🗣️ Speaking Out 2025: We’re Back—And You’re Invited!
After more than a decade, the Speaking Out Conference is returning—and this time, it’s online so anyone can join from anywhere.
Whether you’re a person with aphasia, a care partner, a student, or a professional, this event is for you. And it’s more than just a conference—it’s a celebration of connection, creativity, and communication.
📅 When + Where
🗓 October 3–4, 2025
💻 Online – log in from your home, clinic, or join a Watch Party in your community!
🔗 Register Now »
📖 A Look Back: The Story of Speaking Out
The first Speaking Out was held in 1998 in Chicago, hosted by the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC). It was inspired by an earlier conference called Opening Doors, run by the University of Michigan from 1992–1997.
What made these events special?
➡️ They were for people with aphasia
➡️ The audience helped choose the topics each year
➡️ Families and professionals joined, but the focus stayed on lived experience
For many years, Speaking Out took place every two years in cities across the U.S., including:
- Ann Arbor, MI – with a stunning art and resource exhibit
- Washington, DC – where attendees visited Capitol Hill for advocacy
- Tampa, FL – featuring Spanish-language sessions and guests from Puerto Rico
- New York – the last in-person event before the long pause
One unforgettable moment? The world premiere of a piano sonata for the left hand only, performed by Dr. Anne Marie Schuessler—a pianist with aphasia.
🌍 Why It’s Different Now (In the Best Way)
Today, we’re bringing Speaking Out back in a new, more accessible format—completely online. That means:
- You can join from anywhere
- You can watch live or later
- You can connect with others without traveling
🎉 Host a Watch Party!
Want to take part with others? Host a Watch Party!
A Watch Party is a group of people who get together to watch the conference on one screen—in a living room, clinic, library, or community center.
We’ll help you with:
- Easy tips to get started
- A toolkit and promo signs
- Fun ideas (and maybe prizes!) for best group photo, most creative setup, and more
🧭 What You’ll Experience
This year’s conference focuses on three themes:
💬 Connection
Hear from people with aphasia across the country and learn how they’ve built support and strength.
🤝 Care Partners
Dedicated sessions for family members, friends, and other supporters—including mental health, respite, and peer support.
🧰 Resources
Explore local and national programs, online communities, and tools to keep moving forward—long after therapy ends.
We’ve also added one PPA Track for information on Primary Progressive Aphasia.
Many sessions will feature real stories, live panels, creative expression, and more.
🙌 Be Part of Something Big
The Speaking Out conference has always been about making space for people with aphasia to lead, share, and shine.
We’re bringing that spirit back—with more voices, more access, and more energy than ever before.
💻 Register now to attend from home—or gather your community and host a Watch Party.
We can’t wait to see you there.
🗓 October 3–4, 2025
📍 Online Everywhere
🔗https://aphasia.org/speaking-out-2025/
