Skip Links

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.

Innovative Speech Therapy Communication Boards

Take a look at these resources from Innovative Speech Therapy.

What Innovative Speech Therapy Says

We asked Innovative Speech Therapy about their helpful resources.

What was the inspiration for these resources?

 

I gathered together and created these resources to help families, people with aphasia, and everyone who helps them more easily access and learn about a wide variety of low-tech and higher-tech tools to support many areas of communication that we often don’t think to use. Most of us use a smartphone, tablet, or computer, yet we don’t think to look at the settings to explore how they can be leveraged to enhance communication. All devices can now be configured to read text aloud and convert our words to text- for free! We can also use maps, address books, photos, calendars, and automated captioning to support language and assist with everyday tasks. There are also terrific apps that can be configured to meet an individual’s needs to assist with practicing new skills to improve receptive and expressive language.

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

 

The downloadable digital communication boards available on my website can assist both receptively and expressively to help people with aphasia understand what is said to them and communicate their needs and desires. I did not create any of the boards but asked for permission to share the resources with their creators to make it easier for families to find fantastic resources.

 

Also, the one-page download of the 10 Tech Tips to Enhance Communication raises awareness that there are many tools at our fingertips that families and professionals may already use but haven’t thought to use to help a person with aphasia. Caregivers can point to items as they speak to help with comprehension or encourage the person with aphasia to use it to convert information to the conversation partner.

 

Another resource, the free webinar, is the TheyMayNotKnow.com series. I’ve offered this free webinar series for about six years. I realize how hard it is to learn more about what you don’t even know exists! During the webinars, I feature different tech topics and resources. On June 7th, I featured simplified video chat options such as dropping in with the Echo Show device or using the Grandpad, Sociavi, or OnScreen to video chat with people with communication and cognitive challenges. The recording was free for two weeks for everyone who registered, and after that, the cost is $18.00. Video calls are a great way for people with aphasia to communicate!

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

 

I’m a speech-language pathologist passionate about helping colleagues and individuals with communication, learning, and cognitive challenges to leverage technology’s benefits. Just one or two changes can transform a person’s well-being! I offer free 15-minute phone consultations, create customized group presentations and courses and provide individual tech advising sessions. I am based in the Washington, DC area. My entire focus is on helping people of all ages and abilities learn about the apps, features, and online resources available to maximize progress and improve quality of life. More information about my online technology advising services can be found on my website.