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Small Grants. Big Impact.

Exciting news for 2027!

The National Aphasia Association is growing the Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson Health Equity Mini-Grant Program!  Thanks to the family of Wanda Crews, a passionate aphasia advocate, we are going to be able to do even more!  Read more about Wanda!

10 Mini-Grants of $1,000 each!

These grants support creative ideas that improve health equity and make a difference for people with aphasia, especially in underserved communities.

Meet our first grant recipients and hear how their ideas are making a difference.

Watch the Seeds of Change Video

Have an Idea? Applications will open November 1, 2026.

Your idea could help create change!

Who Should Apply: Researchers and clinicians, Interdisciplinary teams, Community leaders and advocates, Nonprofit organizations, and Students

How it all started:

In 2025, the NAA announced the launching of the Davetrina Seles Gadson Health Equity Mini-Grants to support small but impactful and innovative projects focused on health equity in aphasia. These mini-grants honor the legacy of Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, a remarkable leader in speech-language pathology and health equity. Her groundbreaking work advanced our understanding of aphasia care for underserved communities and inspired a commitment to fostering change in healthcare systems.

The awards supported community-based, research-informed, or advocacy projects that:

  • Addressed health disparities in aphasia diagnosis or treatment
  • Centered voices and experiences of underserved populations
  • Improved culturally responsive care or outreach in aphasia
  • Supported inclusive programming or accessible resources

The 8 Health Equity Objectives that Dr. Seles so passionately championed:

  • Expand Workforce Diversity: Encourage and support a diverse healthcare workforce.
  • Provide Education on Health Disparities and Health Equity: Offer training to increase awareness of health inequities in aphasia care.
  • Provide Implicit Bias Training: Equip healthcare providers with tools to recognize and reduce the influence of bias.
  • Use Patient-Reported Outcomes for Person-Centered Care: Focus on experiences to guide care.
  • Facilitate Health Literacy for Clients and Care Partners: Improve access to clear, actionable health information.
  • Engage Representative Samples in Research: Ensure diverse participation in research studies.
  • Report Race and Ethnicity Data in Research Publications: Promote transparency in research demographics.
  • Fund Minority Researchers and Research to Promote Health Equity: Support initiatives by underrepresented researchers to advance equity in care.

 

Watch the Webinar Recordings

Video Poster play

Seeds of Change: The Davetrina Seles Gadson Health Equity Mini-Grant Program is Growing!

In October 2026, we welcomed the inaugural grant awardees to share updates about their projects:

  • Dr. Warren Brown talked about his new anthology, “To be Aphasian, Gifted, and Black“, which shares voices of Black Americans with aphasia and is now available for purchase.
  • Taylor Magaw shared what the students at Xavier University of Louisiana are doing to disseminate information and resources about aphasia to their community
  • Dr. Victoria Tilton-Bolowsky revealed that her research study examining disparities in aphasia outcomes related to race and lesion size replicated the findings of Dr. Seles.

We also welcomed Kimberley Goode, daughter of Wanda Crews, an active member of the NAA’s Black American Aphasia Connection program who recently passed away. Kimberley and Maura shared the exciting announcement that Wanda’s legacy will live on through a $10,000 donation to the health equity mini-grant program! As a result, ten projects will be awarded a $1,000 mini-grant in the 2027 cycle!

Video Poster play

Our February 2026 “Ask the Expert” webinar honored the legacy of Dr. Seles:

  • Those who knew Dr. Seles and were influenced by her work shared their thoughts and reflections.
  • We introduced the Mini-Grant program and the Health Equity page
  • Portions of the February 2024 Ask the Expert webinar: Clinical Diversity Issues in Aphasia were replayed
  • Angie Cauthorn shared her memories of Dr. Seles, including how she supported her as a Black American with aphasia and how they co-hosted the Brain Friends podcast. She encouraged us to continue her legacy.

Click here to view this video and related resources in our Ask the Expert Webinar Library.

Important Dates

Applications for the 2027 Davetrina Seles Gadson Health Equity Mini-Grants will open November 1, 2026. The link to the application will be posted on this page once it has been announced.

  • Application Available: November 1, 2026
  • Applications / Proposal deadline: December 2026
  • Awards Announcement:  Early 2027

 

Mini-Grant Recipients

We are pleased to share the recipients of the Davetrina Seles Gadson Health Equity Mini-Grants. These grants support projects that advance equity, representation, and access in aphasia care.

This first cycle (2026) brought forward a remarkable range of thoughtful, innovative, and deeply personal proposals. The review process was both inspiring and challenging, reflecting the strength of ideas emerging across our community. We greatly appreciate those who served in this reviewer capacity.

2026

Aphasian, Gifted, and Black: Expressions of Strength

Warren Brown, PhD, CCC-SLP – Jackson State University

This project is an unedited anthology centering the voices and lived experiences of Black individuals with aphasia and their caregivers. Through essays, poetry, reflections, and other creative forms, it highlights identity, resilience, family support, and the realities of navigating healthcare and systemic barriers—offering a perspective largely absent from existing clinical resources.

Warren’s anthology, “To be Aphasian, Gifted, and Black” has been published! Purchase your copy now:

Buy the Anthology

From Awareness to Action: Aphasia Literacy

Melissa Handy and Taylor Magaw – Xavier University of Louisiana

This project expands community health fairs to include aphasia screenings, stroke education, and accessible communication resources. By developing aphasia-friendly materials and interactive tools, it aims to increase awareness, reduce stigma, promote early identification, and improve access to care—particularly in underserved communities.

Our graduate students are excited for the opportunity to educate community members about stroke prevention and aphasia through participation in community health fairs. These events provide meaningful opportunities for students to engage with the community while promoting aphasia awareness.

Race, Lesion Size & Aphasia Severity Replication

Victoria Tilton-Bolowsky – Teachers College, Columbia University

This project builds on Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson’s foundational research by further examining disparities in aphasia outcomes related to race and lesion size. By continuing this important line of inquiry, the study seeks to deepen understanding of inequities in aphasia care and support more equitable clinical practices and outcomes.

Victoria and her co-authors on this project were selected as the 2026 NIDCD Research Symposium in Clinical Aphasiology (RSCA) Invited Speakers for the Clinical Aphasiology Conference in Pittsburgh, PA!

woman caregiver giving a side hug to an elderly woman, , National Aphasia Association

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