MnCAN is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing weekly community-based conversation groups and support for people with aphasia. Our groups focus on use of supported conversation strategies and life participation approaches.
The mission of Minnesota Connect Aphasia Now (MnCAN) is to improve the quality of life for individuals living with aphasia by supporting increased:
- communication skills,
- participation in their communities, and
- achievement of personal and communication goals.
Each MnCAN conversation group is facilitated by an experienced Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). These groups also include graduate students and community volunteers who are trained to use conversation strategies to support effective communication by all members. Currently we have eight weekly aphasia conversation groups in the Twin City metropolitan area.
So — what is aphasia?
Aphasia is a language disorder most commonly caused by strokes. People with aphasia may have difficulties in:
* Speaking words
* Understanding others’ words
* Reading words
* Writing words
* Using and understanding numbers
As a result, communication can be limited and challenging. Aphasia may lead to painful social isolation. It is often misunderstood to be an intellectual disorder, which it is NOT.
There are over one million people in the United States who are living with aphasia, and more than 20,000 people with aphasia in Minnesota.
Other causes of aphasia include brain tumors, head injuries, infections, degenerative neurologic conditions and Primary Progressive Aphasia.
If you know someone who has aphasia, please help us CONNECT with him or her.
For more information, contact:
Julia Halvorson
Executive Director of MnCAN
P.O. Box 27966
Minneapolis, MN 55427
Phone: 612-524-8802
Website: mncan.org
Facebook page: facebook.com/mnconnectaphasianow
