Each June, college students and recent graduates from across the country make their way to The Parish School to gain the real-world experience they need to enter the field of their dreams – speech-language pathology.

It is so important that every member of a child’s treatment team is empowered to support their growth and has the tools to help that child succeed. The Parish School seeks to develop resources for growing the skills of our staff, families and students. The Hanen Centre©, a non-profit organization, shares this goal of helping others to help children communicate. Within the past year, Parish has implemented several programs from the Hanen organization as part of family and staff training. Here are a few of our favorite Hanen strategies parents can try during book reading with their child...

Nationally recognized expert in childhood apraxia of speech, Nancy Kaufman, has provided training and consultation services to The Carruth Center and The Parish School since 2009. She will be on campus this week, working with clinicians and their clients, and holding an adult education seminar for families of children who have CAS. Learn more about Nancy Kaufman and the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocal, the treatment methodology used by Carruth and Parish therapists.

Receiving the news that your child has childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) can be devasting, shocking and confusing. Because this speech/sound disorder is rare—occurring in 1-2 children per 1,000—many doctors, educators, professionals and even speech-language pathologists have minimal understanding of CAS, its causes, characteristics and treatment. Listed below is what YOU should know about childhood apraxia of speech.