Nandi Madida pens sweet message about daughter on Apraxia Awareness Day
Nandi Madida used Apraxia Awareness Day on 14 May to share a deeply personal message about her daughter while encouraging greater understanding of autism and communication disorders.
The media personality and artist opened up about the realities of living with apraxia, a neurological condition that affects the brain’s ability to coordinate the muscle movements needed for speech and certain physical actions.
Through her message, Madida stressed that the condition should never be mistaken for a lack of intelligence or understanding.
Paying tribute to her daughter, Nefertiti, affectionately known as Nefi, Madida spoke proudly about the strength she sees in her child and the impact she believes she will one day have on others facing similar challenges.
“Today is Apraxia Awareness Day… I always tell my sweet daughter Nefi, Nefertiti, that she is a force and that one day she will advocate for many autistic people. She will help bring clarity, compassion, and understanding to a community that is so often misunderstood.”
Madida explained that many people living with apraxia struggle to communicate verbally despite fully understanding what is happening around them.
She urged the public to move away from assumptions and instead approach those affected with patience and empathy.
“This is not an intelligence issue. This is not a hearing issue. This is not a lack of understanding,” she said.
The star also highlighted the importance of recognising different forms of communication, reminding people that spoken words are not the only way individuals express themselves.
Using the awareness day as a call for compassion, Madida encouraged society to create more supportive spaces for people with autism and related conditions.
“This Apraxia Awareness Day, may we listen differently, support more intentionally, and remember that every voice matters, whether spoken or not.”