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“I come to group because I can learn… I want to learn to say more
things,” said Garcia.
Garcia’s daughter, Gaby Garcia-del Castillo, said“We come to support
him and learn about the other people; we learn from them just like
they can learn from us.” The BASG has become an important part of
the family’s efforts to improve communication with Garcia after the
stroke that occurred more than two years ago. Garcia’s wife Maria
said, “He has improved a lot since his stroke. He comes here [to the
BASG] and has lots of friends and has a good time.”
Muñoz said a recent topic of conversation for Latinos at the support
group involved maintaining the gender roles at home despite the
effects of aphasia. “The support group serves as an experience for
TCU students that they cannot receive anywhere else. It allows
them to have concentrated time with family members, hearing their
perspective and how they interact with their family. This shows what
is or is not working,” Muñoz said.
Claudia Johnson, a graduate COSD student participating in the
Emphasis in Bilingual Speech-Language Pathology, agrees. “The
aphasia [support] group is an opportunity to get to know the clients
and their families at a more personal level. I value this time as a
clinician, because it’s an opportunity to engage in conversations and
activities that are not purely therapy driven, but rather relationship
or support driven.”
Graduate student Emily Resnick adds, “I was eager to gain insight into
how aphasia affects the personal lives of clients and their families. I
also thought it would give me valuable experience before I have my
own clients with aphasia.”
Primarily graduate speech-language pathology students in
the bilingual program have attended the meetings; however,
undergraduate students are encouraged to attend the group if they
have an interest in aphasia. Students are very involved with the
group sessions in each of the activities as well as interpreting from
English to Spanish or vice-versa, depending on the preference of the
group, which prepares them for future clients.
Muñoz said, “I would like to see this group get bigger; we want
the clinicians to know we are doing this. I would also like to take
information we learn and share it with other clinicians so they may
start a similar group somewhere else. I think using what we learn
through the group is a way to benefit the profession as a whole.”
“I am enjoying this group. I always have so much fun. They are just
such interesting, exciting people. They each have their own unique
vision on life,” Muñoz said.
Johnson said, “I have learned that aphasia has a tremendous impact
on the patient’s emotional, social and personal life. It has helped me
understand that some clients really value and need the support of
their community. A lot of them find encouragement and comfort in
being part of a group who understands them, either because they
also have aphasia or because they understand aphasia. As a speech-
language pathologist in training, I hope to give my future clients the
opportunity to connect to a similar support group.”
The upcoming theme for the support group is “My Story,” which will
explore background stories of the group members’ lives prior to their
stroke and aphasia. This session also will include those who do not
have aphasia, and may include how they came to the MSHC.
The Bilingual Aphasia Support Group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first
Wednesday of each month in the MSHC. For more information, call
817.257.7620.
MUÑOZ SAID, “
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS GROUP GET
BIGGER
; WE WANT THE CLINICIANS TO KNOWWE ARE
DOING THIS... I THINK USING WHAT WE LEARN THROUGH
THE GROUP IS A WAY
TO BENEFIT THE PROFESSION AS A
WHOLE.”
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The Harris College Magazine
- 2013 ·
7