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“It’s a lot of help… I don’t like to get out much but I love coming here. I have to walk with a cane, and it bothers me when people watch and judge me. So this helps me actually get out and meet with people… It lets me know I’m not alone” -Tanikia S.

“I don’t like to go nowhere, I just like coming here!” -Eva M.

Group photo with two of our founding members. Pictured from left: Melody Culbert, Tanikia S., Eva M., Leonie Ly, SLP Graduate Student Clinician

The communication group known to immeasurably impact lives is expanding: The Aphasia Initiative has a brand new satellite location on Columbus’s near East side!  Patients traveled from as far as Sunbury to attend two successful pilot events in December 2022.  This innovative effort, originally pioneered by Speech-Language Pathologists on OSU’s main campus, later became a passion project of Melody Culbert, MA, CCC-SLP.  Melody was inspired to expand the Aphasia Initiative when placed at East Hospital as a graduate student in 2019.  As pandemic restrictions lifted, a need for social interaction in the healing process became enhanced; for individuals with aphasia and other speech disorders, this was even more significant.  Presently, this effort has already become a reliable highlight in some members’ weekly schedules, as they navigate society with their communication differences.  For community members around the near East side particularly, accessibility to free programs that offer increased efforts in functional life participation can be crucial.

The communication group utilizes activities informed both by evidence based practice, and the meaningful exchanges innately brought out by the soul of the community, to create an impactful experience.  Every Wednesday, members gather to participate in activities that enhance multimodal expressive and receptive language.  Structured conversation prompts given by therapists target expressive language and simultaneously provide opportunities for self-expression and connection.  Sharing personal goals focuses on sequencing and planning strategies, while also opening up chances for support for individual achievements.  Writing and signing get-well-soon cards allows practice in alternative communication modalities, and most importantly, uplifts members of the community in vulnerable times.  We hope that the Aphasia Initiative at OSU East can continue to bring light into this brilliant community.

The Aphasia Initiative East meets on Wednesdays from 1-2:30pm at OSU Outpatient Care East: 543 Taylor Ave, Columbus, OH 43203. Contact Melody Culbert at melody.culbert@osumc.edu for more information and program registration. Join us for time filled with joy and connection!

Please check out the latest issue of Communication Connection!

Aphasia Initiative YiR 2022

by Frank DeVito

For the second consecutive summer, the Aphasia Initiative has volunteered at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center. The center offers engaging hands-on activities and opportunities for people of all ages to connect with nature in the heart of downtown Columbus.

Members, with the support of undergraduate and graduate students, helped the center with a wide variety of tasks such as: preparing camp materials, restocking brochures and backpacks, and organizing the library. Members also were able to support campers by reading stories aloud.

This partnership has been a wonderful experience for everyone. Please learn more about the Audubon Center at grange.audubon.org

Emily a speech-language-pathologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. She earned her Master’s in Speech Language Pathology from Indiana University in 2016. Following graduation, she honed her clinical skills at Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital as part of the brain injury team. In March of 2019, she transitioned to the acute care speech pathology team within OSU.  She specializes in cognitive-communicative and dysphagia recovery in patients with acquired neurological impairments within the Brain and Spine Hospital. Specifically, she is passionate about the assessment and development of rehabilitation programs for patients with traumatic brain injuries. She is an active member of the American Speech Language Hearing Association and is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist.

Welcome Emily and thank you for supporting the OSU Aphasia Initiative!

I came across this quote that is so perfectly relevant given the events of the past 10 months:

A problem is a chance to do your best. – Duke Ellington.

Instead of planning our annual open house we are writing a newsletter; something we have wanted to do for quite some time but hadn’t gotten around to it. As I was sketching out what stories to highlight for this year in review, I can’t help but be grateful for the opportunity
to be better.

Because of the COVID-19 crisis, we immediately transitioned to an online group platform using technology that allowed us to educate students and provide services to persons with aphasia who were living across the country. We partnered with the Department of Occupational Therapy, taught their students about aphasia AND provided therapeutic OT services to our members. A new family support group was developed and we welcomed several new members to our community. And we finally have a newsletter!

As I reflect back on the past year, I am grateful for the community of clinicians, students, members, and care partners that dedicate so much time to support our program and were available and willing to help us respond to these difficult times. I am grateful that we were challenged to take risks, be creative, and do our best. While we are certainly ready for some normalcy, we remain energized to keep improving. I think there will be much to share in next year’s newsletter, too.

Thank you OSU College of Arts & Sciences, Voices of Excellence podcast.  We love to talk about the Aphasia Initiative!

Jennifer Brello, clinical associate professor in the department of speech and hearing science, serves as the director of the Ohio State University Aphasia Initiative, a program for people living with loss of communication ability due to brain injury. Aphasia can make mundane tasks like ordering a cup of coffee very challenging, and Brello describes to host David Staley the benefits of therapy at the Initiative on this week’s episode of Voices of Excellence

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/voices-of-excellence-from-arts-and-sciences/id1436204139#episodeGuid=tag%3Asoundcloud%2C2010%3Atracks%2F903430225

Written by Theresa Mikolay and Meg Hartmann

As we approached our second year in the occupational therapy program amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the service-learning experience with the Aphasia Initiative felt daunting. Most of us had never worked with people who have aphasia before, let alone try to deliver services via telehealth. We knew little about what to expect, other than this being a really unique opportunity albeit a very scary one.

Right away, it was evident as to how enriching these next six weeks would be. The members of the OSU Aphasia Initiative were incredible–they were willing to let us learn and work on our therapeutic skills while they consistently showed up each week, ready for whatever twist and turn we threw at them.

Occupational therapy plays an important role in the community health setting and when working with the members of the Aphasia Initiative. The community can either facilitate or inhibit occupational engagement, and it is important to acknowledge the variety of mechanisms of service delivery in terms of social programs, assisted living, day care, and more. By going out into the community, such as working with individuals involved in the Aphasia Initiative, we can play an integral role in helping them accomplish their goals based around the community, rather than solely through their disease state.

This experience also taught us how to communicate effectively with those who have communication disabilities. Telehealth presented us with the opportunity to use different methods of communication such as pictures, videos, charts, and tables–modifications we may not have utilized had we been in a clinic. Having never worked with a client who uses a speech generating device before, it was useful to learn more about the adaptive equipment that many people in this population use. We learned lessons in patience, how to be comfortable with silence, as well as how to encourage the use of adaptive devices for more successful communication, all of which are important as future occupational therapists.

This experience has built up our professional development through providing a safe space to learn how to work on an interdisciplinary team as well as practice evaluating, providing treatments, and discharging a client. Working with Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) students was one of the most enriching parts of this experience. Understanding what their role is in the interdisciplinary care team allowed for more thoughtful collaboration and insight into how they help clients in their own practice.

One example of this was with Nicole, an MA-SLP student. She helped us implement our treatment plans through providing tips as to how to best communicate with our client, such as using a PowerPoint and pictures when demonstrating each exercise. If our client was unable to understand what a direction was, Nicole was quick to jump in and explain what we were trying to say in a way that was easier for the client to understand. Having the presence and knowledge of an SLP allowed us to break down the communication barrier–each client became fully aware of what to do and how to do it. Understandably, this leads to improved patient outcomes because their home exercise program (HEP) was understood and could now be followed.

This collaboration demonstrated how each member of the care team has a unique and powerful impact in an individual’s plan of care. SLP’s knowledge in communication and language in the Aphasia community is important because everyone needs to be able to communicate in order to benefit from therapy. When SLPs help individuals communicate, occupational therapists are then able to come in and utilize their knowledge to help these individuals gain independence and control back in their everyday lives through meaningful occupations. This experience was not only informative, but it was enriching and gratifying in so many ways. We are so appreciative for this opportunity to interact and learn from the Aphasia Initiative and the SLPs.

by Abby Nichols

I didn’t know what to expect when I decided to volunteer at the Aphasia Initiative. I had never directly communicated with anyone who has had a stroke or brain injury, but I have learned so much about aphasia in my Speech and Hearing major. From the start, I was so blown away at the enthusiasm and love all the participants have coming to the group each day. The way they all greeted each other and accepted one another no matter age, gender, or communication difference was so incredible to see. Everyone’s attitude was so contagious to one another, and made me feel so happy to be there, too.

I learned so much about how aphasia is so different from person to person. It affects everyone differently emotionally and physically. I also learned so much about using different ways to communicate: like whiteboards, Alternative and Augmentative Communication Devices, and writing. Everyone that goes has adapted so much and showed me how I can adapt to communicate and in other aspects of my life, too.

The biggest pleasure I had with coming was getting to know a little bit about everyone as a person. From talking about getting numbers for the Vietnam War draft, learning about the love Ross has for thrifting, Andrew’s love for sports, God, and math, Mike’s past with guitar and football, Suzi’s beautiful children, or Everett owning a farm. I was able to learn all these things, and many more, through communicating in a different way, and that is what made it amazing!

by Madilyn Majors

My experience with Aphasia Initiative this semester has been amazing. I came into the group knowing very little about aphasia and had never encountered someone who has aphasia. Furthermore, this group was beneficial beyond the realm of education, this group allowed me to take a class that fit my personality. I love having the opportunity to interact with others of all backgrounds, and aphasia initiative gave me such an amazing outlet to pursue this. In addition to giving the learning support that student’s need, aphasia Initiative has been known for giving amazing support to the members. I have watched as this semester has progressed connections between members have become stronger, and deep conversations are had by many that result in growth. This group really sets the standard for what support is. They are with you through the hardships and will cheer you on through every achievement you have no matter how small. This support doesn’t end simply at the members. I found that even I was being supported by those around me when I was learning how to better assist in the aphasia initiative. I was afraid I would say the wrong thing, or not do enough but with the constant encouragement of Professor Brello and the members in aphasia initiative I felt more comfortable to make mistakes and learn from them.