Aphasia Groups

The Aphasia Community Resource Center at Boston University aims to:

  • provide a supportive environment in which persons living with aphasia, their families, and their friends can share experiences
  • provide recreational and educational resources
  • educate members about local and national resources
  • educate the broader Boston community about aphasia and related disorders.

*THE SPRING 2009 PROGRAM WILL BE POSTED AND REGISTRATION WILL BEGIN IN MID DECEMBER.  GROUPS WILL BEGIN IN LATE JANUARY.*

Visits to the Aphasia Community Resource Center are by appointment only.

Please contact Elizabeth Hoover at (617) 353-8967 ehoover@bu.edu, or Jerry Kaplan (617) 353-9687 jhkaplan@bu.edu for more information.

No advance notification is needed to attend the monthly Saturday Aphasia Community Group.

Aphasia Community Group

Now in its 19th year, the Aphasia Community Group provides education, support, socialization, and resources for those whose lives have been touched by aphasia and related disorders.  Each month presentations on treatment, recreation, and/or family support are offered by group members and guests. In the last portion of each session, participants meet in small "breakout" sessions to share ideas, feelings, and concerns. Family members, meet separately from persons with aphasia.  Light snacks and beverages are provided.  There is no charge to attend the Aphasia Community Group.


Faculty: Jerome Kaplan

Upcoming Meeting Dates:

  • Dec 20th:  Holiday Party:Potluck @ Sargent
    Jan 24th: Vision Research, Photography Group Presentation
    Feb 21st
    Mar 21st
    Apr 25th
    May 30th
    Jun 27th
    Jul 25th

 

For more information, call 617 353-9687 or email: JHKaplan@BU.edu

Other Sample Group Descriptions

Conversation Group

This group addresses functional communication through talking, gesturing,  drawing, and writing.  Drawing upon our experiences and interests, participants will practice using effective strategies to exchange ideas and develop connections through communication.  

Aphasia Book Club

This group meets to discuss the content and ideas generated through reading a text. The “book” is ~300 pages in length, and is chosen by the group members from a choice of 4-5 offered texts. Group members may read the text from print or via audio cassette or compact disc.

Toastmasters

This group focuses on communicating fluently and concisely when you are speaking in stressful situations such as when you meet new people, are speaking to a large group, or are using the telephone. This group is modeled after the Toastmasters Club, whose philosophy is to learn by doing in a supportive environment. Group members will have the chance to give both prepared and impromptu speeches, and to give feedback to other group members. We will incorporate specific strategies to increase your comfort and skill in speaking in these environments.

Newsletter Group

Many individuals with aphasia struggle to produce written language. This group focuses on the fundamentals of writing simple sentences, working towards more complex narratives. By the end of the semester, the group will produce a newsletter, The Aphasia Times, on behalf of the Aphasia Community Resource Center. Group members will be encouraged to work in teams on specific tasks designed to meet their individual writing goals.

Computer Group

This group teaches basic computer skills in an aphasia-friendly environment. Group members will navigate the internet, attempt to communicate with others using email, and use other computer programs of their choosing. The group focuses on increasing communication amongst group members and improving discrete forms of language such as, reading, typing, and following auditory instructions in functional

Aphasia Film Club

This group meets to discuss the content and ideas generated through watching a film. One or two films are shown over the course of the semester, a segment or "chapter" shown at each session. The films will be chosen by the Group members from a choice of 4 or 5 titles. Supervising and student clinicians are present to facilitate conversation.

Writing Group

This group works on the fundamentals of writing and spelling at a single word level progressing to simple sentences. Tasks will focus on functional language to help with daily challenges such as list making, internet searches and email.