People with aphasia working together with speech and language therapists

1. People with aphasia working together with speech and language therapists Alison Anderson

2. Introduction • Live in Glasgow • Kidney dialysis for 5 years • Stroke in 2005 • aphasia

3. Speech therapy and aphasia action group • Consultation event in 2005 - What’s good about speech therapy services - What’s not working well - What future services should be available

4. Outcome of consultation • Improve information • Better training and education -medical staff, retail, transport, leisure etc • Community Support

5. The group • 5 people with aphasia and 5 carers • Work on improving speech therapy information • Group members trained in ‘how to make information clearer’ • Developed a range of information factsheets

7. Factsheets we’re working on • Clearer appointments • What is speech and language therapy • Speech therapy for aphasia in the early stages • Reactions to aphasia

8. What is good about the group • Made me feel good about myself • Give me hope for the future • Meet other people with aphasia • Given me a purpose • Provided support to get on with my life

9. How can speech and language therapy help • Help to achieve the outcomes • Help people to communicate in the group • Make the group ‘aphasia friendly’ • Equal partnership • Be committed

10. What next? • Raise awareness of aphasia • Training for the domestics for the tea trolley and stroke nurses • Make a DVD about our experiences • People with aphasia supporting others • Link with social work

11. Work together!