A Resolution By The Board Of County Commissioners Of Pasco County, Florida, Declaring May 14, 2026, As Apraxia Awareness Day In Pasco County

1:00:02We've got RS4.

1:00:04Okay, if you are here for Apraxia Awareness Day, please step forward to the podium.

1:00:12You can also step forward to the podium, please. Yes.

1:00:17Can I begin?

1:00:18I was gonna read the resolution.

1:00:20First. Yes, I procured this resolution on behalf of my doctor. Hold on one second. She's gonna read the resolution. Oh sure,

1:00:26yes.

1:00:28We'll let you

1:00:28know when it's

1:00:29later big.

1:00:31All right. Resolution number 26-210, a resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, declaring May 14th, 2026 as Apraxia Awareness Day in Pasco County. Whereas Apraxia Awareness Day is a nationally recognized day of advocacy and community awareness during which citizens, families, and healthcare advocates unite to raise

1:01:00Okay, I'll say it's Cass. A series a serious and often misunderstood neurological speech disorder that affects approximately one in one thousand children, with one-third having an identified genetic causal basis. ANRAS childhood apraxia of speech causes children to have significant difficulties planning and executing the precise movements required for clear speech, and is among the most severe speech deficits affecting children, profoundly impacting a child's ability to communicate

1:01:31and participate fully in school and community life. ANRAS, unlike most children for whom learning to speak occurs naturally, children with CAS require early diagnosis, appropriate intervention, and intensive speech language therapy, often sustained for many years, to develop the ability to use their own voice effectively. And RAS, without timely and appropriate speech therapy intervention, children with child childhood apraxia of speech face not only severely diminished communication

1:02:01abilities, but are also at significantly elevated risk for secondary impacts, including difficulties in reading, writing, spelling, and academic performance broadly. ANRAS, these primary and secondary impacts of unaddressed, if unaddressed, can limit a child's future independence, restrict employment opportunities, and challenge their ability to become fully contributing members of the community. ANRAS public awareness about childhood apraxia of speech is essential so that families affected by this disorder and

1:02:31those who support them can access the services, funding, and advocacy. see necessary to provide these children with the opportunities they deserve. And whereas Apraxia Kids is the nation's leading nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to childhood apraxia of speech and works to strengthen the support system surrounding affected children and serves families and professionals in Pasco County. And RAS, Pasco County is home to children living with childhood apraxia of speech, and the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners sends

1:03:02their appreciation to the dedicated families, therapists, and advocates who tirelessly champion their right to be heard. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said board hereby proclaims May 14, 2026 as Apraxia Awareness Day in Pasco County. County and encourages all citizens, schools, healthcare providers, community organizations, and businesses of Pasco County to increase awareness and understanding of childhood apraxia of speech, done and resolved in regular session with a quorum present and

1:03:32voting this fifth day of May 2026.

1:03:35I procured this resolution. Oh, sorry, more.

1:03:38Approve it now. Motion?

1:03:41Move to approve.

1:03:42Second. Voluntary say aye. Aye. Aye.

1:03:44I appreciate your patience.

1:03:48Ready, ready.

1:03:49All right. Round three. I procured this resolution on behalf of my daughter and the families of Pasco County affected by childhood epraxia of speech. Thank you to Pasco County for recognizing Apraxia Awareness Day. My name is Isabella Boggs. Both my daughter and I have childhood apraxia of speech, and I am a legal advocacy volunteer for apraxia kids. My great-grandma An, my grandma Quinn, my grandpa Fu, and my grandmother Burl always used their skills and voices

1:04:19to advocate for their family, their community, and for anyone who needed it. When I was little, my grandma Birl, who helped raise me, would sit with me patiently talking about cherry hand pies, textiles, cats, rainbows, books, and roses. She would incorporate anything that I love to help me practice the mouth movements that didn't come as easily. She put me out a typewriter as I became a teenager and urged me to write poetry, giving me another way to find my voice. She

1:04:50inspired me to use mine the same way she used hers. My daughter is the reason I do and every word she speaks is pure gold. Every child with apraxia deserves someone who will be their voice until they can find their own. Thank you.

1:05:08Commissioner

1:05:08Yeah. I'd just like to make a comment you guys can go to the podium. That I was I was so honored when you asked me to do this resolution. And this this hits home for me because um my son when he was little he he did not have words, so he was very frustrated. He would hit, he would bite, he'd throw himself on the floor and the whole thing he was just frustrated because he didn't he couldn't communicate with us. So we learned sign language and he had every interventionist known known to man and we started it very early. And thanks to parents like you guys that

1:05:38that did start that journey early. Your kids are going to be amazing and no one will ever know that they ever had a proxia. And um my son Jacob, these these two know him very well. You would never know that he had any issues. So um thank you again for bringing a weirdness to you. Um The the this next few I'm I'm Um very excited to have. This is Jackson and his moms, Jenny and Jenny. Um, Jen and Jenny, sorry. And they want to tell you a little bit

1:06:09about Jackson's journey. And then we also get to hear Jackson when he was little. We have a recording. So I'll leave it to you guys.

1:06:17Today we support a resolution a resolution recognizing a Praxia Awareness Day, a cause that is deeply personal to our family. Our child Jackson was diagnosed with apraxia in 2016. At at the time we didn't fully understand the road ahead, only that communication something ma many take for granted would be one of his greatest challenges. It took years of therapy, patience, and relentless practice for him to find his voice. As parents, we adapted along with him. We taught him simple signs

1:06:47so that he could express his needs, and we learned to understand him in ways others couldn't. through his inflection, through vowel sounds, and through the determination in his eyes when he was trying so hard trying so hard to be heard. Every single breakthrough was hard earned and celebrated. Today Jackson has found his voice and most of the time it's a very loud one. It fills our home with joy and reminds us daily how far he has come. We are honored to stand here and be part of this important resolution, not just

1:07:18for Jackson, but for every child and family navigating apraxia. Raising awareness means early earlier supports, stronger resources, and mu and more voices being heard. Thank you for recognizing the importance of this day and for helping to bring attention to this journey that so many of our families share.

1:07:37Okay. Jackson, would you like to say anything? No? Okay, then let's play. Yeah. Okay. You're welcome. Okay, so let's listen to Jackson's journey.

1:07:58Say hi. Hi. My name is Jackie.

1:08:03Put your hand on.

1:08:04Say Say thank you everybody

1:08:09For supporting me

1:08:13and wearing blue

1:08:17For apraxia.

1:08:21Awareness.

1:08:22I'll be

1:08:23day. I love you.

1:08:25Are you? Now

1:08:26blow kisses. Yeah.

1:08:35Say hi.

1:08:36Hi.

1:08:37My name is Jackson.

1:08:38My name is Jackson.

1:08:40Thank you everybody.

1:08:42Thank you everybody.

1:08:43For supporting me.

1:08:45So before me.

1:08:47And wearing blue.

1:08:48And wearing blue.

1:08:49For apraxia.

1:08:50For hypatia.

1:08:52Awareness.

1:08:53Awareness.

1:08:54Day.

1:08:54Day.

1:08:55I love you. I love

1:08:56you.

1:08:57Bye bye. Now blow kisses.

1:09:00Mama I don't know about you guys, but I have goosebumps all over my body. So to parents out there who are listening, early intervention is key and Jenny.

1:09:10So I just want to give a little bit of context to that video. Um every year on Apraxia Awareness Day, May 14th, I took a video over the course of four years um as Pasco County schools recognized Jackson and everybody wore blue and it was a big blue. Push even back then when he was that little. And so every year for four years, I documented his journey. We documented his journey saying the same message. And that and it has just exploded. Pasco County Schools has used it. You guys have now used

1:09:40it. All children's Johns Hopkins has used it. Like it is just amazing to see. And the awareness that This very sharply dressed young man is, you know, bringing for everybody is just we we we can't thank you enough. All right, let's

1:09:56put a finish.

1:10:07Well I'm glad we have Auris Pasco Blue on today.

1:10:11Little Blue.

1:10:15That's all

1:10:15right.

1:10:34And then can we get it?

1:10:37So then.