Aphasia is, by definition, a common language disorder that affects one’s ability to speak, comprehend speech, read, and write. However, the personal impact of aphasia is far more complex. The ability to communicate is fundamental in most aspects of our lives, including family relations, friendships, and employment, as well as for routine everyday activities such as ordering a coffee at your favorite coffee place and scheduling an appointment for an oil change on your car. In this video series, we hear stories from people with aphasia and their families about personal experiences with aphasia; their losses, challenges, victories, hopes, and aspirations.
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What is Aphasia? Video Series: 1

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What is Aphasia? Video Series: 1
Aphasia is, by definition, a common language disorder that affects one's ability to speak, comprehend speech, read, and write. However, the personal impact of aphasia is far more complex. The ...ability to communicate is fundamental in most aspects of our lives, including family relations, friendships, and employment, as well as for routine everyday activities such as ordering a coffee at your favorite coffee place and scheduling an appointment for an oil change on your car. In this video series, we hear stories from people with aphasia and their families about personal experiences with aphasia; their losses, challenges, victories, hopes, and aspirations.Show More

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What is Aphasia? Video Series: 2
How has aphasia changed your social life?
As a part of our aphasia awareness project at USC we will share stories from people with aphasia and their families about personal experiences ...with aphasia: their losses, challenges, victories, hopes, and aspirations.
We hope you take the time to listen to the video series and share it with others to help us spread aphasia awareness together!Show More
As a part of our aphasia awareness project at USC we will share stories from people with aphasia and their families about personal experiences ...with aphasia: their losses, challenges, victories, hopes, and aspirations.
We hope you take the time to listen to the video series and share it with others to help us spread aphasia awareness together!Show More

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"What is Aphasia?" Video Series 3

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What is Aphasia? Video Series: 4
How to get a job with aphasia?
Aphasia is a language disorder, but not an intellectual impairment. In other words, aphasia affects people's ability to communicate, but not their ability ...to think. Nonetheless, many people with aphasia who are either young at the time of their stroke or simply not ready to retire from working struggle to even get a job interview, let alone a job. This reality is largely realized due to the lack of awareness of aphasia; public awareness is poor and employers are no exception. Raising awareness of aphasia and educating the community on what aphasia is and, equally importantly, what aphasia is not, is a key step toward enabling people with aphasia who wish to work to re-integrate into the workforce. Our interviewee, Mike Wellman, is one of these people.Show More
Aphasia is a language disorder, but not an intellectual impairment. In other words, aphasia affects people's ability to communicate, but not their ability ...to think. Nonetheless, many people with aphasia who are either young at the time of their stroke or simply not ready to retire from working struggle to even get a job interview, let alone a job. This reality is largely realized due to the lack of awareness of aphasia; public awareness is poor and employers are no exception. Raising awareness of aphasia and educating the community on what aphasia is and, equally importantly, what aphasia is not, is a key step toward enabling people with aphasia who wish to work to re-integrate into the workforce. Our interviewee, Mike Wellman, is one of these people.Show More

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What is Aphasia? Video series: 5
In this interview, Carolyn, a long-term elementary teacher, discusses how her husband supported her language recovery.
On the surface, aphasia is a language impairment that affects an individual's ability to ...communicate. As a result, people with aphasia may struggle with various everyday tasks ranging from ordering food in a restaurant to resuming their pre-stroke employment. The communication problem similarly impacts personal relationships, including familial relationships. By extension, a significant other or other family members often take on the role of a caregiver, advocate, and therapist.Show More
On the surface, aphasia is a language impairment that affects an individual's ability to ...communicate. As a result, people with aphasia may struggle with various everyday tasks ranging from ordering food in a restaurant to resuming their pre-stroke employment. The communication problem similarly impacts personal relationships, including familial relationships. By extension, a significant other or other family members often take on the role of a caregiver, advocate, and therapist.Show More

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What is Aphasia? Video Series: 6
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to have aphasia? In this interview, Leslie Simpson, Esq., describes her experience living with aphasia.
G: @les_bells
Facebook: Leslie M Simpson
Twitter: @LMSimpson_
G: @les_bells
Facebook: Leslie M Simpson
Twitter: @LMSimpson_

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What is Aphasia? Video Series: 7
Stroke survivor James Jett shares his incredible stroke story, which extends all the way to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where James was working at the 2016 Paralympic Games.

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What is Aphasia? Video series: 8
Most individuals with aphasia undergo treatment with a speech-language pathologist to improve their ability to communicate. However, aphasia treatment does not look the same for all individuals. Some benefit from ...one-on-one treatment sessions with their clinician, some prefer to use mobile apps, others choose to participate in group therapy, and so on. Fortunately, there are various resources available to support continuous recovery. In this video, current lawyer and stroke survivor Leslie talks about what treatment resources she has benefitted the most from.Show More

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What is Aphasia? Video Series: 9
Stroke survivor James Jett, previously a manager at CISCO Systems, is a persistent advocate for aphasia awareness. In this video, James describes how aphasia affects each person differently and how ...people respond when he educates them about aphasia. Commonly, while his explanation is received with empathy and support, he says it's rare to meet someone who knows what aphasia is.Show More

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What is Aphasia? Video Series:10
Leslie Simmons is a lawyer at the South Carolina State House, and a stroke survivor. In this video, Leslie shares her experience returning to her pre-stroke job as a lawyer. ...She worked diligently and passionately with her speech-language pathologist to prepare for her return to work, focusing specifically on verbal and written communication, as well as reading. Leslie similarly talks about the importance of receiving support from her employer, which helped create an environment that facilitated her successful transition back to work. Don't miss her inspiring story!Show More

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What is Aphasia? Video series: 11
Aphasia is a communication disorder that affects the whole family and its recovery, particularly early after stroke, is highly individualized. In this video, Carolyn, a long-term elementary teacher, describes how ...she felt when she was diagnosed with post-stroke aphasia and how she coped in early recovery. She used to write everything down in a notebook, including people's names, places, and common words/phrases, and carry the notebook with her throughout each day. This approach helped her navigate the challenges she encountered in everyday communication and empowered her on her journey to recovery.Show More

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What is Aphasia? Video Series: 12 Communication Tips from Aphasia Recovery Group Members
Each individual with aphasia has a unique story. In this video, Tony, James, and Marcus share tips that have helped them overcome communication challenges on their stroke recovery journeys.
