800 Vinial Street, B408
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Phone: 724-831-8353
April 2020
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ATB and Telepractice
You may have missed our March 2020 edition; we were indundated with calls from SLPs for help in using telepractice, so we opted to not publish the March edition.

During March and April, Bill Connors and his staff scheduled more than seven two-hour training sessions for SLPs - including students. The course covering the online tools that we use at ATB - ie BlinkSession and WebEx, and also Zoom, TheraV and others. Bill Connors and staff are experienced telepractioners in helping people with aphasia..

Telepractice is defined as "the use of technology to deliver services at a distance".

Why is the use of telepractice important now?

Telepractice - ie a virtual connection, helps the person with aphasia stay in touch with others and practice conversation and helps with isolation, while being in self-quarantine..

Bill and his staff use telepractice for speech therapy with individuals, small paid groups and free conversational groups. They select and use proven and high-quality video conferencing tools like Blink Session and Webex.

For help with your aphasia using telepractice and a free consultation, contact aphasiatoolbox.com - the aphasia experts:

Notes from Bill Connors
The most recent live episode of the Aphasia Toolbox Show was on April 16.

For this edition, ATB client Susan Margaret Balling joined Bill as guest host. She discussed how telepractice played a pivotal role in her recovery. She is now enrolled in college classes.

YouTube Link:
https://youtu.be/4DuGb19dL8U

Be sure to join Bill on Thursdays on Facebook at 11 AM ET for the live broadcast of the Aphasia Toolbox Show. You can join him using this link:


EverythingSLP Update
Just in time for the urgent need to see clients at a distance! This free product from EverythingSLP offers 6 steps with supporting ideas and resources for starting an SLP private telepractice.

The practical SLP may see this as the time to engage that entrepreneurial spirit. You will be shocked at how affordable and doable starting your own Telepractice or a larger private practice can be when you use the experts who will guide you through each step and offer ongoing support. Do not be left behind. It is not a matter of if we offer services at a distance but WHEN. 


Aphasia/Stroke News
A new study finds that leisurely physical activity such as walking, gardening, swimming and dancing may slow brain aging in older adults, possibly preventing brain shrinkage that slows mental processing and cognitive functions. March 5, 2020

The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak has everyone spooked, and hopefully, taking steps to control the outbreak and prepare to get through whatever may come of it. But one group faces additional risks and consequences, as well as anxieties: people with disabilities and or chronic illnesses. March 8, 2020

The coronavirus legislation signed by President Donald Trump would let Medicare expand the use of telemedicine in outbreak areas, potentially reducing infection risks for vulnerable seniors. March 6, 2020

The U.S. telehealth industry, including market leader Teladoc Health Inc, is preparing for a surge in demand as public health officials aiming to contain the fast-spreading new coronavirus encourage use of alternatives to clinic visits and patients seek to avoid public spaces.  March 6, 2020

Middle age may not be too late for women to substantially lower their stroke risk through lifestyle modifications. Middle-aged women who quit smoking, started exercising, maintained a healthy weight and made healthy food choices saw a reduction in their risk of stroke. American Heart Association, April 9, 2020

Doctors sound alarm about patients in their 30s and 40s left debilitated or dead. Some didn’t even know they were infected. Washington Post, April 25, 2020 

Do you want to know how telepractice can help your aphasia therapy and treatment? Contact Bill for a free evaluation OR join one of our conversational groups .