The Orange Effect Foundation

Empowering children and young adults with speech disorders

Appreciating the Gift of Speech

By

The author’s four-legged housemates.

As we enter the holiday season, our minds often turn towards gifts. Some gifts are tangible, some are flashy, some are small, and some we may take for granted. One gift that many might take for granted is that of speech. I’ll admit that I too have been guilty of under appreciating speech.

A recent experience that helped me realize firsthand what a gift speech is was my participation in the Orange Effect Foundation’s 12 hours of Silence fundraiser. For those who may not be familiar with this event, it is a fundraiser where participants ask for donations in return for the participant’s pledge to remain silent for 12 straight hours. I have to admit that I found it VERY difficult to remain quiet for 12 hours. Especially when trying to manage dogs (who mainly respond to verbal commands), field questions from family (who kept forgetting my endeavor), and watch an exciting football game without my “expert commentary.”

In the end, I managed my best to complete the challenge. However, I sure do have a deeper respect for the families whom the Orange Effect serves; they do not have the luxury of having their child’s speech magically returned after 12 hours, as I did.

About Tom Leskovec

Tom has spent over 20 years in various clinical and research settings. He began as an Applied Behavioral Therapist for the Ohio Board of MR/DD, which not only sparked his passion for clinical research, but solidified his strong belief in the effectiveness of early intervention for autism and speech disorders.

Upon graduating from Cleveland State University with his Master’s in Experimental Psychology, he began his next position as a Research Coordinator in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department at Case Western Reserve University. At Case Western, he managed their autism research program as well as clinical trials for many other childhood and adolescent behavioral and psychiatric diagnosis.

After Case Western, Tom spent eight years as a Senior Clinical Research Associate where he oversaw biotechnological and pharmaceutical clinical trials to ensure regulatory mandates and Good Clinical Practices were followed by both clinical research sites and sponsors of clinical research. Tom currently works on the pharmaceutical sponsor side of clinical research where he aids in the clinical operations oversight of novel treatment options for rare neurological conditions.