The National Aphasia Association (NAA) is proud to celebrate Maura English Silverman, our Executive Director, who has been named the 2026 Words for Good Award Recipient.
This award is given out during the Voices of Hope Word Play Gala, “a fun-filled night of word-game competitions, dinner, and opportunities to support Voices of Hope for Aphasia”
The award recognizes Maura’s more than three decades of dedication to people with aphasia, their families, and the broader aphasia community.
37 Years of Making a Difference in the Aphasia Community
Maura has spent 37 years working with adults with aphasia and other communication disorders.
Throughout her career, she has been a strong advocate for the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia (LPAA). The LPAA focuses on helping people with aphasia participate in the activities, relationships, and communities that matter to them.
Maura’s commitment to the aphasia community has helped shape programs and services that focus on the whole person, as well as their loved ones and care partners.
Maura’s career has given her a unique perspective on this work. She has worked as a speech-language pathologist across the continuum of care, founded a nonprofit organization, mentored others in the field, advocated for aphasia internationally, and served as a care partner for her own mother, who lived with aphasia after a stroke. That combination of professional experience and lived experience continues to shape her leadership.
Building Community Through the Triangle Aphasia Project
Maura’s passion for supporting people with aphasia led her to create the Triangle Aphasia Project, Unlimited (now The Aphasia Project), a nonprofit community-based program in North Carolina.
TAP was built around the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia, providing support not only to people with aphasia, but also to their families and communities, and has received international recognition for its innovative services.
Maura’s work with TAP is an example of the kind of change that can happen when people with aphasia and their families have access to meaningful connection, support, and opportunities to participate in life.
Three Years Leading the National Aphasia Association
For the past three years, Maura has brought that same passion and experience to the National Aphasia Association.
As Executive Director, Maura helps lead the NAA’s work to:
- Support people with aphasia and their loved ones
- Increase public awareness and understanding of aphasia
- Connect people with resources and programs
- Support the aphasia community
- Foster research that can improve the lives of people with aphasia and their families
She has shaped the NAA to be “the trusted nonprofit aphasia authority, with a hug”. Maura has spearheaded many exciting initiatives including the updated NAA website at aphasia.org, increasing funding opportunities for aphasia researchers and community leaders, and the return of the Speaking Out conference. And while she’s busy tackling these big initiatives, Maura will always make time to personally call or email anyone who reaches out to the NAA with a question.
Congratulations, Maura, on this well-deserved recognition! We are incredibly grateful for everything Maura has done, and continues to do, for the aphasia community.
Honor Maura and Support the NAA’s Work
In honor of her three years as the Executive Director of the NAA, Maura started her own NAA fundraiser. She writes:
Three Years at the NAA — and a Lifetime Connected to Aphasia
This week marks three years since I became Executive Director of the National Aphasia Association.
But my connection to aphasia began long before that.
I have spent my career as a speech-language pathologist working alongside people with aphasia and their families. I founded an aphasia organization, worked to build community and connection, and believed deeply in the importance of helping people live full lives with aphasia.
And then aphasia became personal.
My mom had aphasia. Suddenly, I wasn’t only the professional who supported people with aphasia and their care partners—I was the daughter trying to navigate it with someone I loved. That experience changed me, and it continues to shape the work I do today.
Three years ago, I came to the NAA because I believed deeply in what a national organization for aphasia could and should be: a place people can turn to for trusted information, connection and support; a voice for greater awareness and advocacy; a partner to professionals and organizations doing good work; and a champion for people with aphasia and their families.
These three years have been busy ones! We have expanded programs, strengthened resources, supported research, grown our Ambassador community, increased our advocacy efforts, and found new ways to connect people across the country.
But there is so much more to do.
So, for my three-year anniversary, I’m asking my friends, colleagues, family—and everyone who has been part of my aphasia journey—to help me celebrate by supporting the NAA.
And I’d especially love for you to join me.
Give if you can. Share this page. Tell someone about aphasia. Or consider creating your own fundraising page and telling your story about why this community matters to you.
Peer-to-peer fundraising isn’t just about raising money. It is about people telling people, “This matters to me, and here’s why.” Every one of those conversations builds awareness while helping NAA continue this work.
My goal isn’t simply to celebrate three years.
It’s to help build what comes next.
Thank you for being part of it.
Your donation helps the NAA continue this work.
Whether you are a person with aphasia, a family member or care partner, a speech-language pathologist, researcher, advocate, or someone who simply wants to help, every gift makes a difference.
Here are some ways to donate:
- Donate to Maura’s NAA fundraiser
- Create your own fundraiser for the NAA
- Donate on the NAA’s website
- Donate by mail – Send checks made payable to National Aphasia Association, Inc. (or NAA) to:
National Aphasia Association, Inc
5448 Apex Peakway Drive Suite 232
Apex, NC 27502
