The U-M Aphasia Program (UMAP) and former UMAP clients Anna and Ryan Teal were recently featured in an article published by the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC). The article was featured as the cover story of Inspire Atlanta, a section in the AJC dedicated to sharing uplifting stories and extraordinary people.
Following his stroke in 2018, Ryan could not stand up or speak. But his and Anna’s perseverance and positive attitudes have propelled him forward. And now they are paying it forward as well, with a new aphasia resource to help others like them.
Carol Persad, Ph.D., director of the University Center for Language and Literacy (UCLL), provided insight into Ryan’s treatment and the potential for patients to improve: “I don’t know that we have ever seen someone with aphasia who could not make progress when given the tools and access to professional therapy,” she said.
Ryan was no exception and his openness to trying new and different forms of communication made him a model for others in the program.
In their journey, the Teals recognized that most practice guides for people with aphasia were written as children’s books. With some feedback and guidance from the staff at UMAP, the Teals have begun developing an Aphasia Readers series of books. The books are geared towards adults with aphasia and were designed as a supplementary recovery tool for adults with aphasia who want to practice reading aloud.
To read the full story, click here.
About the U-M Aphasia Program and University Center for Language and Literacy (UCLL) at MARI
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.