Apraxia Awareness Day is May 14

Kawartha Lakes – May 14 is Apraxia Awareness Day, a day to raise awareness about childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) and support children and families affected by the disorder.

Childhood apraxia of speech is a serious and often misunderstood speech disorder that affects nearly one in 1,000 children. CAS makes it difficult for children to plan and coordinate the mouth movements needed for clear speech. Children with CAS usually understand language and know what they want to say, but without intensive and appropriate speech therapy, they may not learn to speak clearly.

Now in its seventh year internationally, Apraxia Awareness Day brings together children with CAS, their families, speech-language pathologists, and community members to raise awareness and advocate for better understanding and support.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to be heard and understood,” said Christine Briggs, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Awareness partner at Kawartha Lakes. “Raising awareness about childhood apraxia of speech helps build more inclusive communities where children and families feel supported.”

Everyone is encouraged to wear blue on May 14, share educational resources, and support local awareness. Raising awareness can help children receive earlier diagnosis and treatment, leading to better communication outcomes and stronger support for families.

By recognizing Apraxia Awareness Day, we can help support children with CAS and the professionals who work with them. Increased awareness also helps communities better understand one of the most severe speech disorders that affect children.

The awareness campaign is led by Apraxia Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children with apraxia of speech through education, advocacy, research, and community outreach. Since 2000, the organization has supported more than 100,000 families and professionals.

For more information about childhood apraxia of speech, visit Apraxia Kids.