Six people with aphasia shared their achievements

Surviving and Thriving with Aphasia: Stories of Strength, Recovery, and Hope

Living with aphasia can feel like entering a new world of communication — one that requires patience, creativity, and courage. In this post, I’m sharing highlights from the Speaking Out! convention and what the session “Surviving and Thriving with Aphasia” taught me about resilience, humor, and hope.

Last week, I attended most of Speaking Out!, hosted by the National Aphasia Association. The two-day online event, held October 3–4, was terrific! The program was excellent — and the entire convention is now available to watch on YouTube. (Watch the Surviving and Thriving video below.)

But one section, “Surviving and Thriving with Aphasia,” stood out as something truly special. Six people with aphasia shared their achievements — not their sadness. And what achievements they were! I loved their drive and their passion to keep doing new things.

Each of the speakers showed how it’s possible to build a meaningful, active life after a stroke. They exercise, connect with others (on Zoom and in person), and stay engaged with family, friends, and their communities. Somehow, all of them have found ways to make life full again.

Here are the six people with aphasia — what they did before their strokes and what they are doing now:

Tom was a sales manager and an avid golfer. Now, instead of playing, he teaches adaptive golf — a program for people with disabilities.

Josh was an artistic and musical director who worked with three professional theaters. Today, he hosts a weekly music appreciation group, focusing on modern musicians and building comprehension and memory skills.

Aboye works for a management consulting firm. Since her stroke, she has focused on improving math and executive function, working with both an emotional therapist and a physical trainer. She used to be a perfectionist but has learned to let that go.

“It was too much work to try to be perfect,” she said. “Now I just do the best I can.”

Bora was a real estate director. Now, he shares exercise routines (often on Facebook!) and is a motivational speaker. Bora says,

“Working is my motivation and purpose.”

Denise was a mental health counselor helping children with disabilities. Now, she is the Director and Founder of Just Ask (Aphasia. Stroke. Knowledge.), which created the first Aphasia Center in Rhode Island.
Initially, Denise thought her successful career was over after her stroke. But recovery came through “Practice. Practice. Practice.” For seven years, she has organized an annual convention for people with aphasia in Rhode Island. Denise said she has learned to accept that she is “different but still smart.” With the right tools and support, she’s become “successful — but different.”

“Some days are great. Some days are terrible. Go ahead and pat yourself on the back — look what you did! But tomorrow, I’ll take a break if I need to.”

Henry was retired before his stroke. Now, just 11 months into recovery, he has become a world traveler! He uses Zoom to stay connected, especially since he lives in a small town where driving isn’t always easy. He also works with teams from the University of Michigan, Boston University, Northwestern, and Speech Recovery Pathways in California. Henry says motivation and determination are essential to recovery.

Final Thoughts

This session was powerful because it showed how people with aphasia can thrive — not just survive. Each story reflected resilience, creativity, and a refusal to give up. These six people are living proof that even after aphasia, life can still be rich, full, and deeply meaningful.

The Surviving and Thriving panel reminded me that aphasia doesn’t silence us — it changes how we speak, connect, and express ourselves. If you’ve had a similar experience, I’d love to hear your story.
To contact me, write me at  lmalis.aphasiaathome@gmail.com.