The Trustees of the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia are delighted to announce that Aphasia Recovery Connection (ARC) is the 2025 recipient of The Robin Tavistock Award.
This award is named after Robin Tavistock, the 14th Duke of Bedford who founded The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia. It is presented annually to a person, or as in this case, a group, who is inspirational and has made a significant contribution to the field of aphasia.
ARC has become a phenomenon within the aphasia world, and although based in the United States of America, its reach is global and has been a lifeline to many around the world.
When David Dow (co-founder of ARC) was a child, he acquired aphasia as a result of a stroke. He and his mother Carol (co-founder of ARC) discovered that whilst there were some medical resources for treatment, there was a lack of social and emotional support, both for individuals with aphasia and for their families.
Through their experience, discovering what it is to deal with the isolation, frustration and lack of resources that many with aphasia face, Carol and David founded an organisation that now helps thousands in similar situations. The Aphasia Recovery Connection’s aim is to create a sustained, lifelong community where people with aphasia can regain confidence and live lives that are fulfilling, despite their communication challenges. Central to their mission is working to end the isolation that aphasia brings – something they know firsthand.
They have created and nurtured a supportive community, primarily online, where people can connect, share experiences, and find encouragement. Through their online presence, they have been able to reach tens of thousands of people with aphasia, friends and family all over the world. This was of significant help during the pandemic.
Additionally, they identified the need for better practical resources to support aphasia recovery. While speech therapy is essential, they recognised that recovery is an ongoing process that extends far beyond the clinical setting, which in many countries is woefully brief. ARC also aims to provide access to practical and up-to-date resources and educational tools, as well as emotional support to individuals and families throughout their recovery journey.
This press release could go on and on listing the numerous and varied ways that ARC finds to make meaningful connections, from online webinars to peer support; from Aphasia Cruises to events that, from time to time, allow people to meet face to face.
What stands out, and is so impressive, is the energy and enthusiasm that permeates all that ARC does; the clarity and compassion with which it disseminates practical information and offers hope. Above all, ARC keeps at the forefront of its work, the goal to empower and encourage those with aphasia to live full and fulfilling lives.
The criterion for this Award is to recognise a person or group who is inspirational and has made a significant contribution to the field of aphasia. Aphasia Recovery Connection has done this, and more, and is indeed a worthy recipient of the Robin Tavistock Award 2025.
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