June of each year is Aphasia Awareness Month — a time when all in the aphasia community are asked to advocate for and educate around the communication disorder aphasia. Aphasia has an awareness problem. It's more common than cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, and muscular dystrophy — combined. And while most people have probably heard of those other conditions, they are unfamiliar with aphasia.

The fact that it is a communication disorder (i.e., it can take away a person's literal and figurative voice) and it is fairly "invisible" means it is less commonly known and understood among the general population. Yet, chances are that if you know someone who has had a stroke, they may have struggled with communication immediately — or still struggle with it. It can vary in type and severity. Some people recover fully, most make progress, some will never be able to communicate the same ways again.

It's important to build awareness, because as we know, that is the first and most crucial step in finding public and political understanding and support.