History & Mission
History
The National Aphasia Association (NAA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1987 by Martha Taylor Sarno, MA, MD,(hon) as the 1st National organization dedicated to advocating for persons with aphasia and their families. Several of our board members are people with Aphasia or family members.
Our goal is to provide access to research, education, rehabilitation, therapeutic and advocacy services to individuals with aphasia and their caregivers. The NAA acts as a syndicate of resources, promoting sense of community among individuals and caregivers.
NAA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Our Mission
The Mission of the National Aphasia Association is to promote public awareness and understanding of aphasia, to promote research that aims to improve the lives of people with aphasia, and to provide support to all persons with aphasia and their caregivers.
The NAA envisions a society in which aphasia is a commonly understood word and where all persons with aphasia, regardless of individual differences, their families, health professionals, and the public have access to appropriate education and resources that would enhance their potential for an acceptable quality of life.
Our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, access and social justice
The National Aphasia Association, Inc. (NAA) is fully committed to the tenants of diversity, equity, inclusion, access and social justice for persons with aphasia (PWA), the aphasia community and the greater global community. It is our goal to advocate for PWA to ensure they are offered an environment that affirms their dignity, worth and value.
NAA further strives to cultivate a global environment that subscribes to diversity, openness, respect as well as being a place of safety for all persons with or without aphasia. NAA will engage in ongoing learning to understand, value and support individual differences including but are not limited race, ethnicity, national origin, religious and spiritual beliefs, gender, sexuality, physical and mental abilities, size and appearance, and socio-economic status of those persons with and without aphasia.
Finally, NAA recognizes that all individual whether or not they have aphasia operate within a global community that can be influenced by racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, heterosexism, xenophobia, ableism, and other forms of marginalization and oppression. We however will strive to overcome those influences while creating an environment that is respectful, equitable, inclusive and offers comprehensive access to all.
History & Mission
History
The National Aphasia Association (NAA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1987 by Martha Taylor Sarno, MA, MD,(hon) as the 1st National organization dedicated to advocating for persons with aphasia and their families. Several of our board members are people with Aphasia or family members.
Our goal is to provide access to research, education, rehabilitation, therapeutic and advocacy services to individuals with aphasia and their caregivers. The NAA acts as a syndicate of resources, promoting sense of community among individuals and caregivers.
NAA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Our Mission
The Mission of the National Aphasia Association is to promote public awareness and understanding of aphasia, to promote research that aims to improve the lives of people with aphasia, and to provide support to all persons with aphasia and their caregivers.
The NAA envisions a society in which aphasia is a commonly understood word and where all persons with aphasia, regardless of individual differences, their families, health professionals, and the public have access to appropriate education and resources that would enhance their potential for an acceptable quality of life.
Our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, access and social justice
The National Aphasia Association, Inc. (NAA) is fully committed to the tenants of diversity, equity, inclusion, access and social justice for persons with aphasia (PWA), the aphasia community and the greater global community. It is our goal to advocate for PWA to ensure they are offered an environment that affirms their dignity, worth and value.
NAA further strives to cultivate a global environment that subscribes to diversity, openness, respect as well as being a place of safety for all persons with or without aphasia. NAA will engage in ongoing learning to understand, value and support individual differences including but are not limited race, ethnicity, national origin, religious and spiritual beliefs, gender, sexuality, physical and mental abilities, size and appearance, and socio-economic status of those persons with and without aphasia.
Finally, NAA recognizes that all individual whether or not they have aphasia operate within a global community that can be influenced by racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, heterosexism, xenophobia, ableism, and other forms of marginalization and oppression. We however will strive to overcome those influences while creating an environment that is respectful, equitable, inclusive and offers comprehensive access to all.
Executive Director
Operations Team
Board of Directors
