Cierra Crowe

Why I walk for Apraxia Kids!

My journey into speech pathology began long before I knew what apraxia was — but I felt its impact deeply. I saw that impact with my younger sister, Hailey, as she struggled to find her voice.

During college breaks, I would take her to speech therapy sessions. At the time, I thought I was on track to become the next Katie Couric. But something unexpected happened in those therapy rooms. I found myself fascinated by the intersection of anatomy, physiology, and human behavior — and even more moved by the resilience I witnessed in Hailey, creativity of her therapists and the dedication my family had to supporting her ability to communicate in whatever form.

Those sessions didn’t just change my major — they changed my life. Hailey’s journey sparked my passion for communication sciences, and ultimately, it inspired this walk — a way to honor the hard work, determination, and daily victories of children and families navigating apraxia.

Today is about celebrating voices — both spoken and unspoken — and the strength it takes to be heard.