The S.J. Hume Communication Group for Adults
The members of this group are adults who:
- Have difficulty speaking or communicating because of an acquired brain injury.
- Are interested in meeting new people.
- Are able to transfer independently, if necessary.
What Happens
During each session an invited guest without communication difficulties and two people with communication difficulties will share a story. We will then discuss the stories in small groups, during this process special strategies will be used to promote participation by everyone.
Throughout the session an experienced speech-language pathologist will be on hand to help.
This group has been running since 2001. Members may bring a companion to the first two sessions but after that they will have to fly solo. In that way they will receive the maximum benefit from the sessions
The Cost
The cost to participate in the S. J. Hume Communications Group is $40.00 for ten sessions or $4.00 per session.
Who Was S. Jim. Hume?
S. Jim. Hume was the husband of Speechworks staff member Gale Hume. Jim passed away in July 2001.
According to Allison Baird:
"I met Jim Hume at the teaching hospital where I was working as a Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in severe communication impairments. With assistance from colleagues and students in their final year of graduate school I tried everything to decrease the severity of Jim’s Broca’s Aphasia with Apraxia (which had come about after a stroke)."
Jim was persistent, determined, and demanding. He insisted on a relationship based on equality - which was a bit amazing considering he couldn’t talk, write, gesture or draw! He acted as if he didn’t know he had lost his communication skills and insisted on participating fully in his rehabilitation. I think this contributed to the magic that sometimes occurred in our sessions: magic in the form of communication without words. During one of the many sessions we had Gale and Jim became very upset with each other. However within thirty minutes we were able to sort out an argument that had temporarily derailed their relationship and we ended the session laughing and teasing one another!
Jim and I had big plans together which began during an in-service we gave to Pastoral Caregivers. I talked a little about how to support people who were unable to communicate: a very demanding task for the communication partner who relies predominately on words. Jim forced all of the participants to confront their discomfort with his disability and I reminded them all to communicate with their heart and soul; not exactly my area of expertise!
Then Jim came forward and delivered the message that caregivers should allow the person with aphasia to lead the conversation. This is actually quite nerve racking and awkward until you develop the necessary skill and confidence! As I watched the listeners I realized that Jim had taught me a very valuable skill; because of Jim, I learned to listen to silence.
In time I started to worry that I was making myself the only person with whom Jim could "talk" and so the day came when I felt I had to discharge him from therapy. He was furious but it wasn’t the first time he had left my office angry. He conveyed to Gale that he felt abandoned. At his next session he came with information that Gale had found on the internet. I offered to do one more thing for Jim: I would investigate the Lingraphica computer program they had found, a program which was reporting excellent treatment outcomes for people with chronic aphasia. It was that experience that started my interest in technology-based treatment and gradually my relationships with Jim and Gale grew into valuable friendships.
With Jim's death my commitment to the psychosocial well-being of people with aphasia grew and from that grew the programs currently provided through "Speechworks". All those who have benefited from these services can take a breath, listen to the silence, and say 'thank-you Jim Hume'."
For more information please contact Allison Baird at www.aphasiaworks.com.