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Burl has a kind heart, c r e a t i v e ideas and a positive can-do Texas attitude! He has been living with aphasia for 18 years and continually inspires other stroke survivors, students and program staff. Burl is an innovator. He finds ways to retrofit his own home to make daily tasks easier, passing along valuable information to others at support groups, and helping Aphasia Network staff and medical professionals improve the quality of life in the Aphasia community.

Lynn serves on the Aphasia Network board to represent and advocate for persons with aphasia. For ten years she has been living with aphasia and other challenges of stroke. Her prior experience as a health professions educator provides valuable insight on rebuilding and reconnecting after stroke or brain injury. Lynn and her primary care-partner, Tim, are striving to pave the way for other families and care partners.

Thirteen years ago Dee had a stroke resulting in aphasia, but she never lets this get in the way of accomplishing new feats. She is an adventurous risk-taker who genrously spends the majority of her time volunteering for various organizations in the community. Dee attends the Speak EZ support group where she inspired Katie, a student, to help

her skydive again after 48 years! Her 93rd

skydive!! And Dee isn’t done yet. She has a goal of completing 100 jumps!!

We all have someth ing to learn from each other in

the aphasia c o m m u n i t y .

Shar ing o f experiences and

knowledge between persons with aphasia, students, care partners and medical professionals during our programs leads to rich new discoveries and strategies. Students have transformative interactions that give them new perspectives on the kind of providers they will be and how they will deliver services to the aphasiacomunity.

Independence

Inspiration

Leadership

Mentoring

Learn more about our stories at www.AphasiaNetwork.org

ABOUT APHASIA

• Aphasiaisalanguagedisordercausedbyastrokeorotherbraininjurythatimpairsaperson’sabilitytocomprehendorproducelanguage,butdoesnotaffectintelligence.

• Aphasiaaffectstheabilitytospeakandunderstandothers,andmostpeoplewithaphasiaexperiencedifficultieswithreadingandwritingaswell.

• Aphasiacanmakecommuni-cationnearlyimpossibleoritmaychangecommunicationverylittle.Thisdependsontheextentoftheinjuryandhowmanydifferentkindsoflanguageuseareaffected.

• Aphasiamaychangeonlyonetypeoflanguageuse,suchasnamingobjects,understand-ingsentences,orreading.

• Aphasiamorecommonlyaffectsmultipletypesoflanguageuse,withsomeaspectsmorechangedthanothers.Professionals,suchasspeech-languagepathol-ogists,canhelpdeterminewhichchannelscanbeenhanced.

• Communicationisessentialtomaintainingandformingrelationshipsanddealingef-fectivelywithtasksnecessaryforday-to-daysurvival.

• Aphasiafracturestheabilitytocommunicate,causingrippleeffectsforsurvivors,theirfamiliesandtheirsocialcommunities.

• TheseindividualsandtheirlovedonesfaceuniquechallengesandtheAphasiaNetworkprovidessupportspecificallydesignedforthem.

AphasiaCampNorthwestbringsindividualsandtheirfamiliesto-getherforanannualretreatdesignedtoreducethesocialisolationthatoftenaccompaniesaphasia.Thisjointprogram(AphasiaNetwork,PortlandStateUniversity,andPacificUniversity)isa3-dayimmersionwherepersonswithaphasialearnnewcommunicationskillsandexplorerecreationalactivities,andtheircarepartnersgaincopingstrategies,support,andrespite.Sinceassumingover-sightforcampin2012,theAphasiaNetworkhasgrownthenumberofparticipantsandoutreachtothemedicalcommunity,providingvaluablelifeconnectionsfortheaphasiacommunity.

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

1999

2012

2013

2014

PersonswithAphasia CarePartners Students MedicalProfessionals

Aphasia Camp NW Participants

First year of PSU Stroke Camp NW

ReconnectingLifeRehab

SpeechTherapyPhysicalTherapyOccupationalTherapyPsychologyAudiologyGerontology

Acute

MedicalPracticeSpeechTherapyPhysicalTherapyOccupationalTherapyPharmacyHealthAdministration

AphasiaNetwork

IntegratedLifeSkillsPrograms

STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES YearsendingDecember31, 2014 2013 2012REVENUES Aphasiacamp $16,189 $13,805 $9,285Aphasiaworkshop 740 - -Fundraising 15,748 24,030 5,965Educationalinstitutionsupportand donationsin-kind 19,323 3,270 11,832 Totalrevenues 52,000 41,105 27,082EXPENSES Aphasiacampnorthwest 30,339 19,122 15,749Aphasiaworkshop 2,390 - -Aphasiacommunities - - 837Administrativeexpenses 15,044 6,932 2,974 Totalexpenses 47,773 26,054 19,560 Changeinnetassets $4,227 $15,051 $7,522 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION December31, 2014 2013 2012ASSETS Cash $26,800 $22,573 $7,522NETASSETS Unrestricted $26,800 $22,573 $7,522

Spring Aphasia Workshop

Letter from the Chair

Dearfriendsoftheaphasiacommunity,

AttheAphasiaNetworkweareworkinghardtoreconnectandrebuildlivesafterstrokeorbraininjury.Wearehelpingsurvivorsandfamilieslivingwithaphasiafindandutilizeresourcesandsupportsystems.Connectionsareanintegralpartofenhancingqualityoflifewhenlivingwithacommunicationdisorder.Webelieveeveryonehasavoicethatmustbeheard.Everypersondeservestoberespected,included,andinvolved.Wewanttohelpourcommunityexperience equality in a speech based worldbygivingthemtoolsandsupporttofindindependenceandstrategiestothrive. Pleasereadsomeofthestorieshighlightedonthecoverofthisreportbyvisitingwww.AphasiaNetwork.organdclickingonOur Stories.Theseareafewexamplesofcommunitymembersdevelopingleadership,independence,inspirationandmentoring. Toenhanceanddevelopourprograms,weassesscommunityneedswithouradvisorycouncilandmedicalprofessionsout-reach.Asillustratedinthechartbelow,the journey of recovery from stroke and brain injurynotonlyincludestheacuteandrehabilitationphasesbutalsoincludes the long-term phase of reconnecting with life.TheAphasiaNetworkisdeliveringanddevelopingprogramstofillthisvoid. Weunderstandthatindividualsandtheirfamily’schallengesarenotsegmentedintoseparateissuesthatcanbeaddressedbyasingularmedicaldisciplineorsocialstructure.Akeystrategyforsatisfyingneedsexpressedbyourcommunityhasbeenthecreationofintegrated life skills programs,liketheSpring Aphasia Workshop,Support GroupsandenhancementofprogramsatAphasia Camp Northwest.FortheseprogramsTheAphasiaNetworkrecruitsmedicalprofes-sionalsfrommultipledisciplineslikeoccupationaltherapy,physicaltherapy,psy-chology,physicianassistantsandnursinginadditiontospeechlanguagepathology,allowingfull integration and collaboration between our staff, medical profession-als, university faculty, students and our aphasia community.Thisisanexpansionofthemulti-disciplinestudentprogramdevelopedbyPortlandStateUniversity(PSU)facultywhen,in2006,theyintegratedPacificUniversityhealthdisciplinesintoAphasiaCampNorthwest(formerlyStrokeCampNorthwest,foundedin1999).

In2012westartedThe Aphasia Network–nowastrong,interdisciplinarynonprofit public benefit 501(c)(3) organization–toraiseaphasiaawareness,increase support to this underserved communityandprovidesustainabilityforAphasiaCampNorth-westoutsideoftheuniversitysystem.Itisanhonortocontin-uetoprovideCamptothecommunitywiththePortlandStateUniversityDepartmentofSpeech&HearingSciencesandPacificUniversityOccupational,PhysicalTherapyandRehabilitationPsychologyprogramsandthewonderfulstudents...ournextgenerationofhealthcareproviders. AphasiaCampNorthwestwasagroundbreakingprogram,receivingfundingfromtheNorthwestHealthFoundation,PSUandPacificteachinggrants,giftsfromgenerousdonorsandtheJimmy&RosalynCarterExcellenceinCommunityPartnershipsawardandsupportfromtheAmericanHeart/StrokeAssociation.Wearethankfulforthegenerous support of the organizations and individuals listed on the back of this annual report.ThesegiftsenableTheAphasiaNetworktohelpsurvivorsandtheircarepartnersreengageinactivitiesanddevelopnewlifeskills. In2015and2016,weneedtoreachmoresurvivors.Theimpactofstrokeandbraininjurycanbefinanciallydevastatingtofamiliesandwehaveahighscholarshipneedforourprograms.Weneedfinancialsupporttosustainexistingprogramsandfund the new Couples Retreat program, expand support groups, increase medical community and student aphasia outreach pro-grams, and build the administrative support needed to deliver all of these services.Pleasedonateatwww.AphasiaNetwork.orgtohelpusmeetthesegoals. Thankyoutoallofourvolunteersanddonorsformakingadifferenceinthelivesofouraphasiacommunitymembers. Sincerely,Suzanne Gardner, Chair and CEO

DONORS AND CONTRIBUTORSOur sincerest thanks goes to the following groups and individuals, as well as those who gave anonymously, for their financial gifts and in-kind contributions of materials, time and expertise which have made The Aphasia Net-work programs possible. Your investment improves lives!Groups/Organizations:AdventuresWithoutLimits,TheAphasiaNetworkBoardofDirectors,TheAphasiaNetworkAdvisoryCouncil,ContinuousImprovementStrokeRecov-eryGroup,FortVancouverGoodSamRVClub,FredMeyer,HollywoodSeniorCenter,HollywoodTraderJoe’s,HomeDepot,McMenamins,OnPointCommunityCreditUnion,PacificUniversity,PacificUniversityPre-CSDclub,PalomaChiropracticClinic,PattersonMedical,ThePortlandClinic,PortlandStateUniversity,ProChefsOregon,ProvidenceHealth&Services,SalemStrokeSupportGroup,Saltillo,SKGMarketingLLC,SpeakEZStrokeRecoveryGroup,Target,TeenyFoodsCorporation,TobiiDynavox,UniversityofWashington,USBank

Individuals: Lorelli&LutherAguilar,BeverlyAlexander,BobbiAyers,Colleen&BobAyers,CarrieBader,Su-ZanBarker,Anne&PeterBarr-Gillespie,MaryBarrett,JeffBayha,TheBetts-Princefamily,RolfBlack,DaveBlasen&GinaParosa,MarciaBlasen,LisaBodry,JohnBrusasco,RebekahBurroughs,G.M.Button,LagenaCarl,Doug&RosemaryCaudell,ChristineChambers,Marie&StanClayville,MaryPatDaly,Jan&TerryDesylvia,John&JulieDoherty,MarylouDulaney,KathleenDunford,GerasimosFergadiotis,Michelle&SamFerguson,LynnFox&EricFaucher,BrianGalgoci,Suzanne,Ray&GabrielleGardner,NicoleGaumont,KarenGeorge,JeffGierer&JesseBeason,SusanGinley,MeliaHayes,TeresaHill,Margaret(Peggy)Kain,LynnKammermeyer&TimOtter,Jean&JeffKastner,KathyKearns,Betty&JohnKendall,AmberKirkwood,KevinKolb,Yuli&FelixLoo,Monique&IvoLopez-Felix,ShirleyMather,RubyMcConnell,DebbieMcKenney,JudyMcMurry,TimothyMiller,ColinNolan,JimPaddock,MelParks,MaryPatterson,JoaniePeckels,SusanPoulsen,MyronRassmussen,AndreaReulling,Bobbi&DonRodgers,SandraRogers,BethRuml,DonnaSather,BJScott,Petra&HowardShapiro,JaclynSinauskas,GGSmith,Doris&MartinMorales,MarySimon,AmandaStead,LarryStrong,TheToddfamily,Judy&JoelTrusty,ErinWilliams,DeeWittke,JeffreyWoodcox,Toni&MikeYuckert,Anonymousdonors

Board of DirectorsSuzanneGardner,Chair/CEOLynnFox,Ph.D., CCC-SLP,VicechairSecretary/Legal- OpenDougCaudell,CPA inactive, TreasurerLynnKammermeyer,Ph.D., Genetics,PersonswithAphasiaRepresentativeTimOtter,Ph.D., Cell Biology, CarePartnersRepresentativeFundraisingspecialist – OpenMarciaBlasen,CorporateRepresentativeLisaBodry,OTR,MedicalRepresentativeSarahKey-DeLyria,Ph.D., CCC-SLP,PortlandStateUniversityRepresentativeAmandaStead,Ph.D., CCC-SLP,PacificUniversityRepresentative

The Aphasia Network promotes aphasia awareness and helps individuals with aphasia and their

care partners to reconnect and rebuild their lives after stroke or brain injury.

Quality of life • Community and support • Integrated life skills

www.AphasiaNetwork.orgPOBox13406

PortlandOR97213503-577-1282

Advisory CouncilPersonswithaphasia:ColleenAyersLynnKammermeyerBobbiRogersToniYuckert

Carepartners/Family:BobAyersBobbiAyersGabrielleGardnerSuzanneGardnerTimOtter

DonRogersHowardShapiroMikeYuckert

ProfessionsMembers:SpeechAmandaSteadKarissaSchwartzLynnFoxSarahSellevaagSusanGinleyOccupationalTherapyAmandaMoore

Board of CounselorsPsychosocial:BJScott,PsyDSpeechProfessionals:ChristineM.Chambers,M.S.,CCC-SLPResearch&Recruiting:GerasimosFergadiotis,Ph.D.,CCC-SLPMentoring:SusanPoulsen,Ph.D.

They are counting on you!Raiseawarenessaboutbraininjuryandstroke

Reconnectwithfamilyandfriends

Providelifeskillsandresources

Buildcommunity

Thank you for your support!