For information about aphasia, strokes and associated self help groups in the UK:

 

• Afasic . A UK charity to help children & young adults who are affected by speech , language and communication difficulties in Northern Ireland , Scotland & Wales . Contact their site on : www.afasic.org.uk
• Aphasia Alliance . An amalgam of 12 organisations which is working to raise public awareness of aphasia , Contribute your point of view to Richard Mountford , Aphasia Awareness Officer by e-mail on : rmountford@stroke.org or log into their website : www.aphasiaalliance.org
• Aphasiahelp.org . A website designed by and for people with aphasia.It offers information about stroke and aphasia . Importantly it offers penpal and penpal search facillities.Click : aphasiahelp.org for more information .
• Aphasia Now . A Community for people with aphasia . Contains support forum , news , resources.Web site address : www.aphasianow.org
• Aphasia Self Help Group Gloucestershire . Aphasia information,Members stories , news, events , rsources and contacts : www.aphasia-glos.org
• British Aphasiology Society (B.A.S.) . Professional association with information about aphasia and its treatment . : www.bas.org
• Connect . A site with information about aphasia . Information and opportunity events for ahpasics & carers. publications about living with aphasia: www.ukconnect.org
• Communication Hub Aphasia North East. (C.H.A. N.T.) .Communication Hub Aphasia North Tyneside or C.H.A.N.T. is a service which offers support and training opportunities to people who have had a stroke . It caters for those of us who have long term aphasia , their partners or carers , with the aim of "getting their lives back". C.H.A.N.T. also runs courses for people who may wish to become a volunteer to support people with aphasia or learn more about aphasia , how to engage and communicate effectively with people who experience it. C.H.A.N.T. also is working with partners in North Tyneside Adult Learning Alliance to offer tailor made courses for people with aphasia (such as IT basics) . In conjunction with support from students in Fine Art at Newcastle University , a course is being planned called Aphasia and Art .NETA and its Trustees wish every success to C.H.A.N.T. For more information please contact : Dr. Katharyn Mumby(SLT, Project Lead), Mobile Number : 07554 334 981,or E-mail: Katharyn.Mumby@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk .Or Sarah Taylor(The Stroke Association , Communication Support Coordinator) , Mobile No.: 07534 915 763 , or E-mail : sarah.taylor@stroke.org.uk
• Different Strokes . A national network aimed at the younger stroke casualty but provides useful information about strokes and aphasia for a wide range of ages. Provides a national network of exercise groups .Has an inter- active website for stroke survivors . : www.differentstrokes.co
• Disabledunited. An international meeting place for the disabled community. It provides free forums ,chat room ,friends and dating service and a swap shop . Contact them on : www.disabledunited.com
• Epilepsy Action . A national network for all age groups . Information , advice, research, community forum, news ,facts and figures about epilepsy . National web site address www.epilepsy.org.uk
• Epilepsy Action North East of England contact: Bob Dennis ,Regional Services Manager , e-mail address : bdennis@epilepsy.org.uk
• Newcastle University , North East Aphasia Centre ,King George VI Building . The North East Aphasia Centre is an intensive treatment facillity for people with aphasia . People are referred to the Centre by their Speech & Language Therapist . For more information go to the Centre web site: http://research.ncl.ac.uk/aphasia
• Smash-UK. Sutton & Merton Self Help Group. A self help group who promote a friendly , safe and supportive environment for people with language disorders. Contact them on : www.smash-uk.org
• Speechmatters. A new website development in Belfast. at the moment it lists contact details and a Stroke Help line . This site has been closed for some time. .Stay tuned :
• The Tavistock Trust . The only grant making trust in the UK that focuses on aphasia.The registered charity aims to work towards making effective therapy available to all who have aphasia & support for families , in addition to encouraging and facillitating creative research . Web site address : www.aphasiatavistocktrustorg
• Speakability . A national organisation. Information and fact sheets about aphasia ,with regional network of groups and a Helpline , training courses and meetings : www.speakability.org
• Speakeasy . Information about aphasia. Supports communication recovery and hold group activity meeting in the Bury area and helps people in the North West. : www.buryspeakeasy.org

Note : If you are associated with a local stroke or aphasia support group and would like it listed on our contacts page , please contact Bob Speight on 0191 2678906 or by E-mail to: robert.speight@talktalk.net

 

For information about aphasia, strokes and associated self help groups overseas and the USA:

• Aphasia Association of New Zealand. A registerd charity and a national organisation which aims to support , provide information and advocacy for all New Zealanders with aphasia . The Aphasia Association of New Zealand can offer a range of resources which can be tailored to an individual's needs. www.aphasia.org.nz
• The Academy of Aphasia . (USA) Information for people with aphasia and their families . Lists of world wide clinical services.: www.academyofaphasia.org
• The National Aphasia Association. (USA) A non profit organisation promoting re-habilitation and support services to assist people with aphasia and their carers ,plus information about aphasia and its causes . Has a news page and a useful Guide for Communicating . Log onto: www.aphasia.org
• Joseph Chaikin Home .(USA) A site with a difference. A comprehensive site about aphasia ,with information about aphasia therapy , resources , news,aphasia art (including ipodcasting and music) :Joseph Chaikin Home
• Stroke Foundation of New Zealand . A site with information about stroke and its effects.Contains information for carers and has a downloadable 26 page book for stroke survivors and their famillies. Also features a Stroke Forum and news of media releases. Web site address is www.stroke.org.nz

 

For information, guidance and standards for the hiring of Speech and Language Therapists :

• Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (R.C.L.S.T.) : www.rcslt.org

For information on use of the Internet and Internet Training for People with aphasia.

• Australian Aphasia Association. Aphasia friendly site with links to aphasia information , newsletter , personal stories , web developers guidelines etc.: Contains a useful Computer Training package for people with a communication or literacy disability. To access it click here: www.aphasia.org.au/Documents/InternetTraining.htm
• North East Trust for Aphasia (NETA) . NETA Aphasia Centre features Communication , relatives and Drop In groups , Hands on help in art , debating, writing, accessing the Internet , Digital Photography group : www.neta.org.uk

For information on useful access , occupational or commercial web sites around Tyneside and in the UK.

• Able . A glossy magazine with lots of interesting articles on various subjects , people , places and things to for people with disability . Check the Able magazine out on their web site : www.ablemagazine.co.uk
• Arcadea. Part of a national network, this is a North East regional organisation aiming to improve the visibilty of disabled people in the North East of England.Staffed and managed by trained and qualified disabled people, they work with disabled artists and disability groups and are committed to work with disabled people who are or would like to be audiences and participants in arts activities and events. Arcadea publish a free monthly bulletin - ,the Mimosa Magazine . For further details ring 0191-2220708 or contact their web site : www.arcadea.org
• DisabledGo . This organisation is working with many local authorities to provide a useful on line guide for the suitability of visitor attractions for people with disability.The venues include atractions from restaurants to libraries and museums to retailers . Newcastle City Council are working hard to extend the number and range of facillities listed for Newcastle upon Tyne.For further information ,tap into: www.disabledgo.info
• Findavoice. A charity offering advice & help about communication ,for children and adults . Supports parents, ,carers and people with severe communication difficulties . Welcomes the involvement of schools residential homes and communication groups. Contact website : www.findavoice.org.uk
• Nexus . For travel information in the Newcastle uopn Tyne area , Nexus Bridges Card, Taxi Link, Buddy service training, ring Nexus Helpline : 0191 2020632.
• PDQ. Supplies conversion kits for converting wheelchairs into battery powered trikes. Web Site details :www.pdq.tv
• RNID . Supplies Screen Phone ,a piece of equipment which makes voice and text calls easier. RNID web site details are : www.rnid.org.uk/shop
• Newcastle Shopmobility. Based in the Eldon Garden Shopping Centre on Percy Street , Shopmobilty can offer standard or battery powered wheelchairs and scooters to allow greater access to visitor attractions in Newcastle. Call 0191 2616176 or E-mail shopmobility@newcastle.gov.uk or contact the website : www.newcastle.gov.uk/shopmobility for further information.
• Sight and Sound Technology. Sells "SARA", a scanner and software which allows a book to be scanned and can then read it out to you.An alternative to taped books ,SARA allows any book to be viewed. S & S Techs web site details are : www.sightandsound.co.uk
• The Disabled Photographers Society. A charity founded in in 1968. The Society can offer advice and support to disabled photographers and photographic groups. Members come from all walks of life and areas of the country , representing a wide range of photographic skills and abilities. Contact their web site on: www.disabledphotographers.co.uk
• Toby Churchill Ltd . Make and sell a whiteboard with a difference ,the Dayplanner features visual and audio time prompts for those of us who have visual and memory difficulties . Marketed by Toby Churchill Ltd , their web site address is : www.toby-churchill.com

 

Information for those who can use , or are interested in using computers , including software which may be of use to people with speech and/or physical impairment .

• ACE Centre . A site primarily for children with communication difficulties , but has software which may be of use for people with aphasia and physical impairment .Contact their website on :www.ace-centre.org.uk
• Widget Software. Offers a variety of software products for people with communication difficulties . Some free software .Website details : www.widget.com
• Inclusive Technology. A group which deals in special education needs software, ,computer access devices and simple communication aids for those with physical disabilities,sensory impairment or learning difficulties. They have a comprehensive handbook which is a resource guide to software and hardware for speech education . This is available in hard copy or on line.The handbook is too big to describe in the short space available here. It has some 100 pages , with a section for the older user.Inclusive Technology also run training courses for people who teach those with special needs . Their web site address is : www.inclusive.co.uk
• Talking Mats. A low tech. communication framework using sets of symbols . The package was deveoped by the Alternative & Augmentative Communiction Research Unit (A.A.C. Research Unit). It is an established communication tool designed to help people with communication dificulties .Their web site details are : www.talkingmats.com