Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) requires thoughtful target selection, intentional cueing, and a deep understanding of how speech movements connect across syllables. In this practical 1.5-hour training, participants will learn how to effectively implement the Grab & Grow: Apraxia Targets for Early Syllable Shapes deck to support motor planning, coarticulation, and natural speech development in children with CAS.
This course walks clinicians through the structure and clinical reasoning behind the Grab & Grow deck, including how targets are organized, how to select functional therapy words, and how to support smooth transitions between sounds. Participants will learn how to move beyond flashcard-style practice and instead use the deck as a dynamic therapy tool that promotes motor learning, coarticulation, and meaningful communication.
The training also covers how to interpret the visual cueing system included in the deck, such as in-between sound cues, chaining prompts, stress markers, facilitative contexts, and lip position guides. Clinicians will learn how to use these cues to scaffold accurate movement sequences while maintaining natural prosody.
Participants will explore strategies including forward and backward chaining, words-within-words, elongation cues, and the use of approximations to build successful motor plans. Special attention is given to selecting 5–10 functional targets using the VITAL model, promoting high-repetition practice, and helping children transition from approximations to more precise productions.
By the end of this training, clinicians will feel confident using the Grab & Grow deck to design therapy sessions that emphasize movement transitions, coarticulation, and meaningful communication, while supporting children in developing smoother, more natural speech.
