| My grandson (in the following article) with Apraxia makes my MS and RA problems seem minor. He has come so far in 3 years with therapy and the support of his parents, Jen and Chris and sister Ela-his protector. He is a superhero. But then all my grandchildren are that to me. Each has their own individual place. Ela is the 'boss' and is smart intellectually and emotionally beyond her 8 years. She started "this is the rule" in our family at the age of two. And she is a beauty full of questions and Answers. She likes order. Her current Girl Scout cookie sales are near the group goals. Aleks is artistic and creative. He has his own imaginary business, ATO, and has recently hired me as a worker and his mom is a guard. When he says "unbreakable", I marvel that he has learned to say so many understandable syllables. The word just rolled off his tongue. Ricky is growing tall and loves to jump towards the ceiling to show his growth. He jumps around the furniture with the agility and grace of a jaguar or whichever animal he imitates at the moment. I think he will be an athlete like his dad. He has a wry sense of humor and loves to play tricks. Riley has an open humor and an " in the moment" temper. Don't cross him. Gary calls him tugboat-for his strength and determination. He also likes to draw and understands my abstract pictures as does Aleks. Ela likes my drawings of "real stuff". Riley is now 2 1/5 and has known numbers for a year. He a fast learner. Vera Mazie is the 8 month old baby of the family. She is my last hope for a redhead and it doesn't look good. She has those same dark eyes as Jen and Ela and Tori. Tried to say pretty yesterday. She is a happy baby. I am thankful to have these children to love and care for. Zumbathon aids kids with speech disorder |  |  |  |
| Written by KAREN NADLER COTA Sentinel Lifestyles Editor | ||
| Friday, 17 January 2014 10:14 | ||
So is Aleks Ostrowski, a member of the kindergarten class at St. Aloysius School. Like the other children in their classrooms, Aleks and Eli are learning to read simple words, add simple sums and "work and play well with others." But 6-year-old Eli and Aleks have a special challenge to overcome. Each has a condition called Apraxia of Speech, described by medical professionals as a very challenging and complicated, but little-known, neurological speech disorder. "The kids know what they want to say, but they can't make the mouth form the words," explained Eli's mom, Beth McIntosh, current president of an organization called Northwest Ohio Apraxia Support. "I was one of the parents that started the organization two years ago." The group is now inviting the public to Shake It for a good cause at the Northwest Ohio Apraxia Support Zumbathon, slated for Jan. 31 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Perry Field House on the campus of Bowling Green State University. The event will feature multiple Zumba® sessions taught by instructors from all over northwest Ohio. Light refreshments will be served. Participants may arrive any time during the event and dance as little or as much as they'd like. Registration is $15 for the dance only or $25 for dance and T-shirt. All proceeds will benefit NWO Apraxia Support and be utilized to help those impacted by Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) in northwest Ohio. Because CAS makes it difficult or impossible for children to accurately produce sounds, syllables or words despite having a good understanding of language, "it requires frequent and intensive therapy," much of which is not covered by insurance. "Therapy is key," said McIntosh, "because it's a motor planning disorder." Many, if not most, of the children with apraxia also have co-occurring disorders, such as cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, autism, or anxiety disorder. "It looks very different in different children," McIntosh explained. In Eli's case, his CAS episodes are tied to epilepsy-related seizures. NWO Apraxia Support is a regional non-profit, charitable organization which supports the area families impacted by CAS, and works to raise public awareness. The organization also provides grants to fund supplemental therapies, treatments, activities, or equipment to enhance the lives of individual children with the condition. "I'm so excited that in the past year we've helped 65 therapists, teachers and individual children to get services or equipment not covered by insurance." Grant money has gone to each of the elementary buildings in Bowling Green, Toth Elementary in Perrysburg, the Dusty Boots program in Grand Rapids, Wood County Hospital Rehabilitation, the Wood County Public Library Foundation, Elmwood special education classes, and the Perrysburg-ESC Preschool, among others. Individual children in Bowling Green, Tontogany and Perrysburg have also been helped. Those interested in taking part in the Jan. 31 Zumbathon may register at http://www.firstgiving.com/NWOAS/nwo-apraxia-support-zumbathon or download a paper form at http://www.nwoapraxiasupport.org/ and mail to P.O. Box 800, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402. Contact McIntosh directly at NWOApraxia@gmail.com or by calling 419-494-9352. |
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