seven years ago I was reeling from my daughter’s new diagnosis of Childhood Apraxia of Speech.
I was a member of the Apraxia Kids facebook group online one day in 2013 and a movement had taken place. This was going to the be the first year an Apraxia Awareness Day was officially recognized on May 14th! This day is also in the same month as the American Speech Language Hearing Association‘s campaign for the month of May being Better Hearing and Speech Month.
My daughter Ashlynn was diagnosed with apraxia in September of 2012, and I had been living in a place of fear, panic, and worry ever since. Having an event like the first ever Apraxia Awareness Day materialize almost 8 months later seemed like a blessing. It pulled me out of the sorrow in which I had been living and energized me. People were making these social media posters that described their child aside from their apraxia and it was inspiring. I wrote my post that night with the poster I had made for her.
It’s poorly done, and hard to read…but to me, this meant EVERYTHING. It says
This is the face of APRAXIA, but apraxia does not define her. She is a smart, beautiful, loving, playful, kind, sweet, fun, joyful, Daughter and BEST Big Sister.
Numerous others made a similar poster. The day was so inspiring and empowering, it lifted me out of the fog.
In 2014, the second annual Apraxia Day was celebrated, and I made another poster of my sweet daughter.
This one was clearer. You could read it. I made it and printed it out for her class to take home. Five years ago, I realized Ashlynn was my hero and I knew she was going to be a hero to so many others.
Last year, in 2018, I experienced a jaw dropping moment giving a talk to her second grade class.
On this day, I was an SLP at her school and the only other kid with apraxia in the building was a twice exceptional student with apraxia in 5th grade. All together we created a presentation in which the 5th grade boy was adamant we make it clear you can’t catch it like a cold. I thought it was rather silly until almost all the kids raised their hands when he asked Ashlynn’s second grade class who there thought they could catch it like cold. I was in shock. It was eye opening for sure and reminded me why I need to continue to spread awareness!
Fast forward to 2019.
My daughter Ashlynn beat apraxia. I wish that was all she had to beat. She went on to get a diagnosis of dysarthria, cerebral palsy, dyslexia, and then an umbrella genetic mutation diagnosis of BCL11A that is the explanation for all of her disabilities including apraxia. Despite this though, she just tested ON GRADE LEVEL for reading now as a third grader after making almost 2 years worth of growth in ONE year. She beat apraxia, and I know she will continue to beat everything else that is thrown at her. With apraxia in our past, it’s a wonder why I haven’t moved on. After all, I could be the: dypraxia advocate, dyslexia advocate, ADHD advocate, SPD advocate, dysarthria advocate, language disorder advocate, or rare genetic chromosome disorder advocate. Why do I still remain and apraxia advocate?
The answer is simple. I was graced with “ripples.” If you are wondering what ripples means, it refers to the actions of ONE or TWO people that changed the trajectory of MY life. Those people were the founder of Apraxia Kids Sharon Gretz, and international apraxia expert Ruth Stoeckel.
This year, the seventh annual year, Apraxia Awareness Day continues to inspire me!
A phrase caught on called “It’s all about the ripples” and shows little sign of stopping. Many times, when you are on the front line of apraxia awareness you feel like you are spinning your wheels. An apraxia mama I know called it “feeling like Nemo in the Pacific Ocean.” However, that same mom, who is from California, managed to get Apraxia Awareness Day officially recognized by the state of California, something that has not been done in the SEVEN years apraxia awareness day has been officially recognized!!! That Nemo from Cali proves that ONE person’s “ripple” can make a state wide, SIGNIFICANT impact.
Another young woman Reagan Crabtree with apraxia from Iowa is great at social media and has a lot of anchors and journalists on her feed. She has been interviewed multiple times in the news and even appeared in the Rose Bowl. She told me connections mean something, and boy she is right! Her “ripple” reaches the news media and that is a HUGE ripple from ONE girl with apraxia.
I could go on with story after story, but as I look on my social media feed I see a movement growing bigger than before. The ripples are growing further! So many more people are spreading apraxia awareness and because of that more kids are going to get the help they need! I feel the movement! I feel the revival!
May 14th, Apraxia Awareness Day, is about the RIPPLES!!!
Though it can seem we alone cannot possibly change anything, together we have the ability to change the world! Even the smallest stone thrown into the pond can create a ripple, but when those rocks are multiplied, the impact is immeasurable!
Join us!!! Create a ripple that will create a wave!!
Post about Apraxia and Apraxia Awareness tomorrow! Hashtag it #apraxia and #apraxiaawareness and #apraxiaawereness day. Even if you feel like you only educated ONE more person…pat yourself on the back and realize you created a ripple!
