Tips, Tricks, and Tools: Aphasia Recovery Connection’s Talk Tools

Aphasia organizations and speech therapy practices put out helpful communication materials for people with aphasia to use throughout their day. From making it easier to order at restaurants easier to navigating medical appointments, these tips, tricks, and tools will help you communicate what you need to say.

We are highlighting some of these great tips, tricks, and tools.

Aphasia Recovery Connection: Talk Tools

Take a look at Talk Tools from Aphasia Recovery Connection.

We once wrote a post about these downloadable cards, but we like them so much that we are featuring them again.

What Aphasia Recovery Connection Says

We asked ARC about these downloadable cards.

What was the inspiration for this resource?

The Talk Tools were inspired by the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia (LPAA). This model encourages people with aphasia to re-engage in their lives and communities. ARC’s programs are all modeled off of the LPAA approach. In creating the Talk Tools, we wanted to provide a communication tool tailored to specific community locations. Aphasia is a disability further complicated by a lack of community awareness. With Talk Tools, people with aphasia can now find success as they visit the deli, the doctor, the library, and other community locations. Without tools and strategies, community re-entry can be challenging. The Talk Tools promote community re-engagement with the use of visual support.

How can people with aphasia best use them as a communication aid?

ARC’s Talk Tools can be used in many ways! All Talk Tools are free to download. Many people with aphasia print them out to take into their communities. Many others download and save them on their phones, tablets, or communication devices. Both ways make it easy and convenient to use them when needed!

Here are a few ways people with aphasia use ARC’s Talk Tools!

When out in the community, use the Talk Tool to point to the item you want to request.

Use the Talk Tool for communication practice. Practice saying each icon on the board.

Challenge yourself. Try to make a phrase or sentence using each icon on the board.

Use the Talk Tool for scripting. Practice placing an order or making a request before heading out in your community.

Bring the Talk Tool as a backup. Sometimes, communication fails. Never fear with your Talk Tool near.

Share the Talk Tools with a friend or family member. Some people with aphasia have trouble with comprehension. Friends and family can use this to communicate with their loved ones.

Anything you’d like people to know about your organization?

Aphasia Recovery Connection is a non-profit organization that supports ending the isolation of aphasia with advocacy and education, online support, daily Zoom calls, and aphasia retreats.