At Friends of Aphasia, we are committed to providing high-quality, person-centered aphasia services. As part of this commitment, we developed the Community-based Aphasia Support Team (CAST) program. The CAST program challenges the current tradition of speech therapy services for aphasia which typically comprises a very short period of individual therapy (often less than three months!) with no follow-up. But we know that survivors can make communication progress well beyond that three-month window; in fact, both research and our own experience have shown us that people with aphasia can make progress across their lifetime. We designed the CAST program with that in mind.

The program is unique in that, in addition to traditional aphasia therapy, it extends into the individual’s community to develop and train support teams. Through education and training sessions, these support teams learn how to foster long-term communication recovery and re-engagement in meaningful life activities. We envision the CAST program serving as a model for other programs around the world!

We would like you to meet the most recent participant in our CAST program – Carolina. Carolina suffered a massive stroke that left her with only a handful of words that she could say. Her family reached out to us for help. We immediately recognized Carolina as
someone who could benefit from the CAST program; her fierce determination to improve her ability to speak and a wonderfully supportive group of family and friends made her an excellent candidate.

Carolina participated in individual therapy with our new Speech-Language Pathologist, Izzy, twice a week and group therapy with Aphasia Center of Tucson members twice a week.

In addition, Carolina identified support teams of family members and friends to help in her recovery. Izzy and Fabi provided education and training sessions to help ensure intensive practice of therapy tasks and opportunities for meaningful communication.

Carolina’s CASTs wholeheartedly stepped up to the challenge; they filled Carolina’s weeks with communication-rich activities, including family cooking sessions and shifts as a cashier at their family restaurant. The CAST program proved to be a resounding success. Not only did Carolina’s speech improve, she also became more fully engaged in meaningful activities.

Here are a few comments from the members of her CAST:

“[I] truly believe CAST was a game changer for our family.” – Kit, Carolina’s daughter-in-law

“I think this is an amazing model that should be made available to all aphasia clients.” – Yoli, Carolina’s sister

“The CAST program really got our family involved in my mom’s therapy…It takes a village!” – Ami & Rick, Carolina’s daughter and son-in-law

Please consider supporting Friends of Aphasia to help us provide this life-changing program to more people living with aphasia.