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Local family advocates for kids with apraxia speech disorder
Local family advocates for kids with speech disorder
South Fayette Township officials recognize Apraxia Awareness Day
By Andrea Iglar
First-grader Delaney Vecchio, 7, was mostly nonverbal until age 4 due to a disorder called childhood apraxia of speech.
Her mother, Amber Vecchio, said the family moved to Lafayette Meadow in South Fayette Township two years ago for the resources available in the reading program at South Fayette Elementary School.
“Delaney is incredibly bright and intelligent and knew exactly what she wanted to say, but had a very difficult time getting the words out,” Vecchio said.
Over the past couple of years, Delaney has made significant progress, and the South Fayette community has embraced her differences, her mother said.
“She will continue to thrive here, and I am happy to call the area our home,” Vecchio said.
The word "apraxia" refers to a loss of the ability to perform complex muscular movements.
In March, the township Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution recognizing May 14 as Apraxia Awareness Day.
Vecchio, who proposed the proclamation, serves on the board of directors of the Pittsburgh-based nonprofit Apraxia Kids. She said the resolution helps bring awareness and attention to the neurological speech disorder.
“It’s about people being able to take an extra minute to listen to Delaney and be able to understand what she and other kids like her are trying to say,” Vecchio said.
Two videos of Delaney, the first in August 2022 and the other a year later, show her progress. In kindergarten, Delaney talks about going to a water park but is unable to avoid stuttering—a complication that is not traditionally characteristic of kids with apraxia but can occur during language development, Vecchio said.
A year later, words flow from Delaney about her community: “I like it so much."
Vecchio said her daughter's speech, literacy and ability to develop healthy relationships with peers continues to progress thanks to her educational team.
According to the resolution, childhood apraxia of speech causes children to have significant difficulty learning to speak and is among the most severe speech deficits in children.
Kids with apraxia need early, appropriate and intensive speech therapy to learn to speak.
When the township board approved the resolution, Delaney told the commissioners, “Thank you.”
