CHAT – A Local Community Support Group For Those With Acquired Communication Disorders

If you work with, or know someone with communication challenges, you know how many feel isolated from their communities or find it difficult to reintegrate with society in ways they had before their neurological event. These patients will most likely receive speech therapy to help recover skills, build new ones, and develop strategies around new deficits. But how common is it to find that your patients need more support than what a set of therapy appointments can achieve? Family, caregiver, and community support is a must – and this is why the University of Cincinnati has partnered with Drake Hospital to create the CHAT group.

CHAT stands for Communication Helps Achievement Together. It is all about supporting individuals with acquired communication challenges practice their newly learned skills, strategies and techniques with adults who have similar difficulties. It’s location within the Communication Science and Disorders Department at UC provides them with the unique ability to utilize graduate student speech and language pathologists for planning and support. These students carefully plan the sessions based on themes and communication building skills, and become communication partners to help foster communication attempts.

CHAT consists of adult men and women between the ages of 21 to 88.  If your looking for a great community group to suggest to your patients, look no further! For more information, email beyrerka@ucmail.uc.edu or call 513-558-8503. Also, check out their Facebook page for the latest updates!