APHASIA NETWORK
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : s******g@a************k.o*g
Mission Statement
The Aphasia Network helps individuals and their care partners make connections to rebuild their lives and communication after stroke or brain injury. We help survivors rebuild communication-associated life systems impacted by aphasia: Quality of Life, Daily Life Skills, Community and Support.
About This Cause
The Aphasia Network is a non-profit organization supporting an underserved population of persons with aphasia. Aphasia -an acquired communication disorder caused by brain injury or stroke- impairs comprehension and production of spoken language, but does not affect intelligence. Because communication is essential to relationships and performing daily tasks, persons with aphasia and their families can experience emotional, physical and financial stress and social isolation. Our goals are to raise awareness and help survivors rebuild communication-associated life systems impacted by aphasia: Quality of life, Daily life skills, Community and Support. “Every person deserves to be respected, included, and involved. We want to help our community experience equality in a speech based world by giving them tools and support to find independence and strategies to thrive.” – Suzanne Gardner, Chair & CEO, The Aphasia Network We understand that individuals and their family’s challenges are not segmented into separate issues that can be addressed by a singular medical discipline or social structure. A key strategy for satisfying needs expressed by our community has been the creation of integrated life skills programs, like the Spring Aphasia Workshop, Support Groups and enhancement of programs at Aphasia Camp Northwest. For these programs The Aphasia Network recruits medical professionals from multiple disciplines like occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, physician assistants and nursing in addition to speech language pathology, allowing full integration and collaboration between our staff, medical professionals, university faculty, students and our aphasia community. OUR PROGRAMS Aphasia Camp Northwest: Aphasia Camp Northwest brings individuals and their families together for an annual retreat designed to reduce the social isolation that often accompanies aphasia. This joint program of the Aphasia Network and Pacific University is a 3-day immersion where persons with aphasia learn new communication skills and explore recreational activities, and their care partners gain coping strategies, support, and respite. Since assuming oversight for camp in 2012, the Aphasia Network has grown the number of participants and outreach to the medical community, providing valuable life connections for the aphasia community. Community Support Groups: Support groups are an integral part of allowing our community to reconnect after stroke or brain injury. Persons living with aphasia and their family members can meet with others who are facing similar challenges to discuss difficulties, triumphs, and more while being in a safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental environment. Going on recreational outings and playing games are among many of the crucial activities that take place at support group meetings helping individuals find equality in a speech based world. Workshops: Workshops give medical professionals, students, aphasia community members, and Aphasia Network volunteers and staff the opportunity to come together for an extraordinary one day event. New technology, adaptive occupational therapy tools, a panel discussion and Q&A activities are all a part of these events designed to introduce our community to devices and resources designed to improve quality of life. Professional Outreach and Education: Students are our next generation of health care providers and students are an integral part of all of our programs. We are working hard to raise awareness of the needs of the aphasia community with the medical community. Online Awareness and Support: We know that our population needs 24 hour access to support and tools. We are in the beginning stages of expanding our online support to meet the community’s needs. At the Aphasia Network we are working hard to reconnect and rebuild lives after stroke or brain injury.