We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with childhood apraxia of speech and other communication-related disorders. Our mission is to ensure that everyone has access to the speech services and communication devices they need to thrive.
Our mission is to support individuals with Apraxia of speech and other communication-related disorders with not only affording services for evidence-based treatment; but also spreading awareness, acceptance, and pride about their identity while giving them the tools they need to help them succeed.
At The Apraxia Foundation, we understand the financial challenges that can come with accessing these vital resources. That’s why we offer grants to help individuals afford speech services and communication devices. Our grants provide essential support to families facing the financial burden of managing these conditions.
If you or someone you know could benefit from our assistance, we encourage you to apply for a grant today. Our application process is open until April 1st, 2024. You can download the application form directly from our website and upload it to our secure portal. Simply click on “Apply For Grants Today!” to get started.
We also welcome anyone interested in supporting our cause to get involved. Whether you’re considering holding a fundraising event or making a donation, your contribution can make a significant difference in the lives of those we serve. If you’d like to learn more about fundraising opportunities or ways to support our foundation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at theapraxiafoundation@theapraxiafoundation.org.
At The Apraxia Foundation, all of our funds go directly towards our grant program, ensuring that we can continue to provide much-needed assistance to families in need. We are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of individuals with apraxia of speech and related disorders, and we are grateful for your support in achieving this mission. Together, we can help every voice be heard.
President & Founder
Jordan Christian LeVan is an apraxia, disability, and mental health advocate. He graduated in 2020 with his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, focusing on Mental Health, with his minor in General Biology, from Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. Jordan began his advocation by being the person he needed when he was younger, so he first started his advocation by beginning his blog called Fighting for my Voice: My Life with Verbal Apraxia, where he gives people an inside view of what it’s like to live with Verbal Apraxia. He is the author of the book series called Jordan’s World, a non-fiction book series about his life as a child growing up with Verbal Apraxia. In his free time, Jordan enjoys writing, spending time with friends, listening to music, and doing advocation work in numerous aspects. He is also a motivational speaker, mentor, and research collaborator. Jordan’s goal is to educate the world and spread acceptance of all differences. From previous life experiences, he wants to create a world where we all come together as one and celebrate each person’s uniqueness. He is excited to see where the organization will go and flourish to help all individuals with Apraxia and other related communication differences.
My enthusiasm for the contemporary is balanced with a deep respect of history, adding value through appropriate and sensitive design.
Vice President
Tammy LeVan, Vice President of The Apraxia Foundation, was raised in Greensboro, NC. Her dedication to Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) advocacy began when her son, Jordan LeVan—now the foundation’s founder and president—was diagnosed with CAS in 2002. From the early days of Jordan’s diagnosis, Tammy has been driven by a personal goal: to ensure that no child with CAS falls through the cracks. She understands firsthand the journey of raising a child with CAS and the vital importance of advocating for their needs. Today, Tammy is deeply committed to supporting families, parents, and caregivers, ensuring they feel empowered and supported at every step of their journey.
Professional Advisory
Laura Baskall Smith MA, CCC-SLP is a speech/language pathologist in Denver, Colorado specializing in the assessment and intervention of children with childhood apraxia of speech at her private practice A Mile High Speech Therapy. Prior to specializing in CAS, she worked for 14 years as a school based speech language pathologist. She is the mother to a child with apraxia and author of the book Overcoming Apraxia. Laura has written on CAS in numerous publications and is often asked to give lectures and workshops nationally and internationally. A self described fierce advocate, Laura spreads apraxia awareness and information on her social media handles under the name SLP Mommy of Apraxia.
Professional Advisory
Dr. Namasivayam Ph.D., SL-P(C), Reg. CASLPO is an internationally recognized expert in speech motor control and speech disorders in children, with a clinical degree in Speech-Language Pathology, and a specialization in Neuroscience at the Doctoral/Post-Doctoral level. He has published 47 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and has over 100 international conference presentations and workshops. He has led several governmental and industry-funded randomized clinical trials, resulting in policy changes at the governmental level and the
development of evidence-based care pathways for children. He has received several awards for his contributions to the field: such as the Editor’s Award from the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology (2021), Higher Education Mentoring Award from ASHA (1999), Stuttering Foundation of America (2003), Apraxia Kids (2011), the prestigious National award for Excellence in Applied Research (2016) and the Mentorship award (2018) from the Speech-Language and Audiology (SAC), Canada, the Teaching Excellence award (2018) and the
Distinguished Service Award (2019) from the University of Toronto. Dr. Namasivayam teaches speech physiology, research methods, and speech sound disorders in children at the University of Toronto. In 2018, he founded the Speech Research Centre Inc. which is a knowledge translation and implementation science group with the aim of making evidence-informed practice accessible to frontline clinicians worldwide. Dr. Namasivayam is also the co-founder of Hear2Speak.org a non-profit organization for improving speech pathology and audiology services in majority countries.
Cybersecurity
I have Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). I am from St. Paul, Minnesota. I went to speech therapy for most of my childhood in both public and private speech therapy, and I have also spoken at a couple of apraxia conferences. I have been an active member in multiple apraxia of speech support groups online. I’m entering my last semester of getting an associate degree in Cybersecurity, Forensics, and Information Assurance. I will help the Apraxia Foundation with its internal information security policies and procedures, emphasizing governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC), and increase its overall cyber security of The Apraxia Foundation.