NEWS ARCHIVES

 

THE APHASIA ALLIANCE

In March, members of the Aphasia Alliance met for one of their two meetings each year.

The ‘winter’ meeting, hosted each year by the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia, is held so that all the organisations can give brief updates of what they are doing. This way we can keep each other informed, see where we can support one another and try to ensure that there is minimal replication of work. In doing this we aim to maximise the scarce resources and collaborate when appropriate.

The Alliance welcomed NETA (the North East Trust for Aphasia), who were represented by Janet Speight, supported by Julie Morris and AphasiaNow, who were unable to attend.

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists told the Alliance about their campaign Giving Voice which will run throughout 2011. The key message is “Speech and Language Therapy transforms lives”. For more information about this campaign please go to http://www.givingvoiceuk.org.

In the autumn meeting of the Aphasia Alliance, focuses each year on a different topic of mutual interest for those working in the field of aphasia. The meeting this year will be hosted by NETA in Newcastle and will explore issues relating to IT and software.

The Aphasia Alliance members:

AphasiaNow

British Aphasiology Society

Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland

Connect

Different Stroke

Dyscover

North East Trust for Aphasia

Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

Speakeasy

Speakability

The Stroke Association

The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia

 

DAVID FOX RETIRES FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Board of Trustees of the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia want to thank David Fox for his commitment to the Trust and all he has done for 19 years since the very beginning. David and Lord Tavistock founded the Trust in 1992 because Lord Tavistock wanted to help other people with aphasia as he had been helped.

David was not only a Trustee, but he and Lord Tavistock were friends and he wanted to help him fulfil his wish to make more people aware of aphasia.

David was involved with projects from the very beginning and he helped the TTA to develop and grow along the way. Over the years David’s input helped the Trust fund some very beneficial research projects; all of which have helped people with aphasia directly or indirectly. From these things the TTA has become known nationally and internationally.

The Trustees will miss him and wish him a very happy retirement.

 

SALLY BYNG RETIRES FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Board of Trustees of the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia have, with sadness, accepted the resignation of Sally Byng – unfortunately due to pressures of her current work and prior commitments she is left with insufficient time to be able to contribute as fully as she would like to.

On leaving Sally said “I have enjoyed my time on the Board and leave with regret. The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia has made a significant difference to the world of aphasia by funding projects so creatively over many years. The work that it funds makes a real contribution to enabling aphasia to be better understood and to making resources and opportunities available to more people with aphasia. I leave giving the Trust every good wish for the future of its important work.”

 

SIXTH UK STROKE FORUM CONFERENCE

29 November to 1 December 2011

SECC, Glasgow

Sessions include:

Join us for the UK’s biggest multi-disciplinary stroke conference.

Register by 15 August to save 15%.

The Call for Abstracts closes on 17 June.

www.ukstrokeforum.org

 

Sheila Hale's book The Man Who Lost His Language: A case of aphasia has been revised and re-published by Jessica Kingsley. It can be ordered from the publisher directly or through bookshops or Amazon.

 

APHASIA CORNER BLOG

The Aphasia Corner Blog provides aphasia-related information for people with aphasia, caregivers, and speech therapists. This blog features guest posts from experts in the field of aphasia research, as well as from people with aphasia, and their caregivers. Aphasia Corner Blog allows you to subscribe and receive notifications when new posts are published.

http://aphasiacorner.com/blog

The plan is for Aphasia Corner to become an online service for people with aphasia, with membership. The service is currently in closed beta testing and it will be available in late 2010.

 

Piano Recital by Eduard Kunz, St James’s Church, Piccadilly, 7th April 2011

The Trustees would like to thank everyone who supported the piano recital given by Eduard Kunz, on behalf of the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia.

'Eduard Kunz was born in Siberia. He studied at the Gnessin Special School for Gifted Children and at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. He gained his Postgraduate Diploma with Distinction as well as the Gold Medal for performance from the Royal Northern College of Music. Eduard has a remarkable record; named among ‘tomorrow's 10 great pianists to watch’ by the BBC Music Magazine, he is laureate of 13 first prizes in International Piano Competitions and has performed in major concert halls throughout Europe.'

Eduard’s repertoire included music from D Scarlatti, Beethoven, Debussy, Ravel, Rachmaninov, Albeniz, Paderewski and Liszt.

As one person wrote after the concert: 'I was so impressed, I have never heard or seen such brilliant playing. I say "seen" because it was an added dimension to see those fingers at work, the power, the control, the lightness of touch and the absolute mastery of what he was doing. The whole evening had a wonderful atmosphere and [we] loved every minute of it’.

The Yamaha S6 Handcrafted Concert Grand Piano was generously loaned by Yamaha Pianos for this recital.

 

OPEN GARDEN

The garden at Bedford House was open to visitors on Sunday, 12th June. Despite it being a cold and rainy day, over £1,000 was raised for The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia. Thank you to all those who supported this event.

 

ONLINE HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH APHASIA

The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia is pleased to announce that they are funding a project to set up an online resource to enable people with aphasia, therapists and other interested parties to find, on one website, information about aphasia related software therapy programmes (English language).

New research shows that it is possible for the brain to develop new capabilities to replace those lost by the damage caused by the stroke or injury. If the brain receives lots of stimulus then it can adapt using new pathways – can happen at any age and does not require the use of drugs or surgery. Realistically, it is not possible to provide each individual with aphasia with the intensive therapy to achieve sufficient stimulus necessary for most people. Neither the NHS, nor any other healthcare system, could afford to fund the volume of speech and language therapy needed to ensure that enough targeted practice is given to gain the maximum improvement in communication that all would hope for.

Although not a substitute for one-on-one speech and language therapy, research has shown that the use of computer based treatment, in their own homes, can be very successful. It is not only a very cost effective way of getting on going therapy to those who need it, but it also provides a way in which people with aphasia can access regular therapy when no other may be available.

More and more software programmes, however, are being released on to the market and it is difficult for speech and language therapists, people with aphasia and their families and friends, to know which programme is best for whom. This website will make it easier for people to find the information they need to help them make informed choices.

The new website will be kept up to date as new software becomes available. The work is being carried out by the Speech & Language Therapy Research Unit based at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, under the leadership of Brian Petheram,. The launch of the website is planned for late spring 2011. We will keep you informed.

The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia would like to thank The Eranda Foundation for its generous support, without which this project would not have been possible.

 

EMMA THOMPSON SUPPORTS CONNECT

Emma knows from personal experience what it is like to live with aphasia. Her father was Eric Thompson – the “voice” of The Magic Roundabout. He had a stroke when he was just 48 years old and all the family had to find new ways to communicate.

http://www.ukconnect.org/celebritysupport.aspx

 

APHASIA THE MOVIE

Hope is a four letter word is an hour long multi media presentation by Carl McIntyre who has Aphasia. It is the true story of Actor Carl McIntyre who after suffering a massive stroke and losing his ability to read, write and talk, struggles against overwhelming odds to redefine his life.

http://www.aphasiathemovie.com/Aphasia_Project/The_Film.html

 

PEOPLE WITH APHASIA AND COMPUTERS AT CONNECT, the communication disability network

Communicating with friends and family via FACEBOOK and SKYPE can be a way to reduce isolation and keep in touch with your friends and family;

Connect, the communication disability network has a Facebook page “You can sign up to be a ‘fan’ on Facebook and keep in touch with other people with aphasia. Joining Facebook is easy and it is free. Look up Facebook and complete the form on the home page by tying in “Connect Communication” in the Search Box.”

“Also try using Skype to communicate with friends and family. Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice calls over the internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free; download your aphasia friendly instructions here.”

http://www.ukconnect.org/aphasiaquestionsandanswers.aspx

 

THE 15th DUKE OF BEDFORD

The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia is delighted to announce that the Duke of Bedford has joined the board of Trustees. Andrew has followed the progress of the Trust since his father established the TTA in 1992, following his stroke in 1988, and his remarkable recovery from the ensuing aphasia, which had such a detrimental effect on his ability to communicate. “I have always been very proud of what my father achieved, personally in raising awareness of aphasia, and through the TTA and all its work. Since his death in 2003, the Trust has continued his vision and I am thrilled to be able to join the team that is taking it forward. He always wanted the TTA to be an organisation that made a difference to people’s lives – and it does. I look forward to being part of its future.”

 

SMALL GRANTS

The Trustees recently reviewed the small grants which were launched in 2005. In the last 5 years 123 small grants, worth over £42,000 to individuals, groups and carers in the UK have been given. The purpose of these grants is to improve the quality of life for those with aphasia and their carers. Grants are reviewed monthly, aiming to help meet needs quickly. To date we have given a variety of grants that have ranged from £80 to our maximum per month of £1,000.

We are seeing an increase in the number of requests for aphasia software and suspect this will continue. We are aware that if the number of requests continues to increase, we will need to start saying ‘no’ more often.

For this reason, it has been decided that, except under exceptional circumstances, we will no longer give grants to buy computers.

 

SPEAKABILITY’S 2010 MARY LAW LECTURE

The announcement that Professor Chris Code was the recipient of The Robin Tavistock Award 2010 was made during the 14th International Aphasia Rehabilitation Conference in Montreal Canada on 29th June where he was a keynote speaker.

The Trustees are delighted to be able to present Chris with the award on 7th December 2010, at Speakability’s Mary Law Lecture, which Chris will be delivering. The Mary Law Lecture is given as a tribute to the memory of the mother of Diana Law, who following a stroke, founded the ADA: Action for Dysphasic Adults, which is now known as Speakability. Chris Code has been closely involved with Speakability since its early days.

The lecture will take place at Mary Sumner House, 24 Tufton Street , London , SW1P 3RB. See the link below to book tickets.

http://www.speakability.org.uk/

 

THE ROBIN TAVISTOCK AWARD 2010

PROFESSOR CHRIS CODE MA PHD FBPSS FRCSLT

The Trustees are very pleased to announce that Professor Chris Code is the 5th recipient of the Robin Tavistock Award.

The announcement of the award was made at the 14th International Aphasia Rehabilitation Conference, Montreal, Canada after Professor Code had delivered his keynote speech on the last day of the conference, 29th June 2010. Arrangements will be made to present the award to Professor Code when he returns to England.

For more information go to the Robin Tavistock Award Page.

 

CONNECT

New services

Connect now have a service for people with aphasia in Wandsworth. More information here http://www.ukconnect.org/news_1_440.aspx

And coming very soon people with aphasia in Gloucester will be able to take advantage of a Connect befriending service where people with aphasia visit and support a person with aphasia at home.

London service expansion

Also our services in London now offer a wide range of services for people with aphasia

More information here http://www.ukconnect.org/servicesforpeoplewithaphasia.aspx

 

UNIVERSITY STUDENT PRIZES 2010

It is the end of the academic year 2009-2010 and we are finding out to whom the academic staff have awarded this year’s Tavistock Trust for Aphasia Prizes.

The award goes to the student (or students, if it is shared) who have produced the best piece of work relating to aphasia during that academic year. The work has to be an excellent ‘piece of work’ relating to aphasia.

For a full list of prize winners, please go to Recipients of Student Prizes.

 

BAS THERAPY SYMPOSIUM

The event will be held 9-10 SEPTEMBER 2010 at the Research Beehive at Newcastle University which is located in the city centre. The Therapy Symposium concentrates on what therapists actually do. It is a unique opportunity to hear about therapy techniques in detail and participate in lively debates.

For more information please go to http://www.bas.org.uk/symposia.html

 

THE APHASIA ALLIANCE

The Aphasia Alliance welcomes The North East Trust for Aphasia (NETA) who has recently joined.

 

SPEAKEASY CONFERENCE

Speakeasy is organising a day for people who have aphasia, their carers and staff working with them.

It will be held on the 12th October 2010 10.00am – 4.00pm at Christchurch & Neighbourhood Centre, Great Eaves Road, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 0PX

To find out more go to http://www.buryspeakeasy.org.uk/support-news.php

 

SPEAKEASY CONFERENCE

Send an e-card

Speakability's E-Cards

Email a free Speakability E-Card to a friend or relative with your own special message!

The following text is printed on each E-Card, along with Speakability's contact details:

More than 250,000 people in the UK have Aphasia, caused by damage to the language centres of the brain following a stroke, head injury, brain tumour or other neurological condition.

We find it difficult to speak, read or write, especially under pressure.

But our intellect is not affected.

Please speak clearly and give us time.

Thank you.

To send an E-Card go to http://www.speakability.org.uk/Aphasia+Forum/speakability_e-cards.

SPEAKEASY CONFERENCE 12th October 2010

Speakeasy is organising a day for people who have aphasia, their carers and staff working with them.

It will be held on the 12th October 2010 10.00am – 4.00pm at Christchurch & Neighbourhood Centre, Great Eaves Road, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 0PX.

More information can be found on their poster

 

UNIVERSITY STUDENT PRIZES IN NEW ZEALAND

The Trustees are pleased to announce that the three universities in New Zealand that have Speech and Language Therapy Courses have accepted our invitation to participate in the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia Prize to students for the best piece of work that relates to aphasia.

2010 winners are:

Kirsty O’Connor, The University of Auckland

Meghann Grawbury, The University of Canterbury

 

DR SALLY BYNG JOINS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Sally Byng OBE to the board of Trustees. There can be few in the world of aphasia, and beyond, who are not familiar with Sally’s phenomenal contribution to this field.

Robin Tavistock, who founded the TTA, knew Sally well. He had great admiration both for her and her work and we know he would be, as we are, thrilled that she has agreed to become a trustee. Sally’s knowledge and experience will be invaluable to the board. We look forward to working with her over the years to come.

 

THE TRUSTEES OF THE TAVISTOCK TRUST FOR APHASIA ARE PLEASED TO BE FUNDING FURTHER WORK AT SPEAKEASY IN LANCASHIRE

Speakeasy works to support people with aphasia, and their carers, to reach individual goals, with the aim of encouraging greater involvement in social networks and life in general.

This grant will help maintain the momentum generated by the project the TTA has funded over the last three years. It will support the continuation of the existing StepbyStep aphasia therapy and specialised computer work which has become a core part of Speakeasy’s activity.

 

THE HONOURABLE CHARLES CAYZER RETIREMENT

Charles Cayzer has sadly retired as a Trustee due to demands on his time. Although Charles was with the Trust for a short time, his financial knowledge was especially helpful in the current economic climate. Charles will be sorely missed.

 

EIRIAN JONES RETIRES FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Trustees of the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia are so grateful to Eirian Jones for her contribution as a Trustee over the last 4 years. The TTA owes Eirian a debt that can never be repaid. Not only for her advice, guidance and benefit of her experience which have been invaluable over the last few years, but maybe even more to the point, without her, the TTA would never have come into existence. It was her dogged, professional and compassionate work as a speech and language therapist that enabled Robin to recover so much of his language. She was passionate about her patients and about wanting to raise the profile of aphasia, and this was an inspiration to Robin, who went on to found the TTA. We wish her every happiness in her retirement.

 

GROUND-BREAKING 'LIFE AFTER STROKE' SERVICES GET IMPORTANT FUNDING BOOST

The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia and the Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust have granted Connect – the communication disability network £430,000 for the second phase of their Access to Life project which is a strategic part of Connect’s work in supporting people living with aphasia (communication disability following stroke or accident).

Read the full press release here

 

SMALL GRANTS

 

This year we have awarded a total of nearly £10,000 to improve the quality of life for those with aphasia and their carers. To date we have given a variety of grants that have ranged from £80 to our maximum per month of £1,000.

 

UNIVERSITY STUDENT PRIZES 2009

 

It is the end of the academic year 2008-2009 and we are finding out to whom the academic staff have awarded this year’s Tavistock Trust for Aphasia Prizes.

The award goes to the student (or students, if it is shared) who have produced the best piece of work relating to aphasia during that academic year. The work has to be an excellent ‘piece of work’ relating to aphasia.

The most recent student to receive this award is Rupinder Sharma, University of Birmingham.

For a full list of prize winners, please go to Recipients of Student Prizes.

 

Special event for health professionals

We are having a special event for health professionals on 17th June so they can come and see and hear for themselves how Connect makes a difference. They can meet people with aphasia and experience some of the activities on offer.

More information here: http://www.ukconnect.org/aphasiaservicesevent.aspx

 

APHASIA ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND (APHASIANZ) INC.

 

2009 APHASIA CONFERENCE "APHASIA THERAPY AND BEYOND"

This conference, the third aphasia conference in New Zealand, was held over three days from 21st to 23rd October 2009, with the main conference programme running over one full day and two half days, and a symposium for health professionals on the afternoon of day two.

People with aphasia made up 25% of those attending, with family members accounting for a further 14%. There were a significant number of Speech Language Therapy students attending, as well as qualified SLTs and other health professionals.

Read the full article here

 

THE UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA AWARDS

 

TAVISTOCK STUDENT PRIZE

Charlotte Poulson, a third year Speech and Language Therapy student, has been awarded the prestigious annual Tavistock Trust for Aphasia Student Prize.

The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia Student Prize is awarded to students in participating Universities for “an excellent piece of work relating to aphasia”.

Presenting the award to Charlotte, Jane Cross, Acting Head of the School of Allied Health Professions, explained that Charlotte had won the award “on the basis of an outstanding case study assignment on language disorders”.

Charlotte Poulson said, “I was surprised and delighted to receive the award. I found the work very rewarding and I’m really looking forward to working in the profession, focusing on adult acquired impairment. I’ll be spending the prize money on books!”

 

THE ROBIN TAVISTOCK AWARD 2009

 

DR JENNY DAUTLICH DFPH

The Trustees are very pleased to announce that Dr Jenny Dautlich DFPH is the 4th recipient of the Robin Tavistock Award.

Henrietta, Duchess of Bedford was pleased to present Jenny with the award on the 9th September 2009 at the BAS conference held in Sheffield.

For more information go to the Robin Tavistock Award Page.

 

THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

 

The TTA is pleased to announce that in June 2009 it renewed, for a further 2 years, its joint funding of a part time Speech and Language Therapist at The University of Newcastle upon Tyne. The post, which is based in the Aphasia Centre at the University, enables the centre to offer intensive speech therapy as well as group therapy.

Added to that, there is exciting news with regard to the Aphasia Clinic team’s recently completed work on Aphasia Therapy Resources, funded by the TTA. The resources are for Speech and Language Therapists and for guided use by students. These are now for sale and therefore can benefit many more people. All profits will be used to expand and develop this work.

The materials are sold as DVDs, with a manual

Find out more

 

THE GREAT NORTH SWIM - 12TH SEPTEMBER 2009

 

The Trustees would like to thank everyone who sponsored Nicky Campbell’s swim on behalf of the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia. He swam the mile in 39 minutes 28 seconds. The total raised to date is a staggering £25,700, with a further £5,000 promised. All proceeds will be used to further the aims of the Trust and we cannot thank you enough for your very generous donations.

 

CITY LIT

City Lit, the Centre for Adult Learning in London offers speech therapy courses for people with communication disabilities.

We have just completed our funding for a Total Communication Group, a pilot study run by City Lit to help people with aphasia. As a result of the success of the group, City Lit has agreed to fund for a further year. See more under funded projects.

 

FUNDRAISING

 

OPEN GARDEN

The Dowager Duchess of Bedford opened her garden to the public on the 19th & 20th June. Over £1,100 was raised for The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia. Thank you to all those who supported this event.

 

Open Garden

The Yard Sale held 12th September at Bedford House, home of Henrietta, Duchess of Bedford raised £642. Thank you to all who came and supported this event. The garden was open to the public for two days in June. We raised over £1,000 for the TTA. Thank you to all those who contributed.

The Tavistock Trust

 

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