A Journey of Hope: One Voice Arkansas Meets the GOAT of Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) Therapy

Every sound matters. Every attempt counts. With expert guidance and compassionate support, children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech can find their path to communication—one meaningful movement at a time.

Today marks an unforgettable chapter in our journey with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). My family, alongside our incredible speech therapist, boarded a plane to Michigan to spend a few transformative days at the Kaufman Children's Center in Michigan. This center, is led by the renowned Nancy Kaufman, a name every CAS parent knows and reveres. Some call her the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of speech-language pathology when it comes to childhood apraxia—and for good reason.

Why Nancy Kaufman?

From the moment we received Rowen’s diagnosis, I knew I’d do whatever it took to give her the best chance to find her voice. CAS isn’t just a delay—it’s a complex motor speech disorder that scrambles the brain’s signals to the muscles that produce speech. The words are there, but they struggle to make their way out.

Nancy Kaufman has dedicated her life to decoding that struggle. Her method—the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol—is one of the most trusted, evidence-based approaches in our field. Seeking her out wasn’t just a hopeful dream. It was a deliberate decision grounded in love, research, and fierce advocacy.

Partnering with Access: A School That Believes in Rowen

This journey isn’t just about one specialist—it’s about teamwork. Rowen’s school, Access, has been an extraordinary partner in her progress. Their commitment to her development goes far beyond the classroom. When we approached them about the opportunity to work with Nancy Kaufman, they didn’t hesitate. They supported us, collaborated with our speech team, and cheered Rowen on every step of the way.

Together, we’re building a treatment plan tailored specifically for her needs, using insights from one of the world’s foremost experts. That kind of collaboration—between parents, professionals, and educators—is exactly what children with apraxia need to thrive.

Community in Action: Your Voice Matters Too

This trip isn’t just about our daughter. It’s about all of us—every family navigating CAS, every therapist striving for better outcomes, every child waiting to be heard. That’s why I’m opening this moment up to you.

Stay Tuned

We’ll be sharing highlights from our trip and our visit to Michigan over the next few days. There’s so much we’re learning, experiencing, and feeling—and we want to bring you along for all of it.

Let’s keep learning. Let’s keep advocating. And most importantly—let’s keep lifting each other up.