CHICAGO, Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ --Seven-year-old Carlos Cornejo, a child with apraxia in Chicago, IL, was one of 40 children selected nationwide to receive an iPad through the Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America's (CASANA) iPads for Apraxia Pilot Project, a program developed to investigate the uses of iPad applications for a population of children with a primary diagnosis of apraxia of speech.

"I found out about the iPad Pilot Program through a posting on CASANA's Facebook page," said Maria Cornejo, mother of Carlos.  "Knowing that Carlos was a visual learner, I knew that having an iPad would benefit him greatly, so we sent in the application and crossed our fingers."

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a very challenging and complicated motor speech disorder in children, making it difficult or impossible for children to accurately produce sounds, syllables, and/or words despite having a good understanding of language. The iPads for Apraxia Pilot Project, funded by CASANA and the Silent Stars Foundation, has given 40 affected children the opportunity to use an iPad for speech practice, augmentative communication, and education purposes. In addition to receiving the iPad, each child was also given a protective case; a two-year protection plan; and one or more apps for speech or communication purposes.   Families also received consultation on iPad use and best practices from speech-language pathologist and app developer Lynn Carahaly, M.A., CCC-SLP.

As a result of the Silent Stars Foundation's generous contribution to program funding, Carlos was one of eight qualified children selected from Illinois.  Founder of the Silent Stars Foundation, Marjorie Beto, saw the difference an iPad made in school for her own daughter, Rebecca Beto, who was diagnosed with severe apraxia in 2008.  Her belief in the iPad encouraged her to raise funds through her annual fundraiser, "Strike Out Silence" Bowl-A-Thon, to help give other kids a voice through the iPad. Beto started this annual fundraiser two years ago as a means to help raise funds for apraxia research and to help provide Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices for children who cannot afford one. 

"After learning about CASANA's iPads for Apraxia Pilot Project, I decided I wanted to be a small piece of that puzzle.  It feels so wonderful to be able to help other children like my daughter and to be a part of this wonderful program," said Beto.

Beto's contribution would be more than a "small piece of the puzzle" for children like Carlos, who was diagnosed with apraxia at the age of four years, and his parents. When they received their notification letter in the mail, both fear and excitement set in for Mrs. Cornejo. This letter would soon become a moment she would never forget.

"I thought, it's either a 'thank you for applying' letter or a 'congratulations' letter," said Mrs. Cornejo.  "So I opened it and saw we had gotten it. WOW! My first reaction was to cry. My second reaction was to call Ms.Creswell (Carlos' teacher)."

Ms. Creswell first learned about CAS when Mrs. Cornejo informed her of the speech services Carlos received.  He has been in her class since kindergarten and describes him as having several friends in his general and special education classes.

Already, the Cornejos and Ms. Creswell are seeing a difference in Carlos from using the iPad. He is beginning to pronounce some sounds more clearly, speaking more during school, and has even been caught singing songs he learned from music class. 

"Now he seems to be more confident in trying to say words and telling us things," said Mrs. Cornejo. "He even started to sing songs, whereas before he would mostly 'hum' the song."

"Carlos has always been a visual learner," said Mrs. Cornejo. "I am so thankful for CASANA and the Silent Stars Foundation for existing.  Without them, a lot of us would feel what I felt at the beginning of this journey, like I was the only mom with a child with apraxia."

The iPads for Apraxia Pilot Project required that families or caregivers and speech-language pathologists of selected children complete pre and post surveys which will examine changes and quality of life issues.  CASANA will evaluate the outcomes of the project to determine whether to continue the program for additional children in the future. Funding for programs such as this one is made possible through private donations and special events like the Walk for Children with Apraxia of Speech held all over North America. To support future funding needed to continue this program, visit Silent Stars Foundation at http://www.silentstars.org/donate.html

About CASANA

The Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America (CASANA) is the only national non-profit public charity exclusively dedicated to the needs and interests of children with apraxia of speech and their families. CASANA, founded in 2000, strives 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 and to achieve to their potential. CASANA works toward this mission through promoting national awareness of childhood apraxia of speech; providing high quality information and support to families and professionals; conducting multiple educational workshops, webinars, and conferences each year; and supporting as well as funding research. For more information on CASANA and Childhood Apraxia of Speech, visit the Apraxia-KIDS website at http://www.apraxia-kids.org.

About Silent Stars Foundation

The Silent Stars Foundation, based in Glenview, IL, has a mission to raise awareness of Childhood Apraxia of Speech, to raise funds for apraxia research, and to help provide Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices for children who cannot afford one. The Third Annual "Strike Out Silence" Bowl-A-Thon, which contributed to the iPads for Apraxia Pilot Project, will be held on May 6, 2012 from 3 PM to 6 PM at Pinstripes in Northbrook, IL. To donate and/or buy tickets, please visit http://www.silentstars.org/bowlathon.html.

Media Contact: Marjorie Beto Silent Stars Foundation, 8476446591, silentstars@comcast.net

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SOURCE Silent Stars Foundation

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