Minnesota State Mankato Aphasia Group

What is it?

A 12-week group for adults ages 18+ with aphasia (language disorder) that has been designed to create natural conversation, promote or maintain progress with language and provide interaction experiences with support in Mankato, Minnesota. The group is facilitated by a Speech-Language Pathologist with a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the America Speech and Hearing Association in conjunction with a group of trained Speech-Language Pathology graduate students (1 student per group participant). The group employs Evidence-Based Approaches (such as Constraint Induced Therapy, Script Training, Supported Conversation Approach, and Semantic Feature Analysis, etc).

What does the group look like?

Each week a theme or topic is chosen for the group, such as: music, sports, seasons, holidays, etc.
Group participants discuss their preferred topics through a semi-structured question and answer format. EBP approaches are infused into the discussions to promote and maintain progress with language abilities.
Group participants are provided evidence-based approaches such as supported conversation approach that are individualized to the participant and may include: spoken and written keywords, body language and gestures, hand drawings, detailed photographs, etc., to enhance their ability to take part in the group. Everyone can participate regardless of their means of communication.
The number of participants in the group depends on attendance but is usually limited to no more than 10 to supply more opportunities for interaction. Each participant is assigned a single graduate student trained on that individual's means of communication. Students employ evidence-based approaches and supported conversation strategies while working with the client.

What are the goals for the group?

To learn communication strategies, benefit from evidence-based aphasia approaches and understand ways of coping with concerns related to aphasia.
To provide group members with an opportunity to make connections with other people with aphasia and to communicate with peers when given structure and support.
To practice successful communication strategies in a 'safe' setting and to observe successful strategies used by others.
To increase participant’s sense of belonging and promote self-acceptance through knowing they are not alone.

When does the group meet?

The group meets Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon in the Center for Communication Sciences & Disorders on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato. Details will be provided upon enrolling. Individual aphasia therapy services also available - please complete the enrollment form to learn more.

Who do I contact for more information?

Tino Mupambo, M.S. CCC-SLP is a Clinical Instructor in the Center of Communication Sciences and Disorders on the Minnesota State University, Mankato campus where the Aphasia Group meets. She is the primary supervisor and speech-language pathologist for the Aphasia Group. Tino has experience working with adults with Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, Neurodegenerative diseases and was working in the medical setting with these populations prior to joining the department. She has a Master's in Speech-Language Pathology, and is licensed in the state of Minnesota, and the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.

Email: tinotenda.mupambo.2@mnsu.edu
Phone: 507-389-1902