By Tom Sather, Aphasia Access Past President
ANCDS Member and newsletter editor Sarah Wallace (center) presents members Ellen Bernstein-Ellis and Catherine Off with The Sandra O. Glista Excellence in Mentoring Awards at the ASHA Aphasia Breakfast.
It’s 6:45 a.m. on the first day of the ASHA National Convention. That can mean only one thing: It’s time for the ASHA Aphasia Breakfast. A longstanding tradition, the “ASHA Breakfast” is a pre-dawn gathering of clinicians, researchers, developers, and providers of all things aphasia to celebrate over coffee, food, and stories. This year was no different. The Aphasia Breakfast at the ASHA Convention in Seattle brought together 75 passionate professionals dedicated to advancing care, research, and advocacy for individuals with aphasia. This annual gathering provides a meaningful space for networking, sharing insights, and celebrating the outstanding contributions to the field.
We heard updates on aphasia work throughout the country. Maura Silverman, Executive Director of the National Aphasia Association (NAA), provided key insights into the NAA’s ongoing initiatives, including new outreach efforts, resources for people with aphasia and their families, and advocacy strategies to enhance awareness at national and local levels. Melinda Corwin provided information on the second Life Participation Approach to Aphasia course developed by Aphasia Access: the LPAA Practice Certificate. Even the crew from Midnight Brunch, the award winning video production company that partnered with Jerry Kaplan and Liz Hoover at Boston University to create the incredibly powerful 5-part “Living with Aphasia” series that has just been released.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of The Sandra O. Glista Excellence in Mentoring Award, sponsored by Aphasia Access. The award, established in 2023 to recognize the impact and mentorship of aphasia pioneer Sandra Glista, recognized two remarkable mentors: Ellen Bernstein-Ellis and Catherine Off. Aphasia Access President Sarah Wallace presented “The Glista” to both of these incredible humans. Both recipients demonstrate exceptional dedication to guiding and inspiring the next generation of professionals in our field. Their work has shaped countless careers and has significantly contributed to the growth and impact of aphasia advocacy, research, and clinical excellence, and they represent all that Sandra Glista has modeled as an effective mentor.
It was early. And it was awesome. Another wonderful gathering of the aphasia community and all the great work happening in the field. Next year – D.C.