By Amanda Mlekush
IEP Advocate Jordan LeVan will appear at App State’s Beaver College of Health Sciences Levine Hall on Friday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. as part of LeVan’s tour entitled “Fighting for My Voice: The Movement.” Free registration is available through Eventbrite.
LeVan, who was diagnosed with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) at age five, says his diagnosis caused him to have to fight for–and find his–voice. Through his journey, he became committed to becoming an advocate to help others who have CAS and other speech disorders and to find ways to offer support for individuals who have disabilities.
His visit to App State Boone is sponsored by the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (RHS), which offers a bachelor of science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology.
RHS faculty member and Speech-Language Pathologist Dr. Jennifer Dalton has researched childhood apraxia of speech and emphasized how LeVan’s presentation will offer insights for App State students, faculty and staff as well as families who have a child with a speech disorder.
"Jordan’s story is a powerful reminder of the real-life impact speech disorders can have and the resilience required to overcome them,” Dalton said. “Hearing from someone who has lived through the challenges of verbal apraxia will deepen our understanding. It’s an important message for our students as they learn to support individuals with diverse needs, and approach their disciplines with compassion."
LeVan has created various outreach programs to help others, including: Fighting For My Voice LLC, an advocacy group that helps individuals advocate in the areas of disability law and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs); the Apraxia Foundation helps individuals with apraxia gain access to essential communication services and he has authored four children’s books available in English and Spanish that chronicle LeVan’s experiences growing up with a speech disorder and his journey toward self-acceptance.
For LeVan, sharing his message is a way to inspire others who may have to fight for their voice to be heard.
“This is more than just apraxia…this is fighting for everybody’s voice,” LeVan said. “Young people and adults with speech disorders are often ashamed of their diagnosis, but you don’t have to stay silent, and you don’t have to speak like everybody else. I found my voice when I started speaking my truth.”
About Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)
CAS is a childhood speech sound disorder in which the precision and consistency of movements underlying speech are impaired due to tone and speech reflexes, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
For speech to occur, messages that tell the muscles how and when to move go from a person’s brain to their mouth. For a child who has apraxia of speech, the messages do not always go through correctly. The child might not be able to move their lips or tongue in the right way. In some cases, a child might not be able to say much at all.
CAS is a rare neurological motor speech disorder that affects an estimated 1–2 children per 1,000 in the United States, and is more likely to occur in male children than female children.
About the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
Appalachian State University’s Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (RHS) — an interdisciplinary unit in the Beaver College of Health Sciences — prepares future leaders through transformative education, collaborative research and community engagement. The department, which launched July 1, 2022, houses several established programs, including an undergraduate program and a minor in communication sciences and disorders, a minor in American Sign Language and graduate programs in athletic training. occupational therapy and speech-language pathology. Learn more at https://rhs.appstate.edu.
Young man with wavy blonde hair wears a yellow shirt and shows a tattoo on his arm that says "BRAVE"
Advocate Jordan LeVan has created a network of support for individuals with Childhood Apraxia of Speech and other challenges