Nancy visited the Parish School and Carruth Center in Houston in early January, 2019. The trip marked her 10th year consulting with the organizations.

The Parish School has educated children ages 2-12 who have communication delays and learning differences since 1983. Additional supports are provided at Carruth Center, an on-site pediatric therapy clinic. Although Nancy was sad to see Nancy Bewley, head of school at Parish, retire this year, she was happy to meet Mimi Branham, the new director at Carruth. She is bringing her wisdom as an SLP, administrative expertise, and warm personality to the mix.

Nancy always enjoys collaborating with the speech-language pathologists at Carruth and children with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) or other speech and language disorders on their caseloads, as well as observing SLPs leading their classrooms at Parish School. Nancy also provided a parent education presentation regarding CAS and her K-SLP methods and participated in a new podcast opportunity.  It was an exhilarating two days of collaboration, learning from each other, and long-lasting friendships.

Nancy Kaufman, along with fellow speech-language pathologist Dave Hammer of Apraxia Kids, co-presented “Best Practices for CAS and Those with Coexisting Autism: a Parent and Student SLP Forum” on Saturday, November 10. The event was held at the Bernath Auditorium in Wayne State University’s undergraduate library and sponsored by Apraxia Kids and WSU’s student speech-language-hearing association.

The forum was the first time Nancy and Dave both nationally and internationally recognized master therapists in childhood apraxia of speech and related disorders, presented together. The session was geared toward parents from the Detroit area and students from Wayne State University, bringing therapists and families together to build a community of support. 

Nancy Kaufman and Albiona Rakipi were so excited to provide games and prizes for kids attending the 2018 Detroit Apraxia Walk, held this year at the District Market on August 25. Nancy Kaufman also took part in the ceremony, helping to award the children for being apraxia superstars. The walk’s coordinator, KC Collier, and the Wayne State University students who assisted her made a great team and pulled off an excellent event, despite the rainy weather.

The Detroit event was one of 65 walks held this year, coordinated by the Apraxia Kids nonprofit organization, whose mission is to strengthen the support systems in the lives of children with childhood apraxia of speech. The walks raise funds to support programs that help little apraxia stars shine, including educational opportunities, referral services, awareness, financial aid, support for research, and much more.

Apraxia Kids endeavors to make the apraxia community tighter, stronger, and ready for the road ahead. Click HERE for more information on the organization.

Nancy Kaufman was honored for her many years as a member of the Apraxia Kids’ Professional Advisory Council at the 2018 National Conference on Childhood Apraxia of Speech on July 13.

It was a complete surprise and she was extremely pleased to be recognized by her peers in a ballroom filled with parents, caregivers, speech-language pathologists, and other esteemed colleagues in attendance.

Nancy was thrilled to have the opportunity to present on a panel detailing CAS treatment methods, a panel on cueing techniques, and with her colleague and friend Kerry Peterson on establishing speech-motor skills for children with ASD and CAS. 

With David Hammer, fellow SLP and VP of programming for Apraxia Kids

With Jill Eversmann and Jennie Bjorem

With Amy Clark, Dee Fish, and Ruth Stoeckel

Presenting on the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol (K-SLP)

With Kerry Peterson, the KCC's director of autism programs

Photos from Gordy and Sanders' trip to the KCC

Gordy and Sanders visited the KCC in the spring of 2018

Sanders and Gordy with Nancy Kaufman

Gordy observes Nancy’s session with a child she is currently working with

Here are some details on current and future goings-on for parents, colleagues, and friends of the KCC!

Dear Friends,

I have recently made the decision to step aside from the Professional Advisory Council of Apraxia Kids. Having served on the PAC for 10 years, and with a new executive director and many changes to the organization, it felt like the right time to make way for a new generation of speech-language pathologists.

Though I am no longer a member of the PAC, I will continue to participate with Apraxia Kids! In fact, I look forward to presenting at the 2018 National Conference on CAS in Charlotte, North Carolina. My presentations/panels are all on Friday, July 13, to include:

♦ Strategies in the Treatment of CAS: An Overview of Various Methodologies
(a panel with Amy Clark, Margaret Fish, David Hammer, and Ruth Stoeckel)

♦ Cueing Strategies: Decision Making and Implementation for Children with CAS
(a panel with Jennie Bjorem, Jill Eversmann, and David Hammer)

♦ Establishing Speech Motor Skills for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and CAS
(a full session with the KCC’s Kerry Peterson, MA, CCC-SLP, BCBA)

I hope to see you there!

I am excited to dedicate my time to continuously hone the Kaufman Speech to Language (K-SLP) methods, and focus on materials that will assist SLPs and parents/caregivers to help their children to become effective vocal communicators. I will also continue to:

♦ Work directly in evaluating and treating children with CAS and those who struggle to speak due to other speech motor conditions.

♦ Present all-day conferences through Northern Speech Services and for invitational conferences.

♦ Consult on the K-SLP methods with private clinics, schools, and hospital settings.

♦ Offer video consultations and four-day SPEAK intensive programs for children who live out of state or country.

♦ Have the privilege to mentor and collaborate with the KCC team, the most amazing group of professionals with which I could ever hope to work.

Working collaboratively with families and SLPs will forever be my passion!

We have opened a second facility right next door to the Kaufman Children’s Center, known as “K2.” The new building gives us the chance to focus on our applied behavior analysis (ABA) programs, implementing what we know best about speech-motor skills, especially for those with autism spectrum disorders who are minimally vocal. Our ABA program director is Kerry Peterson, who is both a speech-language pathologist and a board-certified behavior analyst.

With our current expansion into two buildings, our staff of more than 60 speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, board-certified behavior analysts, ABA techs, and support staff work together as a team on behalf of children with speech, language, sensory motor and social language challenges.

So grateful to do the things I love most! Feel free to contact me anytime by e-mail or phone (248-737-3430). I love to talk!

Sincerely,
Nancy

The KCC is literally bursting with successful outcomes – so much so that we have expanded!

Check out our brand-new look! The KCC’s new logo went live today, reflecting the fun of our center.

When we decided to update our logo, we had two important goals. First, we wanted to underscore our “Kids with Challenges Become Champions” tagline, which is at the heart of all we do here at the Kaufman Children’s Center. Second, we wanted the logo to capture the whimsical spirit we love in our KCC kids and the fun they bring to the center.

We think our graphic designers hit the ball out of the park!