So, I went back to work this past month. As I was going through my new caseload and reviewing files, I came across a boy I’ll call Ben. Ben was a nonverbal Kindergarten student in the Spanish classroom with above average intelligence. Ben had suspected Childhood Apraxia of Speech. The SLP who was substituting for me, wrote me an email saying, “he has no motivation or desire to communicate right
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie is a knockoff from the classic children’s song, “I know an old lady who swallowed a fly.” This is a great repetitive book I use with the kids to get ready for Thanksgiving. The book chronicles a lady who goes through and eats certain Thanksgiving items. In therapy, I have cutouts of all the various items that the kids hold. When
I have been antsy since the poor and disappointing experience I had in the school district. Poor Ashlynn has once again been subjected to constant therapy all day long. In addition, I couldn’t stop thinking that I still have a month until she starts school and therapy, and then it might be another month or more after that to “give the therapist a chance.” We could potentially be losing two
So yesterday we had Ashlynn’s initial eligibility meeting. I am so used to be the one running the meeting and telling parents the results of testing, that it was a little surreal to be on the other side of the table. I have to say that the entire process was underwhelming and I left less than impressed. You would think that knowing I am an SLP for a neighboring school
Looking back, there were SO many signs that told me Ashlynn had apraxia. Before she even spoke, there were things she couldn’t do that I knew wasn’t normal. However, my family, my husband’s family, and even my husband told me she would do it on her own time, or all kids develop differently, or to stop being so critical of her. Despite my training and perhaps wanting to believe them,
I’ve decided I have to turn this unique situation as an SLP and a mother to a child with apraxia into a positive experience. I can’t keep sitting around feeling depressed and worried. I”m a believer in signs from God, and I believe this a big one that has the potential to positively impact others’ lives. I’ve decided to make videos of Ashlynn for two purposes: one is for me