Welcome to the University of Michigan Virtual Aphasia Social Hour, 2021 edition! It’s a New Year, fresh like a new blanket of pristine snow — and a fresh opportunity to connect with the aphasia community around the country. The online social hours are hosted weekly at 4 p.m. (Eastern) each Thursday. They are free, but you must register to get a personalized link to join.
This month we explore the following topics:
- Jan. 7 – Take a stroll down memory lane! Bring some pics of yourself or an old yearbook to share who you were then and now. What is one thing you believed as a kid that seems ridiculous now?
- Jan. 14 – Resolve to participate in this session all about — you guessed it — resolutions. Love them? Hate them? Have a funny story about past resolutions? Bring it on.
- Jan. 21 – Hometown Proud! Share about where you’re from or where you now live! Bring maps, photos, and brag (or complain!) about that place where you were brought up.
- Jan. 28 – For us in Michigan, wintertime can mean hunker-time, as in hunker down until spring. But it doesn’t have to. As the Nordic people say, “there is no such thing as bad weather, only poor preparation.” We’re not sure about all that, but come ready to share how you stay active in the winter months, either outdoors or indoors.
When you register, you have the option to sign up for them all or just the weeks you’d like to join in. The social hours provide a much needed-chance to relate and meet with others in the aphasia community. Building confidence and staying social are some of the best things you can do for yourself and loved ones when aphasia is a part of your life.
What to Expect
Each social hour is typically 40-65 minutes long and includes interaction with others with aphasia as well as care partners. It’s a great way to stay social and to practice communication skills in a low-pressure setting. The social hours are free and voluntary session and are not therapy or offered in place of therapy.
New to Zoom or Online Teleconferencing?
Check out our Aphasia-friendly guide to using online meeting software: UMAP’s Guide to Joining Zoom from a Computer
About the U-M Aphasia Program and UCLL
The University Center for Language and Literacy (UCLL) is committed to helping people of all ages find meaningful ways to communicate. UCLL is part of the Mary A. Rackham Institute (MARI) at the University of Michigan. MARI provides high-quality, individualized mental health, neuropsychological testing, and language and literacy services to the community through its service centers, including UCLL, University Center for the Child and Family (UCCF), and University Psychological Clinic.