Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya

- Who are we?

Circa 1983 a group of aphasics met together regularly to share their life of communication, their experiences, difficulties and improvements; all people of these groups were suffering from aphasia. In 1989, these groups established the Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya. They became an Association after creating their first statutes and legalized it in the Register of Associations of the Generalitat de Catalunya. Nowadays, the Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya welcomes all people suffering from aphasia, their family and friends, as well as professionals interested for the specificity that implies aphasia.

- How does the Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya consider the affectation of aphasia and its disorder of the language?

We think: it is a disorder of the language due to a cerebral damage, generally in the left hemisphere of the brain (where the language area finds place). It affects both the oral and written language as for comprehension and/or expression. Hemiplegy is possible depending on the focus of the injury and its extension. It is possible to find oneself in this situation due to two reasons: in organic aphasics the damage is produced in the inner part of the organism (tumors, embolisms, extravasation, aneurism, cerebral infarct). When the cause is external (traffic accidents, laboral injuries, falls and all those external circumstances able to damage the left hemisphere of the brain), this aphasia is called traumatic.

- Who can belong to the Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya?

Every aphasic person, without limit as for the degree of acquired rehabilitation, whether partial or total. Every relative, friend or supporter of aphasics willing to join the Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya and share its aims. Every professional willing to deepen in the aphasia speciality and in its technical, social and human aspects.

- Aims of the Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya

Defending the interests of aphasics. Promoting all type of activity aimed to the rehabilitation and social reintegration of aphasics. Promoting all type of activity aimed to reveal the knowledge on aphasia. In order to reach the previous aims, the Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya shall organize and celebrate meetings, conferences, courses, specialized studies, conventions and exhibitions, and will divulge the previous aims by the opportune means together with the collaboration of other organisms, national and international, when required.

- Address of the Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya

The Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya operates at: HOTEL D'ENTITATS Edifici Piramidon C/ Pere Verges, nº 1 planta 7ª 08020 BARCELONA (Spain) Phone number 93 305 33 16 (ask for Josep) Fax number 93 305 33 16 TIMETABLE Our ordinary timetable is: from MONDAY to FRIDAY, from 5:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This timetable does not include the Saturday excursions, trips and planned interviews that depend on the needs of the moment. CONTACT PEOPLE Blasco Oliva, Mª Rosa (Monday from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.) (Wednesday from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.) (Friday from 8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.) Cucala Adell, Josep (Monday from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.) Gonzalez Fernandez, Lluïsa (Monday from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) (Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) López Martínez, Mª Pilar (Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) (Wednesday 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) Navarro Navarro, Mª Acelia (Monday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) Parellada Montoro, Mª Mercè (From Monday to Friday from 5:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) Puchades Roura, Glòria (From Monday to Thursday from 5:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)

- What are our activities?

Welcome Information: the aphasia appears suddenly and changes in few moments the life of the aphasic and the people surrounding her/him (parents, friends, work and the daily life). The aphasic and his/her closest relatives contact the Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya to find information to what happened, to explain their anguish and ask anything they don't understand. All people contacting the Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya are welcomed by an specialized professional to help them in this new life. Language Workshops Every afternoon, from Monday to Friday the Associació offers to the aphasics a continuous work of all aspects of language, according to the needs of each person. The work is basically individual, and it enhances expression, comprehension, reading and writing. The employed methods are different (computers, cards, books) depending on the treated part of the language. Moreover, small groups of aphasics meet regularly to work together the expression and comprehension; subjects are totally free. These workshops, both individual as in group, are conducted by four professional logopedes specialized in aphasia and in rehabilitation of language. Entertainment Groups Twice a week, the aphasic members of the Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya join in one of the rooms of the Association to enjoy their free time and practice several activities (games, conversations about daily life, their improvements and how to reinsert to society once the aphasia is left behind). This meetings are controlled by a specialized trainer who makes the different activities easier. Family Groups The Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya organizes regularly meetings only for the families and closest friends of aphasics. These meetings take place on Saturdays and are not a therapy group, but a meeting where families can explain and share the experience of living with an aphasic. These groups are very rich in experience, as everyone can report a different experience. Two professionals join usually the groups, but they don't intervene directly; the most important here is the emotional exchange and to lighten the anguish of families. Excursions The Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya organizes regularly trips of one day in the outskirts of Barcelona. By bus we have visited during the last years beautiful sites of Catalonia. These excursions are always on Saturdays and there participate aphasics, families and professionals. They tend to join closer all members of the Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya. Meals Also regularly and mainly when the weather doesn't allow an excursion, the Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya organizes lunches and snacks in order that families and aphasics can meet and know each other. Conferences and Spreading of the Aphasia The Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya organizes scientific conferences about aphasia and its development. The Association takes also part in discussions and conferences with other institutions requiring its presence. It has also appeared in the media, in TV3 and the radio. Collaborators The Associació d'Afàsics de Catalunya is a member of the Associació Internacional d'Afasia (A.I.A), which counts with members of the fifteen countries of the EC, USA and Japan. This association organizes an annual meeting including seminars, conferences and exchanges between several countries. In these meetings they design projects such as a computer program, translated to several languages and able to be used by aphasics of nearly all countries.
- Editing Committee