Galloway, N.J. —An Adler Aphasia Center communication group for stroke and brain injury survivors with aphasia offered by Stockton has moved to the university’s Speech and Hearing Clinic at 10 W. Jimmie Leeds Road.

The group meets two Fridays of each month for two hours and was previously held at Stockton’s Kramer Hall in Hammonton.

The communication group provides those diagnosed with aphasia an opportunity to socialize with others who share similar experiences, provides tips to communicate more effectively, and time to practice communication skills in a natural environment. Aphasia is a language disorder caused by stroke or other brain injury. It affects spoken language, reading and writing, but does not affect one’s intellect.

Members of the group have varying communication abilities, but some have expressed the benefits of attending.

“This is one of the places that makes me feel very comfortable, and my speech has improved dramatically,” said Rod Bourne, of Mays Landing.

The meetings are facilitated by MaryAnn Schiattarella, a licensed speech-language pathologist who is also certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, along with supervised graduate student clinicians from the Master of Science in Communication Sciences & Disorders program at Stockton.

“It does help you to talk to people with the same problems who can relate to your problems,” said Ed Goehringer, of Waterford.

A person with aphasia may join the group at any time but must pre-register. To learn more about this communication group and to pre-register, please contact Gretchen Szabo at 551.287.2238 or email ACG@adleraphasiacenter.org.

Adler Aphasia Center, a nonprofit organization with three full-service facilities based in Maywood, West Orange and Toms River, is a program that addresses the long-term needs of people with aphasia and their families. The Center also offers bi-monthly aphasia communication groups virtually and in Haddonfield, Galloway, Maywood, Monroe and Toms River.