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For a no-cost consultation, tour and/or software demo contact: bill@aphasiatoolbox.com
We are the Aphasia Solutions Network (ASN). ASN is a community of people and organizations dedicated to helping people with aphasia talk again. We are dedicated to advancing the world of aphasia recovery. This community consists of an immediate family of our staff, clients and caregivers and an extended family of collaborating organizations, clinics/centers, colleges, researchers, speech/language pathologists (SLP), rehabilitation professionals, and corporations. The mission of ASN is to ensure that clients absolutely maximize their recovery of speech, language, reading and writing skills by making the most innovative and effective treatment tools, techniques and information affordable and accessible. We assist people with aphasia (PWA) in using tools that help them to accommodate their language impairment and to adapt to subsequent difficulties. Our aggressive efforts, however, center on the best possible recovery of speech and language skills. A unique, key element in our program is the skillful blend of patient supported and independent practice, training of caregivers as coaches, and engagement in conversation and practice with other PWA. One measure of the success of ASN is the number of PWA on its staff serving as team leaders, facilitators and peer coaches.
Services:
Individual (1:1) and small group (1:3 SLP-client ratio) treatment for aphasia and related disorders is provided through the Pittsburgh Aphasia Treatment, Research and Education Center (PATREC). A speech/language pathologist (SLP) experienced in the assessment and treatment of aphasia conducts these sessions. Offices in PA; OH; VA; Greece and Online everywhere
The ASN Small Group Program offers a variety of small groups that meet online ranging from support and treatment groups to public speaking and leadership groups for PWA. This program takes advantage of innovative technology and multidisciplinary fields of study to translate aphasia group research and evidence into affordable, accessible and effective tools for PWA. Visit our website calendar at http://aphasiatoolbox.earthwebplace.com/calendar.htm for dates and details.
The following is a list of our current groups:
The ongoing, intensive aphasia treatment program consists of individual treatment sessions combined with small group work and unlimited daily practice and coaching. Since aphasia recovery takes time, this program has no expiration date.
Proprietary Software:
Our exclusive software programs provide unlimited practice for PWA using innovative technology and technique. The programs provide to SLPs or practice coaches nearly all the stimuli and practice materials necessary to assist the client's treatment efforts. Results can be recorded, printed, or emailed to be used for data collection, record keeping, and/or everyday writing and speech practice.
Websites:
Bill Connors, MA, CCC-SLP, Founder, Director
For a no-cost consultation, tour and/or software demo contact: bill@aphasiatoolbox.com
We are the Aphasia Solutions Network (ASN). ASN is a community of people and organizations dedicated to helping people with aphasia talk again. We are dedicated to advancing the world of aphasia recovery. This community consists of an immediate family of our staff, clients and caregivers and an extended family of collaborating organizations, clinics/centers, colleges, researchers, speech/language pathologists (SLP), rehabilitation professionals, and corporations. The mission of ASN is to ensure that clients absolutely maximize their recovery of speech, language, reading and writing skills by making the most innovative and effective treatment tools, techniques and information affordable and accessible. We assist people with aphasia (PWA) in using tools that help them to accommodate their language impairment and to adapt to subsequent difficulties. Our aggressive efforts, however, center on the best possible recovery of speech and language skills. A unique, key element in our program is the skillful blend of patient supported and independent practice, training of caregivers as coaches, and engagement in conversation and practice with other PWA. One measure of the success of ASN is the number of PWA on its staff serving as team leaders, facilitators and peer coaches.
Services:
Individual (1:1) and small group (1:3 SLP-client ratio) treatment for aphasia and related disorders is provided through the Pittsburgh Aphasia Treatment, Research and Education Center (PATREC). A speech/language pathologist (SLP) experienced in the assessment and treatment of aphasia conducts these sessions. Offices in PA; OH; VA; Greece and Online everywhere
The ASN Small Group Program offers a variety of small groups that meet online ranging from support and treatment groups to public speaking and leadership groups for PWA. This program takes advantage of innovative technology and multidisciplinary fields of study to translate aphasia group research and evidence into affordable, accessible and effective tools for PWA. Visit our website calendar at http://aphasiatoolbox.earthwebplace.com/calendar.htm for dates and details.
The following is a list of our current groups:
- Public Speaking and Leadership Training for People with Aphasia
- Introduction to Our Software Group
- Men's Aphasia Bootcamp
- Aphasia Bootcamp
- Woman's Aphasia Club
- Aphasia Conversation Group
- Verbs Turn Me On Group
- Introduction to SentenceShapers Group (http://www.sentenceshaper.com)
- Small Group Focused Aphasia Treatment (2-3 clients)
- Oral Motor Coordination Group
- How to Be An Effective Practice Coach
- The Assertive Aphasia Consumer
- The SLP Roundtable Discussion and Grand Rounds
- Caregivers Support Group
- Knowledge of Words
The ongoing, intensive aphasia treatment program consists of individual treatment sessions combined with small group work and unlimited daily practice and coaching. Since aphasia recovery takes time, this program has no expiration date.
Proprietary Software:
- The Aphasia Sight Reader
- Verbal Working Memory and Attention Training for Aphasia
Our exclusive software programs provide unlimited practice for PWA using innovative technology and technique. The programs provide to SLPs or practice coaches nearly all the stimuli and practice materials necessary to assist the client's treatment efforts. Results can be recorded, printed, or emailed to be used for data collection, record keeping, and/or everyday writing and speech practice.
Websites:
- http://www aphasiatoolbox.com
- http://aphasiatoolbox.com/calendar/calendar.htm
- http://aphasiatoolbox.blogspot.com
Bill Connors, MA, CCC-SLP, Founder, Director
Pushpa Ramachandran,
MA, CCC-SLP, Team Leader Speech/language Pathology
Erin Connors, Team Leader Office management
Janet Ross, PWA, MSW, RSW,
Team Leader Support and Conversation Groups
Erin Connors, Team Leader Office management
Janet Ross, PWA, MSW, RSW,
Team Leader Support and Conversation Groups
Adam Miller, PWA, BS Computer Science,
Team Leader Information Technology and Web Designer
Nancy McCambridge, PWA, Billing Coordinator
Paul Berger, PWA, MA, MBA,
Author, Lecturer, StrokeSurvivor.com Consumer Consultant
Joe Miller, MS Information Technology, Consultant Information Technology
What sets us apart?
Today, 1.25 millions residents of the USA and Canada continue to suffer the isolation-causing, independence-robbing, devastating effects of aphasia. This intolerable condition persists despite millions and millions of dollars spent on efforts to help PWA.
The question then is: What does work for aphasia recovery? Here are 12 reasons why so many of our patients and clients have made real progress toward conversing, reading, writing, typing and talking again. By following these treatment principles, strategies and tactics, each activity and practice session becomes truly therapeutic and engaging. Patients eagerly practice hours each day, independently, with coaches, and with peers.
The twelve keys to our success:
Focus on natural conversation - We focus on you speaking and conversing again in a natural fashion. This means that you are using your own ideas and thoughts when independently generating speech and conversation. We do not believe that using imitation, closure tasks, naming tasks, pointing, or being cued by another person leads to the propositional conversation that you and every person with aphasia wants.
Reconnecting brain pathways - We work on reconnecting brain pathways that you use for normal, conversation speech by taking advantage of brain plasticity. Instead of picture stimuli, we have you work from your own memory or thought, whenever possible, then work on what you want to say [intent; speech acts] and organizing your words into sentences. We have found in our approach that neither your age nor years since your stroke are critical factors in your eventual aphasia recovery.
A challenging environment - We challenge you. Your treatment program is not only highly individualized, but also nurtured and developed on an ongoing basis. We even create materials and treatment protocols specifically for you and your special needs and strengths. No busy work. We reduce caregiver stress in most cases by saving time, encouraging patient involvement and increasing patient time spent with self-help practice.
Cognitive underpinnings - We strengthen your cognitive underpinnings so very critical to your ability to communicate effectively and easily. These include: verbal working memory; focused, selective and alternating attention skills; problem solving; mental resource allocation; and flexibility of thought. Success in aphasia recovery requires bolstering these.
Natural learning cycle - Your program transitions through direct treatment, structured practice, independent drill, and social, conversational usage. We guide you to becoming your own speech therapist. We help you and your caregivers genuinely understand aphasia [ metaphasia ] and focus on building effective self-help strategies and tools. In the long, only you can speak for yourself.
Affordable - We make treatment affordable. By combining self-help strategies; training of caregivers as coaches; peer tutors; small online groups; use of the Aphasia Sight Reader program at http://www.aphasiatoolbox.com , innovative tools, and the Interval Intensive Aphasia Treatment program, you can engage in this aphasia treatment at a fraction of the cost of traditional and intensive programs. We can do all this in your home using distance therapy online.
SMART activities - We use SMART treatment activities. We go beyond the clinical and research evidence utilizing knowledge from numerous sources including learning theory and cognitive neuroscience. We work at the sentence level whenever possible. We focus on verbs as they are the essence of a simple sentence. We avoid boring, tired drills.
Multifaceted approach - We use all possible angles to reconnect neural pathways: reading; writing; prosody [ melody, intonation, rhythm, etc]; gestures; technology; cognitive skills while we keep our focus on improving your conversational ability.
Addressing apraxia - If you have a more severe problem speaking, we deal effectively with the effects of apraxia using our Cognitive Restructuring for Apraxia Program and the effects of phonological aphasia [ difficulty finding or saying the correct speech sounds when you know the word in you head ] using our AphasiaPhonics Program.
Practice, practice, practice - We find ways for you to practice, and to want to practice, daily. Successful aphasia recovery takes time, persistence, and the use of smart treatment techniques and tools. We offer the exclusive Interval Intensive Aphasia Treatment Program that combines short burst s of intensive treatment with lots of ongoing self practice using innovative tools and materials. You have the opportunity to practice with and learn from PWA who have or are traveling successfully traveling the pathway of aphasia recovery.
Collaboration - We collaborate with other speech-language pathologists, therapists, clinics and/or programs you might be working with. Teamwork is essential to maximize your recovery. So is referring you to the finest of resources available. You will feel connected to a network of patients, caregivers, organizations, and professionals sharing a mission. You get to join a community of people aggressively traveling the pathway of aphasia recovery.
We never give up; neither should you - You get to work with a successful program that is innovative and dynamic knowing that we will never give up on you. There is no expiration date on your treatment program.
To receive our free newsletter:
Visit http://www.aphasiatoolbox.com - Click on Free Monthly Newsletter - Subscribe
Corporate structure:
ASN, PATREC, and http://www.aphasiatoolbox.com function under the auspices of the parent corporation The Aphasia Center of Innovative Treatment, Inc., incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, USA.
Team Leader Information Technology and Web Designer
Nancy McCambridge, PWA, Billing Coordinator
Paul Berger, PWA, MA, MBA,
Author, Lecturer, StrokeSurvivor.com Consumer Consultant
Joe Miller, MS Information Technology, Consultant Information Technology
What sets us apart?
Today, 1.25 millions residents of the USA and Canada continue to suffer the isolation-causing, independence-robbing, devastating effects of aphasia. This intolerable condition persists despite millions and millions of dollars spent on efforts to help PWA.
The question then is: What does work for aphasia recovery? Here are 12 reasons why so many of our patients and clients have made real progress toward conversing, reading, writing, typing and talking again. By following these treatment principles, strategies and tactics, each activity and practice session becomes truly therapeutic and engaging. Patients eagerly practice hours each day, independently, with coaches, and with peers.
The twelve keys to our success:
Focus on natural conversation - We focus on you speaking and conversing again in a natural fashion. This means that you are using your own ideas and thoughts when independently generating speech and conversation. We do not believe that using imitation, closure tasks, naming tasks, pointing, or being cued by another person leads to the propositional conversation that you and every person with aphasia wants.
Reconnecting brain pathways - We work on reconnecting brain pathways that you use for normal, conversation speech by taking advantage of brain plasticity. Instead of picture stimuli, we have you work from your own memory or thought, whenever possible, then work on what you want to say [intent; speech acts] and organizing your words into sentences. We have found in our approach that neither your age nor years since your stroke are critical factors in your eventual aphasia recovery.
A challenging environment - We challenge you. Your treatment program is not only highly individualized, but also nurtured and developed on an ongoing basis. We even create materials and treatment protocols specifically for you and your special needs and strengths. No busy work. We reduce caregiver stress in most cases by saving time, encouraging patient involvement and increasing patient time spent with self-help practice.
Cognitive underpinnings - We strengthen your cognitive underpinnings so very critical to your ability to communicate effectively and easily. These include: verbal working memory; focused, selective and alternating attention skills; problem solving; mental resource allocation; and flexibility of thought. Success in aphasia recovery requires bolstering these.
Natural learning cycle - Your program transitions through direct treatment, structured practice, independent drill, and social, conversational usage. We guide you to becoming your own speech therapist. We help you and your caregivers genuinely understand aphasia [ metaphasia ] and focus on building effective self-help strategies and tools. In the long, only you can speak for yourself.
Affordable - We make treatment affordable. By combining self-help strategies; training of caregivers as coaches; peer tutors; small online groups; use of the Aphasia Sight Reader program at http://www.aphasiatoolbox.com , innovative tools, and the Interval Intensive Aphasia Treatment program, you can engage in this aphasia treatment at a fraction of the cost of traditional and intensive programs. We can do all this in your home using distance therapy online.
SMART activities - We use SMART treatment activities. We go beyond the clinical and research evidence utilizing knowledge from numerous sources including learning theory and cognitive neuroscience. We work at the sentence level whenever possible. We focus on verbs as they are the essence of a simple sentence. We avoid boring, tired drills.
Multifaceted approach - We use all possible angles to reconnect neural pathways: reading; writing; prosody [ melody, intonation, rhythm, etc]; gestures; technology; cognitive skills while we keep our focus on improving your conversational ability.
Addressing apraxia - If you have a more severe problem speaking, we deal effectively with the effects of apraxia using our Cognitive Restructuring for Apraxia Program and the effects of phonological aphasia [ difficulty finding or saying the correct speech sounds when you know the word in you head ] using our AphasiaPhonics Program.
Practice, practice, practice - We find ways for you to practice, and to want to practice, daily. Successful aphasia recovery takes time, persistence, and the use of smart treatment techniques and tools. We offer the exclusive Interval Intensive Aphasia Treatment Program that combines short burst s of intensive treatment with lots of ongoing self practice using innovative tools and materials. You have the opportunity to practice with and learn from PWA who have or are traveling successfully traveling the pathway of aphasia recovery.
Collaboration - We collaborate with other speech-language pathologists, therapists, clinics and/or programs you might be working with. Teamwork is essential to maximize your recovery. So is referring you to the finest of resources available. You will feel connected to a network of patients, caregivers, organizations, and professionals sharing a mission. You get to join a community of people aggressively traveling the pathway of aphasia recovery.
We never give up; neither should you - You get to work with a successful program that is innovative and dynamic knowing that we will never give up on you. There is no expiration date on your treatment program.
To receive our free newsletter:
Visit http://www.aphasiatoolbox.com - Click on Free Monthly Newsletter - Subscribe
Corporate structure:
ASN, PATREC, and http://www.aphasiatoolbox.com function under the auspices of the parent corporation The Aphasia Center of Innovative Treatment, Inc., incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, USA.
