“He was sent home after only 20 days of therapy. No roadmap. No plan. Just silence.”

For many stroke survivors, that silence turns into helplessness. But for Eric Jackson, it sparked something else. In this conversation, Eric shares how he rebuilt his life after aphasia—returning to work, finding his own speech strategies, and eventually stepping into advocacy and research. This is aphasia recovery that refuses to stop at survival.

Key takeaways:

• Why helplessness creeps in when therapy ends too soon

• The moment Eric realized he could shape his own aphasia recovery

• How to return to work after stroke by redefining success

• Simple speech strategies to slow down and preserve energy

• Why advocacy and research can be part of healing, not just giving back

If you’re ready to reclaim your voice in this journey, here’s your next step: 👉 Take It Back: The Aphasia Advocacy Guide. What stroke stole, you can take back. This short, powerful PDF shows you how to speak up for your rights, your partner, and your future after aphasia.

https://www.lifeaphasiaacademy.co/take-it-back

More Resources:

LIFE Speech Pathology®: https://www.lifespeechpathology.com

LIFE Aphasia Academy®: https://www.lifeaphasiaacademy.com

Aphasia Phil’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AphasiaP/videos

Aphasia Research Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oG88tvDTDbFiHdJPL7S7n5syAau4yXjkNC0j-vmZ_1c/edit?tab=t.0

You’re not failing. You’re adapting.

Drop a comment if this feels like your story—I read every one.