Highlighting Aphasia Resources and Aphasia Experts in the Black Community

In recognition of Black History Month, the MossRehab Aphasia Center would like to share some resources for African-American individuals living with aphasia and highlight African-American leaders in the aphasia community here in the greater Philadelphia area.

Ms. Angelique Cauthorn is a co-founder and current President of the Aphasia Resource Collaboration Hub, a community made of up individuals with aphasia, clinicians, and researchers that educates and advocates for those living with aphasia.

Ms. Cauthorn organizes an annual event here in Philadelphia, the Resource Orientation for Stroke and Aphasia (ROSA), to bring together all of these stakeholders to learn and connect with each other.

She is a leader and co-facilitator for the National Aphasia Association Black American Aphasia Conversation Group and co-hosts the podcast Brain Friends, with Davetrina Seles Gadson, PhD, CCC-SLP.

Denise Mendez, EdD, is a co-founder of the Mid-Atlantic Aphasia Conference, along with other individuals with aphasia including Mark Harder, Jenn Derry, and Jim Burd.

Dr. Mendez’s advocacy work also includes hosting the podcast, Still Something 2 Say and leading an aphasia group for individuals with aphasia who are also University of Pennsylvania alumni.

In addition, she was a contributor to the Aphasia Access Conversations podcast episode, Black Americans Talking About Us, with Mr. Michael Obel-Omia, Donald Cunnigen, PhD, and Roy Hamilton, MD.

The MossRehab Aphasia Center is so pleased to have the opportunity to work with Ms. Cauthorn and Dr. Mendez and to provide support however possible to individuals with aphasia, as well as their families and caregivers.

Thank you to Brandon Knight for inspiring the Black History Month blog series.