Empowering stroke recovery: Supporting survivors, care partners, and future leaders
By Susan Edwards, M.Sc., (C ) RSLP, President, Victoria Stroke Recovery Association, Director Victoria Voice and Swallow Clinic
The Victoria Stroke Recovery Association’s mission is to support stroke survivors and their care partners in maintaining and improving their quality of life and overall health, allowing for independent living and ongoing recovery. We have been meeting since 1979 and recently partnered with the Victoria Foundation to build sustainable services through our Victoria Stroke Recovery Endowment Fund.
Many of the people attending our group seek help with aphasia. Aphasia is an acquired language disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate, impacting their speech, writing, and understanding of language. It commonly affects stroke survivors, limiting their ability to access services, diminishing their confidence, and isolating them socially. Aphasia also affects care partners, challenging communication within relationships and often isolating care partners by making them the sole social contact for the person with aphasia.
The Victoria Stroke Recovery Association’s CAMPUS Program (Communication and Aphasia Mentorship Program for Undergraduate Students) offers volunteer opportunities for university students to support stroke survivors in the Aphasia Communication Group. The program provides mentorship from a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and helps students prepare for graduate studies in Speech Pathology, Audiology, and other rehabilitation careers across Canada.
By working with stroke survivors, students gain practical experience in communicating with empathy and flexibility, which enhances their understanding of aphasia and its impact on life participation. The program has been running for over a decade and has contributed to many of the student volunteers’ success in graduate programs and professional careers. Additionally, it enriches students’ education beyond classroom learning and benefits stroke survivors through lively and meaningful interaction.
The Victoria Stroke Recovery Association collaborates with the Victoria Foundation to ensure the sustainable legacy of its programs. People who have benefitted from membership in the VSRA understand the impact programs such as CAMPUS have made on their own lives and students return each year to give presentations and share their success stories. Community donations contributed through our endowment with the Victoria Foundation support mentorship and the development of these future leaders in clinical practice and research focused on stroke prevention and recovery.