CASANA was founded in 2000 to address the need to have a national voice for children with apraxia of speech and their families. Our mission is to improve the systems of support in the lives of children with apraxia so that each child is afforded their best opportunity to develop speech. We do this through dissemination of information, support to families and professionals, educational programs, awareness activities and research support.

Health , Pediatrics

We have developed Apraxia-Kids Internet Resources, http://www.apraxia-kids.org, the most comprehensive website on childhood apraxia of speech; engage thousands via internet discussion groups, messageboards, and newsletters. Our resources include several for Spanish-speaking families. We produced and distribute the first video on Childhood Apraxia of Speech, especially designed for family members. We cosponsored the first Childhood Apraxia of Speech Research Symposium in order to arrive at a research direction to unravel the mystery surrounding apraxia and its causes. We sponsor or cosponsor numerous educational conferences, including the first national conference for families in 2004 which had over 425 parents attending and offer guidance to support group leaders. In 2006, CASANA initiated The Apraxia Treatment Research Fund. Guidelines are being developed for our research program, with the assistance of a prominent national professional advisory board.