British Aphasiology Society

🌸 Our Spring Newsletter will be released soon!
If you have news, updates, or opportunities you'd like to share with the BAS community, please send them in!
📅 Submission deadline: 15 March
📧 Email: newsletter@bas.org.uk

Join researchers & clinicians, share the latest advances, and connect across the multidisciplinary aphasia community. Hybrid event (in-person + online). Early bird registration now open 🌍🎟️

Exciting news! Registration is open for the 2026 International Conference of the British Aphasiology Society 🧠💬📅 7–9 Sept 2026 📍 Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom 🔗 2026bas.co.uk Theme: “Living well with aphasia”.

Please complete this short form to tell the RCSLT what topics in stroke communication and swallowing you would like to see featured at the UK Stroke Forum conference in 2026.

Have your say by 26th February 2026

forms.office.com/pages/respon...

Could you be our next Publicity Officer?

We are looking for a BAS member to join the Committee to support our publicity and social media.

📧 Email the BAS chair if you are interested

Congratulations to the winners of our recent Small Grants

✨ Aphasia Uncovered - James Major

✨ On the Tip of My Tongue – Voices of Aphasia 2026 - Jonathan Hirons

✨ Meaningful outcome measures: empowering people living with PPA and their families and friends - Richard Talbot @rtslt.bsky.social

📢 Calls for abstracts for the British Aphasiology Society Research Update Meeting

🗓️ 24/06/2026
🧑‍💻Online event

We welcome abstracts about:
✅ Planned research
✅ Research in progress
✅ Recently completed research

⌛️Submissions by 30/03/2026
research-update@bas.org.uk

The requirements, the relationships, and the rules: experiences and perceptions of how time is spent supporting recovery on a stroke rehabilitation unit for stroke survivors with aphasia Stroke survivors with aphasia experience a range of challenges during hospital-based stroke rehabilitation. These include limited rehabilitative activities and difficulties interacting with healthc...

Pleased to share our paper published online today!

Highlighting the #stroke rehab unit experiences of stroke survivors with #aphasia
@lindseythiel.bsky.social @basaphasia.bsky.social @clinacslt.bsky.social

www.tandfonline.com/eprint/MQ3E6...

I think more details will be shared in the New Year.
You could email smallgrants@bas.org.uk and I’m sure Anna would be happy to pass a message on

In the New Year, we are running our first Aphasia Clinician Session of 2026

📆 Tuesday 13th January 16:00-17:00 with
Sheila Robinson & Anne Barrett

📋 Communication assessment in the acute setting-why, when and how?

Members can sign up in the members area

BAS members are invited to our upcoming Aphasia Clinician Session

⏰ Monday 8th December 16:00-17:00 with Jen Dodds-Vigouroux

✏️ A communicative writing approach for a client with severe aphasia- how do we maximise gains?

Sign up in the members area to join ✅

Elissa Manzi and Lucy Dyson are representing BAS at the UK Stroke Forum in Aberdeen! Come and say hello and discuss all things #aphasia at stand 85 🙌🏼 💬🧠 #UKSF25 #BAS

Great idea! Our small grants award has just closed but keep an eye out for next year www.bas.org.uk/awards-fundi...

Get ready for our next Masterclass
🗓️ Tuesday 18th November 3.30-4.30
🇺🇸 Chaleece W. Sandberg
🧠Abstract Semantic Associative Network Training (AbSANT): Theory, mechanisms, and step-by-step protocol
Members can book through the members area at www.bas.org.uk

We’re putting together our latest newsletter.
📧 newsletter@bas.org.uk by 7th November with your aphasia related news

MSc SLT students at @universityofessex.bsky.social are researching gesture for aphasia therapy in acute stroke care. If you’re an SLT, SLTA or Rehabilitation Assistant with experience, we’d love to hear from you! lr19377@essex.ac.uk / mh24873@essex.ac.uk #Aphasia #StrokeRehab #SLT #SpeechTherapy

Thank you, Sophie, for all your hard work and guidance in your role as chair! You will be missed. And a warm welcome to Elissa Manzi our new chair 🤗 @emanzi.bsky.social

And a big big thank you to Richard Talbot who has served on the BAS committee for 6 years, the past three of those coordinating the BAS conferences! We are hugely appreciative of his time and expertise 🙏 and wish him all the best completing his Phd! @rtslt.bsky.social

Special thanks today to Abi Roper & the conference team. Abi led the 2025 conference planning with a really special vision of togetherness, creativity, and a legacy in Dundee, producing an inspiring & inclusive event 👏 Here she is receiving some gifts as a token of our appreciation 💐 🌈 #BASconf2025

And that’s a wrap on #BASconf25 in Dundee - the City of Discovery!

We’ve loved connecting, learning, and celebrating with the amazing aphasia community 🌟

Huge thanks to Dr Abi Roper for leading such a fantastic event.

Safe journeys home — see you in Cardiff next year! 🗓️

#aphasia #community

⚡️Lightning Talks⚡️
Susie Williams on supporting the carers of people living with jargon aphasia — exploring family needs and the unique challenges of jargon aphasia… it’s different.
#BASconf25 #community

⚡️Lightning Talks⚡️
Ciara Mooney highlights a community support and education group for people living with brain injury — fostering peer support and providing accessible information.
#BASconf25 #community

⚡️Lightning Talks⚡️
Jaycie Bohan reflects on the power and potential of clinical research collaborations — recruiting large participant numbers through partnerships with NHS trusts and community groups in the FATE-A study.
#BASconf25 #community

⚡️Lightning Talks⚡️
Megan Trebilcock shares insights on creating a safe space for connection, sharing, and support.
#BASconf25 #community

Great talk about creative CPT in acute setting- ideas, experiences, challenges and reflections- from Jen Thomson, Firle Beckley and Nikki Hafter. #BASconf2025 @basaphasia.bsky.social

And Alexandra Tessier explores how to increase communication accessibility on public transport. Knowledge of communication strategies, relational communication and use of gestures all increased #BASconf25

And then, after surveying employers and employees of banks and counter-service restaurants, considering strategies to improve communication accessibility and equitable services #BASconf25

And finally Sarah-Eve Poirier presents her PhD systematic review outlining barriers and facilitators to community accessibility in local services www.mdpi.com/2673-7272/4/... #BASconf25

And now Carole Anglade exploring barriers & facilitators in targeting everyday service interactions in aphasia rehab e.g.pharmacies. Bad experiences can be stressful, positive exps can build confidence. "Perform better" is not always the goals, "getting used to" &feeling belonging are key #BASconf25

Next up Marie-Christine Hallé shares about the needs of significant others of PWA and how SLTs build relationships with SOs to support PWA. 4 qualitative studies were reviewed- these showed the extent of caregiver needs including personal & relational needs. #BASconf25