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Nicole Campbell MBE, Hon.FRCSLT
The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia (TTA) is delighted to announce that one of our Trustees, Nicole Campbell, has been awarded an MBE for services to people with aphasia in the King’s New Year Honours List. Nicole became a Trustee in 2003 and has been instrumental in taking the TTA forward. Below are a few quotes (with kind permission) from some of the many letters of support.
Since Nicole became a Trustee of The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia in 2003, she “has been an enthusiastic, persuasive, and persistent driver for improvements in service provision and research for people with aphasia and their families”. Professor Marian Brady, Glasgow Caledonian University
“The Trust would not be where it is today without her determined application, hard work and sustained vision to improve the care and support for individuals with aphasia. There is no doubt that her activities have made a substantial difference to the lives of people with Aphasia.” Martin M Brown, Emeritus Professor of Stroke Medicine, Trustee (retired) The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia
“As part of the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia she has been instrumental in starting and supporting the continuation of the UK’s Aphasia Alliance; getting everyone involved with aphasia round the table together had never been done before. Nicole is always present as a critical friend, an independent sounding board and an instigator of joint projects.” Gill Pearl, Chief Executive, Speakeasy, UK
“Nicole conceived of the Aphasia Software Finder in 2009 and since then has worked unstintingly to develop and maintain it. Thanks to Nicole’s unwavering vision, it provides up-to-date and comparable information about aphasia apps and software in the English language.” Dr Abi Roper, Speech and Language Therapist and Research Fellow, City, University of London
“She is truly a credit to the UK, and I wish we could clone her” Dr Aura Kagan, Former Executive Director, Aphasia Institute, Canada
“The impact of Nicole’s dedication to advocating for improved services for people with aphasia and encouraging students and researchers is beyond measure.” Dr Nina Simmons-Mackie, Professor Emeritus, Communication Sciences & Disorder, Southeastern Louisiana University, USA
“People with aphasia around the world will have benefited from her selfless work.” Emeritus Professor Linda Worrall, Queensland Aphasia Research Centre, The University of Queensland
All of us who work with Nicole are aware of the difference she has made in so many areas of aphasia. Quite simply, the TTA would not be where it is today without her. To be awarded an MBE in recognition of this, is a wonderful tribute and we could not be more pleased.” Henrietta, Duchess of Bedford, Trustee, The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia
The Trustees would like to send their warmest congratulations to Dr Aura Kagan on her appointment as a Member of the Order of Canada (C.M.). The citation read “Aura Kagan, a speech-language pathologist and former executive director of the Aphasia Institute in Toronto, has profoundly shaped care for those with aphasia. Her groundbreaking methods provide communication ramps that restore dignity and transform lives. Her work, inspired by the belief that life’s a conversation, continues to influence aphasia treatment worldwide”.
If you would like to read more about her work click here
The Trustees of The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia are delighted to have awarded The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia Stroke Forum prizes, presented annually at the UKSF.
The 2024 recipients are:
Ms Alice Warburton, University College London Hospitals for the poster titled “Interaction opportunities for acute stroke patients with communication difficulties: A pilot collaboration between a speech and language therapy service and a hospital volunteer service.”
Ms Emily Hanks, City St Georges, University of London for the aphasia abstract titled “Comparing food service provision on an acute stroke unit for communicatively impaired patients with and without dysphagia.”
The Audrey Holland Award Presentation
Henrietta Bedford and Nicole Campbell were delighted to receive the Audrey Holland Award. The Award was presented by Dr Elizabeth Hoover, on behalf of Aphasia Access, at the British Aphasiology Conference 2024, De Montford University. This Award was made in 2023, but there was an unexpected delay in being able to make the presentation.
The Audrey Holland Award is presented bi-annually, by Aphasia Access, for exemplary contributions and achievement within the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia (LPAA).
In her speech Dr Elizabeth Hoover, a former President of Aphasia Access, explained why they have chosen to make this Award:
“The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia, under the strategic and thoughtful guidance of Henrietta Bedford, and Nicole Campbell, has had a positive, impressive impact on the lives of individuals with aphasia, those impacted by aphasia, and programs and services for those with aphasia, since its establishment in 1992. Henrietta and Nicole have worked tirelessly, along with the Trustees of the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia, to ensure streamlined access to a range of resources for global partners ranging from individuals with aphasia and aphasia groups, to international research collaborations and university partners. …… The TTA has funded projects, research, and individual and group programming. Nicole and Henrietta have intentionally and collaboratively developed and nurtured a range of relationships locally and internationally. Through their leadership, strategic vision, frontline work and behind-the-scenes planning and development, Nicole and Henrietta have provided an invaluable resource for development of a diversified range of aphasia programs and services globally and are recognized as international leaders in the aphasia services, collaborations, services and supports. They emulate the values and characteristics of Audrey Holland, her spirit, her vision, and her action-oriented approach to aphasia services and programs. …… It is our distinct pleasure to recognize the work of these two pioneering spirits who embody the characteristics and qualities that Audrey so richly demonstrated and valued. “
The Aphasia Software Finder 
The Aphasia Software Finder has had a significant redesign in 2024 with the aim of making the website more aphasia friendly and thereby easier to navigate for everyone.
To learn more about what you can find and what is new on the Aphasia Software Finder, please watch this short video:
