Creating a United, Global Voice for Aphasia

Globalization affects health care research and health services for over one billion people living with disabilities around the world. International societies are a recommended way to address the growing global needs of researchers, consumers, and clinicians. Aphasia United is a newly formed organization that aims to bring these groups together to forge best practices, an international research agenda, and capacity building to address issues of living with the communication impairment - aphasia. Jackie Hinckley, Associate Professor Emeritus in the CSD Department, is a member of the Executive Committee of this new organization.  Aphasia United's first Summit Meeting was held October 15, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia, where goals and organizational structure were addressed.  Aphasia United aims to  1) increase the visibility of people living with aphasia and the clinicians and researchers who work to support them 2) represent the aphasia community globally 3) create formal global networks that connect people living with aphasia, clinicians and researchers, 4) set a global research agenda and 5) encourage best standards of practice in aphasia care.  More information about Aphasia United, including a white paper describing its goals, is available at www.aphasiaunited.org.

An article describing this work will appear in the ASHA Leader, January, 2013.