Spring/Summer 2010

Aphasia Community Group of Boston (20th Anniversary!)
Boston, MA

Jerome "Jerry" Kaplan, Support Group Leader	A lovely cake for the celebration	Dr. Gloria Waters, Dean of Sargent College

On Saturday, March 20th, the Aphasia Community Group of Boston celebrated its 20th anniversary at Boston University.  Founded in March, 1990, the Group meets monthly, year round.  For its first16 years, the Group met at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.  In the fall of 2006, it relocated to Boston University Sargent College and became part of the Aphasia Resource Center there. The Aphasia Resource Center was founded by the Dean of Sargent College, Dr. Gloria Waters.

 In addition to the monthly Aphasia community Group, the Center offers up to ten small group programs each semester in areas such as Conversation, Book, Film, Computer, Writing, Toastmasters, Performing Arts, Cooking, Exercise, Memory, and Photography.  The groups meet weekly and are facilitated by graduate students and clinical supervisors Jerome Kaplan and Elizabeth Hoover. 

Dr. Swathi Kiran is the Aphasia Resource Center’s research director.  Clients participate in both core treatment groups and research studies. 

The Aphasia Community Group was honored by the National Aphasia Association in June, 2004 as one of the leading groups of its kind.

The Aphasia Resource Center hosted the NAA’s “Speaking Out” National Conference in 2006.  Group members introduced all presenters at the conference.  Members have also volunteered at the NAA booth at annual ASHA conventions and participated in the American Stroke Association’s “Train to End Stroke” fundraising marathons in Florida and Vermont. 

At the gala reception on March 20th, there were special tributes to founding members Barbara and Dr. Bill Wymer, Judy and Howard Blatt, and speech-language pathologist Jerome Kaplan.  Sadly, Bill Wymer passed away in January.  He had lived with aphasia for 33 years, having sustained a stroke in 1977 at the age of 44. 

The Aphasia Community Group is one of the oldest groups of its kind which has operated continuously.  It hosts large and small group discussions, guest presentations on a variety of subjects including research, wellness, performing arts, travel, and leisure activities.  Each monthly session features socialization, large and small group discussions, and special guest presentations.   Special events have included theatrical performances, film premieres, annual spring picnic and summer ice cream social; and public events to raise aphasia awareness. 

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