“Unlocking the Mysteries of Aphasia: Understanding the Language Disorder”
WHY THIS DOCUMENTARY?
Aphasia is about a devastating condition. 9 out of 10 people have never heard the term “Aphasia.” Yet, all sufferers have had their lives immeasurably changed. Two thirds of stroke victims of all ages have Aphasia.
THE AIM OF THE FILM
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Shine a light on Aphasia this a hidden disability that is a devastating condition.
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Highlight the lack of support once the rehabilitation is over
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Show how charities and the families cope with the long-term effects
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How young people with Aphasia deal with it in surprising ways
WHAT IS APHASIA?
Aphasia is an impairment of language, affecting the production or comprehension of speech and the ability to read or write.
Aphasia is always due to injury to the brain – most commonly from a stroke, particularly in older individuals. But brain injuries resulting in Aphasia may also arise from head trauma, from brain tumours, or from infections.
There are at least 350,000 people in UK with Aphasia.
THIS FILM WILL HELP
Create greater awareness of Aphasia by bringing it to wider audience
Build a stronger network of support for families and carers
Show how the sufferers can lead productive lives
WHO IS IN THE FILM?
Jonathan Hirons – Producer and Director
Jonathan is a film-maker, writer and musician.
He mainly produces factual films, most recently for the EU’s Erasmus and Leonardo projects on subjects as wide-ranging as radicalization and entrepreneurship in the creative industries. In 2014, he produced the short fiction film Cast Adrift.
Jonathan has just won an award from the Tavistock Trust to write and produce a documentary about Aphasia.
He had a bleed on his brain in 2019 while at work. After some days in hospital, he was told he had Aphasia.
With some speech therapy, Jonathan began to recover but is not fully back to his old self. As he got to know other people with Aphasia, he realised that there is little help out there once the rehabilitation has ended. Hence this film.
Barbara Chalk – Chair of Living with Aphasia charity
Barbara is passionate about building up friendships and support for people with aphasia. Barbara was formerly a Speech and Language Therapist before setting up the charity and becoming the Chair of Trustees in 2017.
Emily Cane
Emily was 25 years old when she suffered from a severe stroke in 2017. Em has always lived by her favourite catchphrase ‘always remember to sparkle and shine!’ and she hopes she can spread a little of this through this amazing charity!
Mike Sutton ( father of Dan)
Following Dan’s accident which took place in May 2016 he has struggled with a number of issues. Aphasia has been the biggest challenge for him.
Hopefully this film will help bring a greater awareness to a much bigger audience and eventually a framework of support for those who are struggling.