Manhattan Proclaims Apraxia Awareness Day

MANHATTAN, IL — Two Manhattan families were very excited after the village of Manhattan made a proclamation honoring Apraxia Awareness Day earlier this month. Manhattan residents 10-year-old Amber Smith and 11-year-old Matthew Cernauskas both have childhood apraxia of speech, which causes children to have difficulty learning to speak.

According to the proclamation, without appropriate intervention, children with apraxia are at high risk for impact in literacy and other school-related skills. With early intervention and speech therapy, children with apraxia of speech will learn to communicate.

Matthew's mom, Amy, said Matthew was excited to bring more awareness to the community.

Amber's mom, Debra, said last year both kids went to each of the schools to give a speech, but this year, Amber posted a speech on social media and got over 1,000 views.

"She has come a long way from zero percent understandable to 80 percent intelligible," Debra told Patch. "She is determined to spread awareness despite the pandemic."

The village of Manhattan, as well as many other communities across the state, proclaimed May 14 as Apraxia Awareness Day.