Yorkshire charity helps those with aphasia during the pandemic

A Yorkshire charity that supports people with aphasia has utilised online technology to help sufferers during the pandemic.
The team at Speaking with I.T.The team at Speaking with I.T.
The team at Speaking with I.T.

Aphasia is a language disorder, commonly occurring after stroke or head injury, which affects a person's ability to speak, read, write and understand language. Since 2011, Speak With I.T. has worked with people with aphasia to provide dedicated, consistent help for them to develop their communication skills and boost their general wellbeing.

The project receives referrals, primarily from NHS speech and language therapists, before matching the person with aphasia with a trained volunteer speech support worker, who works with the person on individual communication goals: these could be saying the names of family members, interpersonal communication in relationships, writing a shopping list, or sending text messages, for example.

The person with aphasia is provided with an iPad pre-installed with leading speech and language therapy apps, for up to six months, allowing them to trial all the relevant apps before deciding which one suits their needs the best. Alongside volunteer support these apps help them to achieve their communication goals and provides them with something to focus on which is especially important during the current pandemic.

Speaking with I.T. is utilising technology to help people in this difficult timeSpeaking with I.T. is utilising technology to help people in this difficult time
Speaking with I.T. is utilising technology to help people in this difficult time

With continuation funding from the National Lottery ensuring the project will be funded until at least July 31 2023, Speak With I.T. had to adapt to the challenges of the pandemic to ensure they could continue to provide support while maintaining social distancing.

Many services moved onto video call conferencing, utilising Zoom. People who had already engaged with the service, such as Audrey, who has expressive and receptive aphasia as well as verbal apraxia (severely limited speech) and Stuart, who has verbal apraxia and expressive aphasia, have now had part of their assistance moved online. In addition to the use of iPads, both Audrey and Stuart receive weekly Zoom calls from their volunteers.

Stuart observed that it has helped with the lack of social contact that he and his wife were experiencing due to the pandemic: “The charity has helped an awful lot with it. Weekly appointments help a lot. We appreciate what you have been doing.”

Audrey's husband, Alan, has also praised Speak With I.T., saying how much their worker Amy has helped Audrey during this time. “We look forward to the meetings. Amy is always happy and helpful and is very enthusiastic. The therapy offered by Speak With IT has been the most effective we have had since Audrey had her stroke.”

In November, Speak With I.T. will be running an induction to train new volunteers to support people with aphasia, many of whom are now accessing support via zoom. If you are interested in providing help, please contact the charity manager at [email protected]

If you or a loved one are living with aphasia, and want to learn more about the help available, visit the Speak With I.T. website. (ad ops please link to https://www.speakwithit.org/

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