NDIS & Advocacy

Championing Access to Life-Changing CAS Support

At Apraxia NDIS Support & Advocacy Group, we’re working to ensure that children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) are no longer overlooked in national policy conversations. CAS is a rare, lifelong motor speech disorder that requires early, frequent, and evidence-based intervention—yet too many families face barriers to accessing the support their children urgently need.

We bring together speech pathologists, parents, and advocates across Australia to push for fairer NDIS access, consistent funding for therapy, and recognition of the unique needs of children with CAS. Through formal position statements, policy submissions, and strategic media advocacy, we’re raising awareness and driving change.

Our goal is simple: every child with CAS deserves access to timely, specialist therapy—no matter where they live or what stage of the NDIS journey they’re on.

CAS Advocacy Resources

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NDIS Position Statement – Oct 2025

This position statement was co-authored by Olga Komadina and speech pathologist Nia Michellis, on
behalf of a growing network of speech pathologists, families, and allied health professionals. It
outlines why the current NDIS and Foundational Supports model fails to meet the needs of children
with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS).

CAS is a rare, lifelong neurological condition that impacts a child’s ability to plan and produce
speech. It cannot be effectively treated through generalist or education-based models. This
statement presents the evidence behind best-practice intervention and provides clear policy
recommendations for more consistent, equitable access to specialist supports under the NDIS.

We invite policymakers, professionals, and families to read and share this important document.

[Download the Full Position Statement (PDF)]

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CAS Evidence & Advocacy Reference List

This reference list brings together current clinical research and expert consensus documents to
support NDIS access requests, therapy funding, and policy-level advocacy for CAS in Australia.

[Download the CAS Reference List (PDF)]

CAS in the Media

🌟 ABC News Coverage Highlights the Urgent Need for Early CAS Intervention (September 2025) In September 2025, ABC News reported on the nationwide shortage of speech pathology services, with children waiting months — even years — for essential therapy. For children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), these delays are especially devastating. CAS is a lifelong neurological speech disorder that will not resolve on its own without early, intensive, and specialised apraxia therapy.Placing children with CAS on generic waitlists or in non-specialist group programs risks them falling further behind at a critical stage of brain development. Every month lost in the early years is a missed opportunity for a child to learn to speak.We call on the NDIS and Thriving Kids programs to recognise CAS for what it is: a lifelong neurological disability that requires specialised intervention. Families should not be left to navigate long waitlists or search desperately for qualified support. Children with CAS deserve timely, targeted therapy so they can find their voice and thrive.👉 Read the full ABC News article

🎥 Making CAS Visible: Jade’s Story on ABC News

This ABC News feature shares the story of Jade, one of my clients, who wanted to raise awareness of Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). Jade’s goal in speaking publicly was simple but powerful: to help other children with CAS be recognised earlier and receive the specialised support they need.CAS is a rare motor-speech disorder, often misunderstood or mistaken for a general “speech delay.” But unlike a simple delay, CAS requires intensive, individualised therapy — it doesn’t just resolve with time. By sharing her experience, Jade wanted to ensure that families, educators, and policymakers understand the difference, so children don’t miss the critical window for early intervention.This national coverage was a milestone for our community, giving CAS visibility on a mainstream platform. It also highlighted the importance of NDIS recognition of CAS as a distinct condition, not one that can be grouped under generic “speech delays” or treated effectively in group settings.

📰 Featured in The Border Mail

Ashton’s story was published during Apraxia Awareness Month, highlighting his bravery, the challenges of Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), and the urgent need for continued support — especially for children at risk of losing NDIS funding after age six.

I feel honoured to be part of Ashton’s therapy journey. Stories like his are why I do this work.

📸 Click the image below to view a preview of the article via Google Images
(Full article is available on The Border Mail website and may be behind a subscriber paywall.)

Image and article courtesy of The Border Mail and journalist Madilyn McKinley.

🎙️ Radio Feature: CAS Awareness on 1494 2AY

The Wodonga Water Tower light-up for Childhood Apraxia of Speech was featured on 1494 2AY Radio during their May 5 segment — a proud moment in raising local awareness for Apraxia.

👉 Listen around the 1:45 mark to hear the mention.
Listen to the full segment on 1494 2AY

Thank you to 2AY for helping shine a light on CAS in our community.

🎥 Real Voices, Real Stories: Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)

This powerful video features three incredible children from across Australia, each living with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) — a lifelong neurological speech disorder that affects a child’s ability to plan and coordinate the precise movements needed for speech.

Originally created for Apraxia Awareness Month – May 2025, the video continues to serve as a heartfelt awareness piece:

Helping the community understand what CAS sounds like
Showing what therapy can look like
And highlighting the importance of early, intensive, and specialist motor speech therapy

Unlike typical speech delays, CAS will not resolve without targeted support. Without access to appropriate intervention, children with CAS are at risk of being left without a voice.

We were honoured to have this video shared in the Instagram Stories of Mikey’s Wish — a UK-based advocacy organisation dedicated to raising awareness for verbal dyspraxia and CAS.

This video also stands as a call to the NDIS and Health Ministers to continue recognising and funding the supports children with CAS urgently need.

💙 Every child deserves the opportunity to be heard.

🎙️ My Story in CAS: From Clinician to Advocate

Behind the Mic: Why I Specialise in CAS

A big thank you to Nev from the Energized CEO Podcast for inviting me to share my story.

In this episode, I talk about my personal journey as a Speech Pathologist — how I came to specialise in Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) and why I am so passionate about supporting children and their families.

This conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at:

The challenges families face when navigating CAS
How specialist motor speech therapy can transform outcomes
The personal experiences that shaped my advocacy and clinical practice

While every child’s path with CAS is unique, one thing remains constant: without early, intensive, and targeted support, children with CAS risk being left without a voice.

💙 My hope is that by sharing my story, more families and professionals will feel supported, inspired, and empowered to keep fighting for the right help at the right time.

LISTEN HERE

🌟 Wodonga Water Tower Lights Up for Apraxia Awareness Month (May 2025)

In May 2025, the Wodonga Water Tower glowed blue from May 5–9 to honour Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). This local initiative—organised by speech pathologist Olga Komadina—helped shine a light on this rare and often misunderstood motor speech disorder.

Community members were invited to gather at the base of the tower on May 9 to show support, connect with other families, and raise awareness. The illuminated tower stood as a symbol of hope, recognition, and advocacy for children with CAS and their families.

Blue and Beige Minimalist International World Diabetes Day With Ribbon Instagram Post (1).