SLP Mommy of Apraxia

Tag: learning disabilities

  • College admission scandal’s overt ableism

    College admission scandal’s overt ableism

    Like many people, I read the breaking college admission scandal with interest.

    I wasn’t too surprised that wealthy people used their money to get ahead.  Is classism really a surprise at this point to anyone?

    What did surprise me was that Singer’s company falsely claimed that many students had learning disabilities to get special accommodations such as extended time and individualized settings.

    I’m not usually one to point out ableism, mostly because a lot of people are just plain ignorant of how their actions and attitudes are ableist.  However, it is disgusting that anyone would falsely claim a learning disability as a non disabled person.

    My daughter has invisible learning disabilities and these accommodations are in place to help level the playing field.  They are NOT in place to give perfectly non-disabled people a step up.  If I hadn’t read it for myself I’m not sure I would believe it.  Who is that low?  Would these same people feign paralyzation and ride around in a wheelchair too to get some advantage?  Do they have no shame? My daughter works about 1000x harder than the average student just to be able to learn and she achieves small successes only due to these accommodations. To know a student who has no learning disabilities faked one makes me sick.  It makes me more angry than had I known they just cheated.  It’s more disgusting than pretending you were an athlete that you really weren’t (which many did as well).

    The Reason?

    This is the most blatant form of ableist behavior and shows the overt disrespect and obvious discrimination against those who struggle with actual learning disabilities.

    Individuals who already put in extraordinary more effort and time just to be on the same playing field as non-disabled peers.

    If anything though, it strengthens my resolve to keep fighting for disability rights not only for my daughter but for all those with invisible disabilities.  It strengthens my resolve to keep spreading awareness.  To keep advocating.  To keep raising my voice for those who can’t because their voices matter too

  • Growing up with Apaxia: A hidden card up his sleeve

    Growing up with Apaxia: A hidden card up his sleeve

    Hi Mark!  I’m so excited to have you as part of my Growing up CAS series! You recently just completed your first year of college correct?

    No it was my first semester of college.

    Congratulations!  I hope you know by you sharing your story and experience you give other parents out there so much hope!  You are an inspiration and someone for our kids to look up to! 

    Can we start with you telling us a little bit about yourself?  

    I’m Mark Lippert and I’m 19 years old. I live in Saint Paul Minnesota with my Mom, Dad and my sister. When I was diagnosed with apraxia I was 2 ½ years old.

    What are your childhood memories of having apraxia and going to therapy?

    My early memory of being in speech therapy is that I needed my mom and sister to be in the speech therapy room with me or I would not work.  As a reward for me after speech therapy my mom would take me and my sister out for ice cream by my speech therapy center.  It was 40 minutes away from my house and my sister had to sit with me in many speech therapy sessions, so that is why she got ice cream too!  At the end of each summer speech therapy, my mom would take me and my sister to “Chuck e Cheese” which had 2 floors.  

    Did you have any additional academic struggles or co-morbidities?

    Yes i had a lot of struggles with school over the years. I had a IEP since I started school K-12. I got diagnosed with a learning disability when I was in 2nd grade.

    How has apraxia affected your life, or has it?  Do you have any residual issues?

    Apraxia has affected me and my whole life in good and bad ways.  My speech can be an issue but I  do not let it define my life.  For example, I might not be understood the first time when I’m talking to someone. But I do not let it interfere in the conversation with someone.  Apraxia has shaped me into who I have become and if I did not have Apraxia my whole world would change. I bet I would not have the same work ethic and motivation that I have. I have gotten so many compliments by teachers on work ethic and motivation that I show in my life.

    Work ethic is a huge key to success!  Speaking of school, what was your school experience like?

    My school experience has been mostly good where teachers would support me and what I had on my IEP where I might not have been as good as other students but they would always understand. For all of my school career I have been that type of student in the Special education program were the student would be flip flopped being in a regular classroom and being in every kind of special education classroom. My case managers over the years have been ok at best.  In high school I was  put in special education classrooms where it did not fit my educational needs in that it was really too easy for me. In total over having case managers excusing elementary school, I have had four with the the most being in high school. Overall my school experience has been good when my supports fall into place.

    What do you want people to know about you and others living with CAS?

    Trust your child’s class performance over IEP Re-evaluation testing.

                                IN SOME CASES     

    That apraxia kids can understand everything that you say. I think that apraxia kids’ brains can process at the same or a little faster as anyone can.

    What advice do you have for those growing up and/or living with CAS?

    Just keep fighting! I know that you might not want to go to speech therapy because you know that you can’t say the  word you have been trying to say as clearly as possible.  You might not say it that time but you are going to say it in the long run. When i was younger I hated when people said that I was going to speech therapy. I would tell them to just call it “Speech.”

    Most parents are so worried about the future when their child gets an apraxia diagnosis.  What would you tell them?

    Like my mom says “ there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.”

    Do not set any expectations for their education career and their life.  They might surpass them all like I did! My parents did not think I could ever be in college. They thought at the best I would go to a Trade school. Do not ever let the internet shape a picture of your child’s life going forward, because your child might have a card up their sleeve that they might not show you at their start of life, but at the end they are going to show you everyday!

    That gave me chills Mark!  You are helping to change the stigma around apraxia and special education!  I can’t wait to see what you do moving forward!  You definitely had a few cards up your sleeve and I’m sure your parents couldn’t be prouder!

    Growing up with apraixa 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