Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The ability to communicate is perhaps the most human of all skills and helps form our identities. Speech allows us to take our unique place in the world. Childhood apraxia of speech, one of the most severe childhood speech disorders, makes it difficult or impossible for children to plan the movements of speech structures (i.e. lips, tongue, soft palate, jaw) that make intelligible speech possible. While there is still much to understand about the causes, children who receive appropriate, early, and intensive therapy are usually able to become effective verbal communicators. Children who do not receive proper therapy are at risk to never develop understandable speech which can have long term effects on other aspects of childhood development.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
National Conference
Each year, APRAXIA KIDS holds a unique educational and support-building experience for professionals and parents through its 3-day National Conference. What makes this conference stand out is the almost even mix of Speech-Language Pathologists and parents/family members of children with apraxia who attend. As they sit side-by-side to attend the many diverse presentations that are offered, an appreciation of what each participant brings to the journey emerges. Participants have stated that this experience has been “life-changing.”
Webinars
Apraxia Kids facilitates 8-10 new webinars each year for professionals and parents. The on-demand webinars provide parents and professionals with a variety of options that range from childhood apraxia of speech-specific topics to related critical issues such as bullying and academic challenges.
Our membership platform provides over 60 evidence-based webinars on childhood apraxia of speech and related issues for one year for a relatively low cost.
Advanced Trainings
Few opportunities exist in the Speech-Language Pathology field to have an intensive learning experience such as that offered by APRAXIA KIDS through its 4-day Intensive Training Institute, known to most as “Apraxia Boot Camp.” Participants come from across the country and into Canada for this experience of a lifetime to absorb as much as they can about evaluating and treating this complex motor speech disorder. Literally immersed in childhood apraxia of speech learning day and night, the graduates leave with an amazing level of advanced learning, potential lifelong friendships, and the ability to connect with their Boot Camp mentor as a support for their future work.
Professional Directory
APRAXIA KIDS has recently developed and currently maintains a 700 member professional directory that parents can easily access through the apraxia-kids.org website. Parents now have the ability to readily find a speech-pathologist with at least foundational knowledge and experience in evaluating and treating childhood apraxia, as close to home as possible.
Research Grants
Each year, APRAXIA KIDS grants funding to researchers who submit proposals for treatment research pilot studies. These studies over the years have proven to be invaluable to the apraxia community in driving therapy decision-making. They also provide a foundation for further critical research that is desperately needed.
Professional Advisory Council
APRAXIA KIDS is fortunate to have the expertise and support of a 24 member Professional Advisory Council. The esteemed members of the council advise on such matters as program development, research grant awards, conference speakers, and advanced training participant selection.
Presentations
• Through the Speech-Language Pathologist on the APRAXIA KIDS staff, APRAXIA KIDS supports half and full-day presentations on various topics related to childhood apraxia of speech to private agencies, school districts, and universities. Audiences range from the 20’s to the 100’s as therapists reach out constantly for more and more information on this challenging speech sound disorder. Local talks are also provided to Early Intervention agencies in the hopes that children with apraxia are identified sooner to get the intensive help they require.
Speech Tablet Program
Each year, Apraxia Kids awards speech tablets to children and families in need throughout the USA and Canada. The speech tablets can be used by children with apraxia for speech practice and/or as a speech generating device.
Where we work
External reviews

Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
- To provide high quality information on childhood apraxia of speech and spread awareness to families, speech and medical professionals, policy-makers, and other members of the public.
- To provide practical support to families by providing up-to-date, evidence-based information on CAS and appropriate treatment options.
- To facilitate better public policy and services for children affected by the disorder.
- To provide training and educational opportunities for families and professionals.
- To increase the level of expertise available throughout North America to diagnose and treat childhood apraxia of speech
- To encourage/fund research in childhood apraxia of speech and sponsor scientific research meetings.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Apraxia Kids accomplishes its mission through eight programs:
1. National Conference - Each year, Apraxia Kids holds a unique educational and support-building experience for professionals and parents through its 3-day National Conference. What makes this conference stand out is the almost even mix of speech-language pathologists and parents/family members of children with apraxia who attend. As they sit side-by-side to attend the many diverse presentations that are offered, an appreciation of what each participant brings to the journey emerges.
2. Webinars - Our membership platform provides over 60 evidence-based webinars on childhood apraxia of speech and related issues for one year for a relatively low cost. We facilitate 8-10 new webinars a year for professionals and parents. The on-demand webinars provide parents and professionals with a variety of options that range from childhood apraxia of speech-specific topics to related critical issues such as bullying and academic challenges.
3. Advanced Trainings - Apraxia Kids offers a 4-day Intensive Training Institute for speech-language pathologists, known to most as “Apraxia Boot Camp." Speech therapists with a high-level of apraxia knowledge and deep commitment to improving their treatment approaches come from across the country and into Canada for this experience of a lifetime to absorb as much as they can about evaluating and treating this complex motor speech disorder.
4. Speech-Language Pathologist Online Directory - Parents can find a speech pathologist with at least foundational knowledge and experience in evaluating and treating childhood apraxia of speech as close to home as possible through our SLP Directory.
5. Speech Tablet Program - Each year, Apraxia Kids provides free speech tablets to children and families in need throughout the USA and Canada.
6. Research Grants - Each year, Apraxia Kids awards grant money to researchers who submit proposals for treatment research pilot studies. These studies over the years have proven to be invaluable to the apraxia community in driving therapy decision-making. They also provide a foundation for further critical research that is desperately needed.
7. Professional Advisory Council - Apraxia Kids is fortunate to have the expertise and support of a 24 member Professional Advisory Council. The esteemed members of the council advise on such matters as program development, research grant awards, conference speakers, and advanced training participant selection.
8. Presentations - Apraxia Kids supports half and full-day presentations on various topics related to childhood apraxia of speech. Talks are provided to private agencies, school districts, and universities to spread the word about current ideas in diagnosing and treating childhood apraxia of speech.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We have been able to achieve a great deal over the years due to the increasing commitment of parents, families, professionals and researchers. Our organization has planned well for long-term sustainability through close guidance of a committed board of directors and advisors.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
-Apraxia Kids has hosted two Childhood Apraxia of Speech Research Symposiums, bringing together the world's most dedicated speech-language practitioners with knowledge on CAS.
- Apraxia Kids began an annual Apraxia Awareness Day (May 14) which grew into Apraxia Awareness Month in 2018. We help supporters from across the world to educate their schools and communities about CAS.
- Our Walk for Apraxia program has grown consistently since it began in 2007. In 2018, 70 communities participated in the Walk for Apraxia raising significant funding and awareness for the apraxia cause.
- Each year we educate over 2,000 people through our one-day workshops, online and on-demand webinars, and our annual National Conference on Childhood Apraxia of Speech.
- We provide direct support to children through the Speech Tablets for Apraxia program which has provided speech tablets and protective cases to children and through our small speech therapy grants program (administered by a partner) which has helped decrease the financial burden for families of low to moderate income.
- Apraxia Kids has been funding research grants to advance the science of childhood apraxia of speech. The program's success can be seen by a dozen new research journal articles published in the last several years from our grantees.
- Apraxia Kids serves as a trusted information clearinghouse for over 2 million worldwide visitors annually to our acclaimed Apraxia-KIDS.org website.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Apraxia Kids
Board of directorsas of 10/17/2022
Louis LaVecchia
All Seasons Landscaping
Term: 2022 - 2023
Jeff Mill
Sarah White
Stephanie Fera
Gary Fernando, MD
Lou LaVecchia
Jeffrey Mills
Alyson Taylor
Claudio Capone
Mark Conroe
Amber Pinskey
Edwin Maas, PhD
Matthew Stevens
Mary Sturm, MD
Jonathan Spiegel
George Lin
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? No -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data