Friends of Aphasia

Friends of Aphasia is dedicated to truly changing the lives of individuals and families living with aphasia through comprehensive aphasia services, community education, and treatment research.

Aphasia is the loss of the ability to speak, understand, read, or write due to a stroke or other injury to the brain. More than 2,000,000 Americans suffer from aphasia, but, sadly, nearly 84% of Americans have never heard of aphasia or are unsure of what it is.

We know that with appropriate treatment, great strides can be made to improve the quality of life for those living with aphasia. Through improved communication skills, people can regain their self-confidence and their ability to participate actively in our community and beyond.

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who is living with aphasia, co-founded Friends of Aphasia in 2018 to increase the resources available to others living with this life-changing disorder. She partnered with Speech-Language Pathologist Fabiane Hirsch Kruse, Ph.D, CCC-SLP with the goal of providing high-quality, affordable aphasia services as well as promoting aphasia awareness and promoting innovative aphasia treatment research.

Our services currently comprise three program areas:

1. Aphasia Group (AG) Program: We currently run six hours of in-person and three hours of virtual aphasia groups weekly. These groups are the foundation of the services we provide. Our funding priority is the sustainability of this program. We aim to expand both the number and types of aphasia groups offered as funding allows.

2. Community-based Aphasia Support Team (CAST) program: This is a specialty program that, in addition to individual speech therapy and aphasia groups, extends into an individual's community to develop and train support teams. Through education and training sessions, these support teams learn how to foster long-term communication recovery and re-engagement in meaningful life activities. We envision the CAST program serving as a model for other programs around the world.

3. Tech-to-Talk program: This is our technology loaner program. It allows us to provide loaner iPads and aphasia apps to individuals in need to support intensive practice of language and communication skills throughout the week, not just during aphasia group sessions.

Future programs: We have many programs that we would like to implement in order to address many pressing needs in the community, including the following:
a. a caregiver training and support program,
b. a young stroke and brain injury survivors program, and
c. a Primary Progressive Aphasia program.

Resources (time, staffing, funding) are currently preventing implementation of these and other vital programs.

Testimonials

"I've found my people!" - Marc, an aphasia group member during his first visit to the Aphasia Center of Tucson

"Two thumbs up. It was a wonderful program led by two amazing, knowledgeable people who taught us so much and kept our minds at ease and positivity up." - Ami, daughter of a CAST Program participant

"The CAST program educated our family on aphasia while providing crucial tools to promote growth for everyone." - Kit, daughter of a CAST Program participant