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Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), sometimes called verbal dyspraxia, is a neurological motor processing speech disorder in which the brain has trouble getting the tongue, lips, and jaw to move correctly for speaking. Not everyone is aware of this speech disorder. As parents come into the school year with a child who has a new or recent diagnosis, they may be terrified and overwhelmed sending their child to public school knowing they struggle to communicate. As principals and school administrators, it is important to have a brief understanding of CAS and how you can support these students and advise their teachers.

The walkie crackled, “Sky’s mother is in the office.” I pushed the button, “Copy. I’ll be right down.” I signaled to the teacher I would be back. She continued to watch Sky as he was starting to right the chairs he had thrown. As I walked, I repeated my mantra for hard family meetings: “be credible, be a partner, show love.”

Elementary School was extremely challenging for me. I was a square peg trying to fit into a round hole and it wasn’t working. When I think about those early years, I felt tremendous embarrassment that I would be “found out.” I struggled in all basic education skills. I couldn’t read or spell basic words, math was impossible and don’t get me started on science. I was a latchkey kid from a broken home in a small rural town. I was different, and I felt it.

When someone holds onto their hopes and dreams, they possess powerful encouragement that can help them overcome any obstacle in their way. Having a clear vision of what they want to achieve can provide a person with a sense of purpose to fuel determination and inspire perseverance. George Washington Carver once said, “Where there is no vision, there is no hope.” This highlights the importance of having a clear goal or dream, as it can provide a person with direction and motivation to push through tough obstacles. With hopes and dreams, individuals can transform their lives and reach the unreachable heights they may have once thought impossible. This is a story of a girl who had such dreams.

From Dan, Samuel and the team at Disability Roadmap Project: When 51������ came on board as a funding partner for the Disability Roadmap Project, you helped spark the beginning of what has turned into an astounding journey of visibility and impact. Thanks to your early support, the short My Disability Roadmap film has reached millions through the 2022 New York Times publication. We are deepening the film’s themes through “Our Disability Roadmap,” a free, yearlong series of educational webinars featuring Samuel’s extended conversations with his mentors about transitioning to adulthood. The film has been nominated for a Critics Choice Award, named one of the best short films of the year by Hollywood Reporter, and is currently eligible for Oscars consideration!