Apraxia Awareness Day Proclaimed In West Haven

WEST HAVEN, CT — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, left, presents a proclamation to Forest Elementary School fourth grader Nicholas Gorske declaring Apraxia Awareness Day in West Haven on Thursday.

Shown with them are, from left, Nicholas’ mother, Anna Gorske; his sister, Aryanna Gorske, 16; and Forest paraprofessional Cynthia Russello, speech pathologist Jennifer Sandberg and Principal Thomas J. Hunt.

Nicholas, 10, has childhood apraxia of speech, or CAS, a motor speech disorder that makes it difficult for children to speak.

To raise awareness of CAS for the sixth straight year, Nicholas recently emailed Rossi about declaring the special day in West Haven.

Rossi, an ardent supporter of CAS awareness, said, “Public awareness of CAS in the city of West Haven is essential for families of children with apraxia and the professionals who support them to best advocate for needed services for children learning to use their own voice.”

National Apraxia Awareness Day is May 14.