Many of the members of the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group attend the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Camp that is held every September on the beautiful Long Lake in northern Wisconsin.

Each year brings new people with aphasia and their families to camp and many returning campers as well.

Can’t wait to see everyone at camp this year!

Click on this link to see all the fun activities planned for September! You can also see how to register if you have not done so already!

Aphasia Camp Brochure 2019

Just a reminder…aphasia exercise is starting up.  You can join in at any time.  No charge!

So what happens when a few people from the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group are down in Arizona? Well – they help each other out with transportation, stop by and visit, and have a nice glass of wine! And…they send pictures of beautiful, warm, sunny skies to those of us back in Wisconsin!  Cheers to all of our group members near and far.

What better way to see the Christmas lights around town than with this crew!

The Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group is proud to collaborate with Mayo Clinic Health Systems – Eau Claire, University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire Communication Sciences & Disorders department, University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire College of Education & Health Sciences for the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Camp!

The 14th annual Chippewa Valley Aphasia Camp takes place on September 15th – 17th, 2017!!!! See images below of the brochure and registration form. To register electronically, follow this link:
Aphasia Camp Registration

OR
Contact Mary Beth Clark at Mayo Clinic Health System Rehabilitation Services at

(715) 838-1725 or clark.marybeth1@mayo.edu for more information or for a brochure.

Also check out the Camp Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/aphasiacamp/

The National Aphasia Association has a list of “aphasia hacks” that they have started on their website!

What are “aphasia hacks”?  They describe it like this….”They’re the tricks that you have up your sleeve to communicate.” Some examples include:  carrying a card in your wallet to explain what aphasia is or using a notebook to write things down.

Do you have any strategies that help you communicate in your daily life?  If so, click here National Aphasia Association to go to their website and add your input!

Book selection:

“Four undocumented teenagers, one ugly robot and the battle for the American Dream”

Book club dates:
1/20 10:30-12:00
2/3 10:30-12:00
2/17 10:30-12:00
3/3: Book Club Celebration!

How many members participated: Five aphasia group members

Members identified reasons to participate: “learn to read” “love to read” “volunteer at Library”

What did we do?
We shared our favorite parts of the book!
We read aloud and shared information from the study guides. See below
We shared opinions and perspectives on the characters.
We completed a character board.
We shared personal stories and talked HISTORY .
We celebrated and watched the DVD, Spare Parts!!!

Book Club rating: 4/5 stars

Spare Parts Worksheets to inspire!

Page 31 to page 112 :
What are the two magnet programs at Carl Hayden High School?
-Marine Science and Computer Science
-Shakespeare and Marketing
-History of the American revolution and Spanish American History

Who is Fredi Lajvardi?
-Disco Dancer at the Catalina Trailer Court
-Program Manager of the Marine Science Class
-Christian’s Uncle from Mexicali

What was the focus of the American Border Patrol in 2004?
-Hunting animals along the border
-Building parks for migrant families
-Migrant children

Who is Ramiro Vazquez?
-Oscar’s Father
-Teacher at Carl Hayden
-Border Patrolman

What did Oscar, Lorenzo and Christian want to build ?
-robots
-ships
-Rocket ships

Why did Fredi have to pull back from his work at Carl Hayden?
-Money
-His children required more care
-Didn’t want to be there anymore

It may have been cold last night, but we still enjoyed Christmas lights and some great trivia and snacks!  Thank you to all who attended!  A great time was had by all!

On November 18th, Carin Keyes and Tom Sather, both SLPs who work with the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group, presented a poster on the Postcrossing project/club.

The Postcrossing Coffee Club has been meeting now for about 1 year.  We have received over 50 postcards from around the world!  The purpose of our club is to make more people aware of aphasia one postcard at a time!  We also use the postcard writing task to help with communication practice.

Below is the poster that was presented.  We received a Meritorious Poster Award.  The award is given to presentations that show extraordinary, exceptional, and innovative work.

The most recent member of the list of people acting as student volunteers
for the Chippewa Valley aphasia group is Sam Furman. A Winneconnee native,
she has three children. Alyssa 19, Corrina 17, and Ryan 14. They make
their home in an apartment building in Chippewa Falls.
Sam has her bachelors degree from UW Stevens Point, and is on schedule to
earn her parchment from UWEC’s master’s program in the spring of ’17.

Her hobbies include reading cooking, and sewing. The last of which has
gotten her involved in costuming. That activity has gotten her into events
of that nature in Madison and Milwaukee.

She also has traveled to Italy.

She is a fun and enthusiastic addition to group.

Written by Rob Gaulke