WHO AM I?

• I am a speech and language therapist and want to see a world where more people know what aphasia is.

• I love the sun and I love swimming and scuba diving.

• I live with my husband and cat.

• I am a wheelchair user.

• I live with a colostomy.

WHAT AM I DOING?

• A night dive in September/October on Gozo, Malta with Maren Brockmann and Calypso Diving Centre.

WHY A NIGHT DIVE?

• Diving is difficult for me because of my balance problems.

• I rely on my eyes a lot when I dive.

• On a night dive I cannot use my eyes as much.

• A night dive is frightening for me.

• I did one night dive in 2018 and at the end said, “never again!”

• The diving community wants people to enjoy the underwater world and supports people who need to do things in a different way.

• Maren and Calypso Diving Centre know me well and will help me to do the night dive.

WHY FOR SAY APHASIA?
Aphasia occurs because of a brain injury, often from a stroke. Aphasia can affect understanding what someone is saying, speaking, reading and writing. It can make all aspects of communication (chatting with friends and family, going shopping, talking on the phone, reading and sending texts and reading mail for example) difficult.

We can all help conversations work when talking to someone who has aphasia (communication ramps), but a lot of people do not know about aphasia.

• Say Aphasia works to raise awareness of aphasia.

• I have visited some of the groups and seen first hand how the groups can help people living with aphasia:

o See that they are not alone.

o Have conversations with people who understand.

o Try out different ways of communicating.

o Grow in confidence.

o Have fun.

o Make new friends.

o Take on new roles, e.g., volunteers, peer leaders, befrienders.

I want to support Say Aphasia to keep doing its great work and am very grateful to anyone who is able to sponsor me.

Thank you.

Sarah Johnston