About Connect - the communication disability network

Connect is a national charity for people living with aphasia (communication disability) which is often caused by stroke.

People with aphasia find it hard to speak, read, write, understand language and use numbers. At least 250,000 people in the UK have aphasia, usually caused by stroke, but aphasia can also be caused by head injuries or other neurological conditions. Aphasia is different for everyone but aphasia is often described as like having the word you are trying to find on the tip of your tongue all the time. Everyday activities suddenly become a source of profound frustration and anxiety both for the person with aphasia and for their families, friends and carers. People with aphasia can rapidly losing confidence, self-esteem, autonomy and independence. They can become frustrated, isolated and socially excluded and their quality of life can be radically reduced.

Our aims are to:

• equip people living with aphasia to re-connect with life again

• improve services and increase opportunities available for people living with aphasia by changing attitudes and practices in service provision

• increase the ways in which people living with aphasia can be authentically involved in the services and opportunities available to them

Connect helps people with aphasia to re-connect with life. We do this by:

• piloting and evaluating innovative, effective and economical services

• providing training, resources and consultancy to decision-makers and front-line providers in health, social care and other organisations

• producing publications and resources by and for people living with aphasia

• undertaking practical research