Aphasia Center of West Texas

The members took to the streets for an Out & About to Senior Life Midland. We were able to visit a beautiful new facility, learn about the available programs and enjoy a delicious meal. Thank you Senior Life Midland for being such gracious hosts! It was a delightful time!

🚀 We’re Hiring! Part-Time Medical Community Liaison 🚀

Are you an effective communicator who loves traveling locally and building strong client relationships? Join our team!

Key Skills:
• Strong relationship-building abilities
• Exceptional verbal and written communication
• Good interpersonal skills
• Creativity, adaptability and problem-solving skills
• Familiarity with CRM software
• Ability to travel within the Permian Basin

If you’re ready to make a difference in the Permian Basin medical community, visit https://bit.ly/acwtmcljob to view the full job description and 📩 submit your resume to [email protected]!

June is National Aphasia Awareness month, and we’ve been sharing information all month long about aphasia and the Aphasia Center of West Texas. By now, you may be wondering how you can get involved. There are several ways for you to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families affected by aphasia. From attending one of our fundraising events to being a community advocate, we invite you to find the support activity that works for you and help advocate for those who know more than they can say. For more information visit acwtx.org or call us at 432.699.1261.

The Aphasia Center is a local nonprofit that serves the Permian Basin community. While some nonprofits are required to send a significant portion of their funds to the national headquarters, often located outside of our communities, the Aphasia Center of West Texas is an independent aphasia center. This allows us to use EVERY DOLLAR raised to directly support and impact the lives of our neighbors, family and friends. When you donate to the Aphasia Center, you can rest assured your money is benefitting THIS community.

Individuals with aphasia are often marginalized and misunderstood. Their inability to communicate effectively with those around them too often leads to exclusion in many areas of their lives. From daily activities to health care, many times, they lose their say in what they want. The Aphasia Center empowers individuals with aphasia to express themselves by teaching new communication techniques. Why? Because their intellect is intact…we know they know, and they deserve to be heard.

People often wonder how to best communicate with someone who has aphasia. The first step is to know their intellect is intact and assume they have competence. Simplifying your message to decrease the language load also helps. Tools such as pens, paper, pictures, gestures and even technology can be used to communicate. Time is another key factor in communication. Individuals with aphasia often need more time to process the information they are receiving and to respond. To ensure your understanding is accurate, it’s helpful to ask them to confirm their message with a thumbs up or thumbs down. These simple tips go a long way in helping you be a better conversation partner to someone with aphasia.

For some, finding words after a stroke can be difficult. Aphasia is a language disorder that impacts conversational interaction (talking and understanding) as well as the ability to read and write. However, aphasia does NOT affect intellect. The Aphasia Center of West Texas is the Permian Basin’s resource to improve the quality of life for all impacted by aphasia. For over twenty years we’ve helped people overcome communication barriers and unlock their messages. For more information, visit acwtx.org.

The Aphasia Center of West Texas believes in empowering individuals impacted by aphasia to access the care they need for as long as they deem it necessary. This key decision was made by the Aphasia Center of West Texas founding board of directors. They believed that financial restrictions should NOT be a factor in getting essential care and support for this often devastating and isolating communication disorder. Communication matters…we’re here to help!

Communication is the tool by which we express ourselves, and it occurs in a variety of forms. At the Aphasia Center, we provide resources and support to keep the conversations going at home and in the community while helping those impacted by aphasia realize there IS life after aphasia.

Thanks to the pioneering spirit of folks like Kathryn Matthews Shelley and others who served on the founding board of directors with the late Nancy Anguish as Founding Board President, the Aphasia Center of West Texas became not only a new nonprofit in the community but a gem in the heart of the Permian Basin serving a very special group of people.

As we continue our journey of awareness, check out a few facts about aphasia. Do any of these facts surprise you? Increasing awareness of this life altering communication disorder helps all impacted by aphasia to make progress in overcoming communication barriers in our communities. Join the Aphasia Center in spreading awareness and share these facts with your friends and family.

Aphasia is a term many have never heard of, yet this communication disorder affects about 34% of stroke survivors. Learn more about aphasia and how the Aphasia Center of West Texas helps individuals living with this disorder at acwtx.org.

Have you heard? June is National Aphasia Awareness Month. Join us in spreading the word. While aphasia is often an isolating and devastating communication disorder for those who have suffered stroke and other traumatic brain injuries, for over twenty years, the Aphasia Center has been a beacon of hope in the Permian Basin. We continue to help aphasia survivors improve their lives by overcoming communication barriers at home and in our community. Visit acwtx.org to learn more.

What a home run of a day! Members enjoyed a sunny outing at a Midland RockHounds baseball game, cheering on their local team. It's not just about the sport; it's about the camaraderie, the laughter, and the shared experiences that make outings like this so memorable.

Out & Abouts are a testament to living life fully and joyfully, despite the challenges of aphasia. Like Hank Aaron said, “…if you keep your eye on the ball, you can accomplish anything.” Thank you for helping to make it all possible!

The Aphasia Center partnered with Midland Memorial Hospital for the 2024 Community Engagement Days! , our Medical Community Liaison, worked to educate visitors and staff about aphasia, a communication disorder, commonly caused by stroke, that affects millions yet remains widely unknown.

For over 20 years, the Aphasia Center of West Texas continues to serve the Permian Basin, improving the quality of life for individuals and families living with aphasia by overcoming communication barriers at home and in our communities.

THANK YOU, Taylor Wiedenfeld for coordinating such a wonderful multi-day, community-wide event! Together, we CAN make a difference!

Wow! Mission accomplished…YOU made the difference! A heart-felt THANK YOU goes out to everyone who donated to the Aphasia Center, helping us reach and exceed our goal! Your generosity enables us to purchase technology to help individuals living with aphasia to further develop their communication skills and create conversations, confidence and connections.

You STILL have time to make a difference! Technology is a great tool to help people living with aphasia unlock their messages and communicate after stroke.

Join us in our mission to repair communication for stroke survivors. Our goal is $4,000 and your donation today helps the Aphasia Center purchase 4 iPads and cover the cost of 1 laptop which will engage members in a communication workout, helping to further develop their communication skills.

Visit permianbasingives.org and click on the Aphasia Center of West Texas logo to donate TODAY!

Today’s the day YOU can make a difference in the lives of individuals and families living with aphasia! Join us in our mission to repair communication after stroke. Our goal is $4,000 and your donation today helps the Aphasia Center purchase 4 iPads and cover the cost of 1 laptop which will engage members in a communication workout, helping to further develop their communication skills.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Visit permianbasingives.org and click on the Aphasia Center of West Texas logo to donate TODAY!