Aphasia Access Conversations

Janet Patterson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Chief of the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Service at VA Northern California, speaks with Jen Mozeiko, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, about aphasia, discourse and communication, a project at the intersection of aphasia rehabilitation, adaptation deficits, gaming design, and community connectivity. Jen Mozeiko is an assistant professor Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences at the University of Connecticut, where she leads the Aphasia Rehab Lab. Her research explores deficits in discourse production and adults following brain injury, and dosage and durability of treatment for persons with aphasia. In 2020 Jen was named a Tavistock Trust for Aphasia Distinguished Scholar, USA. In the questions and responses below you will read about Jen’s work and the influence of the Tavistock award. Download the Full Show Notes

Ellen Bernstein-Ellis, Director of the Aphasia Treatment Program at Cal State East Bay speaks with Sarah Baar, creator of the Life Participation focused Honeycomb Therapy website and we'll have the pleasure of discussing how to create life participation-based home programs for individuals with aphasia across the care continuum.   Guest Bio: Sarah Baar is a private practice speech-language pathologist in Grand Rapids, MI. She’s had the opportunity to work in many settings across the continuum including acute care, acute rehab, home & community, and outpatient therapy. In 2016, she started the Honeycomb Speech Therapy website as a way to promote person-centered and functional therapy ideas and materials for adult rehab. Most recently, she launched the Activity Studio as a way to share and promote use of participation-focused speech therapy materials. Those who have attended her speaking events enjoy her practical approach and tips that the everyday SLP can implement for a functional therapy approach.   List

Jerry Hoepner, a faculty member in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, speaks with Tavistock Scholar Dr. Brent Archer about the crossroads between the lived experience and qualitative research methods. Dr. Brent E. Archer was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He obtained his Master’s degree in speech-language pathology (SLP) in 2006, and practiced in rural hospitals and schools. After immigrating to the US in 2011, he provided SLP services in nursing homes located in central New York state and Louisiana. In 2012, he enrolled in the Applied Speech and Language Sciences doctoral program at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. Upon graduating in 2016, he assumed a position as an Assistant Professor in Communication Disorders and Sciences at Bowling Green State University. Brent’s research interests include facilitated conversations for people with aphasia, the lived experiences of people and families living with aphasia and life participation a

Dr. Janet Patterson, Chief of the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Service at VA Northern California Health Care System, speaks with Dr. Katie Strong about the value of stories in the lives of people with aphasia as they think about who they were before aphasia, who they are now, and who they will become in the future. Dr. Strong is an Assistant Professor at Central Michigan University in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and by the way, my colleague on the Aphasia Access Podversation team. Katie received her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences from Western Michigan University in 2015 and at CMU she leads the Strong Story Lab. Her research explores how speech-language pathologists can support people with aphasia as they rebuild their identities and improve their quality of life by co-constructing stories about who they are and will become. Dr. Strong is a 2019 Tavistock Distinguished Aphasia Scholar. She is a founding member of the Lansing Area Aphasia Support Group, and

Ellen Bernstein-Ellis, Director of the Aphasia Treatment Program (ATP) at Cal State East Bay in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and a member of the Aphasia Access Podcast Working Group, speaks with 2019 Tavistock Scholar Dr. Sharon Antonucci from Moss Rehabilitation Center about her work involving semantic feature analysis within a group context, and a pet project, pun intended, involving her pilot research with animal assisted therapy and its connection to the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia, the LPAA model. Dr. Sharon Antonucci is the Director of the Moss Rehabilitation Aphasia Center in Philadelphia, PA. She is a clinical researcher who has been working with those with aphasia and their families since 2001. Her work in aphasia rehabilitation integrates principles of cognitive neuropsychology, with those of the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia. She directs research in the assessment and treatment of lexical retrieval impairment in aphasia, outcome measurement for group a

Janet Patterson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Chief of the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Service at VA Northern California, speaks with Will Evans, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, about Aphasia Games for Health, a project at the intersection of aphasia rehabilitation, adaptation deficit, gaming design, and community connectivity. Dr. Evans is an assistant professor and aphasia rehabilitation researcher in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Pittsburgh. In 2020 Will was named a Tavistock Trust for Aphasia Distinguished Scholar, USA. Will is spearheading a new project, Aphasia Games for Health, which is a collaborative effort among members of the aphasia community, professional game designers, and aphasia rehabilitation researchers. Together, they are seeking to 1) develop therapeutic games to help people with aphasia to continue to improve and connect long-term, and 2) help build and empower a broader aphasia games movement by providing resources for community groups, clinicians, and pro

During this episode, Dr. Katie Strong, Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Central Michigan University talks with Michelle Armour from the Northwestern Medicine Aphasia Center at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital about starting this program and creating a training program for healthcare workers to be better communication partners for people with aphasia..   Michelle Armour is a Speech-Language Pathologist, Master Clinician, and Program Lead Clinician of the Northwestern Medicine Aphasia Center at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton, IL. She specializes in stroke rehabilitation with specific areas of focus on aphasia and apraxia. She has presented her work at the national level and is currently serving as co-chair on the Aphasia and Other Communication Disorders Task Force through the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) Stroke iSIG Committee. Michelle and her team were awarded the first Northwestern Medicine Innovation Grant made possible by

Welcome to the Aphasia Access Conversations Podcast. I’m Jerry Hoepner, a faculty member in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. I am privileged to introduce today’s guest Jamie Azios.   GUEST BIO: Dr. Jamie Azios is an Assistant Professor at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. She is also a 2019 recipient of Tavistock Trust for Aphasia Distinguished Scholar. Jamie has expertise in qualitative research methodologies. Her research focuses on co-construction of conversation in aphasia and therapeutic interactions between providers and individuals with aphasia. Her recent work on social interactions of individuals with aphasia in long term care contexts.   In today’s episode you will: Learn about common barriers to social interactions for persons with aphasia living in long-term care settings. Specifically, there is often a hyper-focus on care tasks which can get in the way of getting to know the person with aphasia during those interactions. L

Ellen Bernstein-Ellis, Director of the Aphasia Treatment Program at Cal State East Bay, speaks with Judy Walker of the University of Maine about how we can use technology to improve the lives of individuals with aphasia, and how telepractice can promote the values of the life participation approach. Dr. Judy Walker is an associate professor and coordinator of the University of Maine speech therapy telepractice program. Her academic and research interests include speech therapy, telepractice, neuro linguistics and cognitive neuroscience. Dr. Walker established the University of Maine speech therapy telepractice program whose mission encompasses graduate student telepractice clinical training while providing speech therapy telepractice services to children and adults throughout Maine and at an international school in Fiji. In addition to coordinating this program, she provides clinical supervision to graduate students in the speech therapy telepractice practicum and teaches graduate courses in traumatic brain i

During this episode, Jerry Hoepner, a faculty member in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, speaks with Wayne Zorn, CeCelia Zorn, and their speech-language pathologist Tania Riske, about primary progressive aphasia. They also discuss the trio’s article, “Three Voices at the Table.” Wayne Zorn is a man of many dimensions. As others discover who he is, they find a person with a giving heart, a curious, precise, and engineering mind, and a fun-loving soul. CeCelia and Wayne met in high school in rural northeastern Wisconsin. Married for 45 years, CeCelia brings a threefold background to our discussion about PPA. CeCelia strives for a life enriched by kindness, joy, perseverance, curiosity, patience, and collaboration. Tania Riske is a speech-language pathologist at Mayo Health Systems – Eau Claire. She initially entered the speech language pathology field through her volunteer work with the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group and graduated from the Unive

During this episode, Dr. Katie Strong, Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Central Michigan University talks with Dr. Hsinhuei Sheen Chiou from Minnesota State University, Mankato about metacognitive instruction and goal attainment scaling for people with aphasia and clinical education. Dr. H. Sheen Chiou, Ph.D. CCC-SLP is a full professor in the Department of Speech, Hearing and Rehabilitation Services at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She teaches courses in adult neurogenic disorders including aphasia and acquired cognitive disorders and runs language and cognitive rehabilitation research. Her current research and clinical practice focus on patient-centered language and cognitive intervention for people with brain injuries (stroke, traumatic brain injury, neurodegenerative disorders) and meaningful engagements for people with dementia and their care partners. She leads an aphasia conversation group for Minnesota Connect Aphasia Now in Minnesota.  In this ep

Ellen Bernstein-Ellis, Director of the Aphasia Treatment Program at Cal State East Bay speaks with Megan Sutton about how to empower individuals with aphasia to engage with home practice goals and how incorporating apps may enhance practice opportunities. Megan Sutton is a speech-language pathologist and the co-founder of Tactus Therapy Solutions, an app development company that creates popular aphasia therapy apps. She has designed 20 apps for adult speech pathology, including the best-selling Language Therapy 4-in-1. Megan has over 15 years of experience working with people with aphasia in a variety of clinical settings including acute care, inpatient and outpatient rehab, and an intensive aphasia treatment program. She is the co-author of the stroke recovery book entitled Healing the Broken Brain and is an international speaker on the topic of using technology in aphasia therapy. Megan lives near Vancouver, Canada where she regularly helps with the Sea to Sky Aphasia Camp and is on the clinical faculty of

Ellen Bernstein-Ellis, Co-director of the Aphasia Treatment Program at Cal State East Bay speaks with Carol Dow-Richards about the importance of social connection for individuals with aphasia and their care partners and how it became the driving motivation behind The Aphasia Recovery Connection. Carol Dow-Richards is the Director of The Aphasia Recovery Connection, (ARC) a nonprofit organization. Carol spends her days walking alongside families as they navigate the road to recovery.   That is a road she knows all too well as her son David had a massive stroke destroying over half his left brain when he was only ten years old resulting in global aphasia and paralysis. While one Doctor suggested placing the fourth grader in a nursing home, David opted to fight - and clocked over 3,000 clinical hours of therapy over the next 15 years. Today, the mother and son duo are authors, have appeared on The Doctors, lead aphasia cruises and boot camps, speak at CEU events, and connect families like their own so others don

Katie Strong, Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Central Michigan University, talks with Jodi Morgan about aphasia programming at Brooks Rehabilitation Aphasia Center. Jodi Morgan, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist, manager and co-founder of the Brooks Rehabilitation Aphasia Center. She serves as Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences at Jacksonville University. She also teaches courses in adult language disorders and cognitive disorders and rehabilitation. Her research interests and publications are in the area of aphasia and cognitive-linguistic rehabilitation in adults. Jodi has received multiple ASHA ACE awards and is an active member of Special Interest Groups through ASHA. She is a member of the Jacksonville Area Speech Pathology Association and the Florida Speech and Hearing Association. Jodi recently received Brooks Rehabilitation Research Award.  She is currently a board member of Aphasia Access and serves as co-ch

Janet Patterson, Chief of the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Service at VA Northern California, speaks with Amber Richardson about the intersection of aphasia rehabilitation, group treatment, and telehealth service delivery. Amber is a staff speech-language pathologist at the VA Northern California Health Care System. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the College of William and Mary and completed her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at California State University, East Bay. Amber is pursuing her clinical doctorate in Speech Language Pathology at Northwestern University where her focus includes the study of aphasia group treatment, outcome measures and continuum of care. In today’s episode you will learn: strategies to create and sustain a virtual aphasia group the importance of a whole-patient support network for patients using telespeech-language pathology how aphasia rehabilitation and group treatment use the Internet to connect people in California and Washington

Jerry Hoepner, a faculty member in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, speaks to today’s guest, Julia Halvorson, from MnCAN – Minnesota Connect Aphasia Now. Julia Halvorson is a founding member and Executive Director of MnCAN and is passionate about the opportunity to develop aphasia programs that will connect people with aphasia and their care partners in Minnesota.  MnCAN is a nonprofit organization that has focused on providing supported conversation and life participation approaches to aphasia since it began in 2014.  Julia directs a staff of 17 Speech pathologists and 2 licensed counselors who provide aphasia groups and programs as well as support groups for people with aphasia and their care partners.  She has worked in the area of neurologic communication disorders for 40 years in acute care, long term rehab and outpatient settings as well as in rehab management. In this episode, listeners will hear and learn about: The logistics of devel

Dr. Katie Strong, Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Central Michigan University talks with Dr. Thomas Broussard about broadening the importance of aphasia advocacy and awareness. Thomas G. Broussard, Jr., Ph.D. is an awarded author, public speaker, and three-time stroke survivor.  He was a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, naval officer, naval shipbuilder, and a business owner in career development and training. He received his Ph.D. at The Heller School at Brandeis University in 2006.  His work was focused on helping people with a disability find work. Dr. Broussard was associate dean at The Heller School at Brandeis University until his stroke in 2011.  He lost his language and could not read, write or speak well, but kept a 500-page diary using metaphorical drawings with text that didn’t make any sense. He started his company, Stroke Educator, Inc. in 2015. He is conducting a national “Aim High for Aphasia” awareness campaign dedicated to educating people about aph

Janet Patterson, Chief of the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Service at VA Northern California, speaks with Cathy Off about creating and sustaining an aphasia group in a rural community. Dr. Off is an associate professor in the School of Speech, Language, Hearing, & Occupational Sciences in the College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Montana, where she directs the Big Sky Aphasia Program. In today’s episode, you will learn: • about disparities in health care for persons living in rural communities • strategies to identify challenges specific to sustaining an aphasia group in a rural community • how art, aphasia, and teaching and learning intersect in Missoula, Montana Download the Full Show Notes

Julie Hart is the Director of the TBI Medicaid Program in the Lally School of Education within the College of St. Rose. She developed the Moving Message Walk, which is celebrating its 10th year, and the Moving Message Fund, along with individuals with stroke and brain injury. In her everyday work, Julie Hart truly follows LPAA principles, nothing about us without us.  In today's episode, you will hear and learn as: Julie shares her years of collaboration with a cohesive, person-centered and innovative department at the College of St. Rose  After the first year, the Moving Message Fund was created to provide $2500 scholarship for therapy, technologies, and anything that will support communication of stroke and brain injury survivors The mission of the Moving Message Walk - celebrating people who have communication impairments, recognizing the strength they have, honoring their human nature, making people more aware of the reality of living with a communication disorder All of this takes place in collabo

Ellen Bernstein-Ellis, Co-director of the Aphasia Treatment Program at Cal State East Bay speaks with Jerry Kaplan about the history, structure, and future of the Boston University Aphasia Community Group.  Jerome Kaplan received his B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany and his M.A. from New York University. Now in his fiftieth year as a practicing SLP, Jerry has worked in academic, medical, rehabilitation, and research settings as well as in private practice. Founder of the Aphasia Community Group of Boston, now in its 30th year, Jerry has advocated for aphasia awareness and education through diverse and innovative programs, collaborating with noted actors, artists, filmmakers, and musicians. He has presented at the Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Aphasia Association, and ASHA Conferences. He is the recipient of the Partners Health Care Community Service Award and the Aphasia Access Innovator Award.  In today’s episode you will:  Learn about the structure and flow of a month