Causes

Disease & medical research Education Human services

Posted by

Fabi H.

CEO, Director of Clinical Services

Our mission

Friends of Aphasia is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that strives to enhance the lives of those living with aphasia, including individuals who have aphasia, their families, and their community, through efforts to support the following: (a) access to quality, patient-centered aphasia therapy services focused on participation in meaningful life activities; (b) development and implementation of community education, advocacy, and outreach programs; and (c) research aimed at advancing innovative and effective aphasia treatment approaches.

What we do

Imagine losing, in an instant, your ability to communicate. To struggle to say your own name, to write a simple email, or to read the newspaper. This is a reality for individuals living with aphasia.

If you are like most people, you've probably never heard of aphasia. Aphasia is a communication disorder that robs individuals of their ability to speak, understand, read, and/or write. Typically, it results from a stroke, but it can also be caused by a traumatic brain injury, a brain tumor, a brain infection, or brain degeneration. And despite limited awareness among the general population, aphasia is far from rare; it affects over two million Americans, and that number is expected to grow as our population ages and as medical advances increasingly save the lives of individuals who survive strokes and brain injuries.

Friends of Aphasia provides a variety of services to help people living with aphasia improve their communication skills and to maximize their quality of life. Services include facilitated aphasia groups, individualized computer coaching, specialized community support team training, and a technology loaner program. We also hope to play a role in advancing understanding of aphasia globally and in developing treatment towards an eventual cure.