El Paso Aphasia Connection Center

06/04/2026

During our group session this week, the Spanish-speaking participants of the El Paso Aphasia Connection Center (EPACC) created these messages to share with our community in honor of Aphasia Awareness Month.

Aphasia is a language disorder that can occur after a stroke or other brain injury. It affects a person's ability to speak, understand, read, or write, but it does not affect intelligence.

Our participants want you to remember:

🗣️ “Be patient, I have aphasia.”
👂 “Listen.”
⏳ “Give me more time.”
💙 “I may not be able to speak, but I can understand much of what you are saying.”

They also wanted to share important information about recognizing the warning signs of a stroke, because every minute counts and early recognition can save lives.

This month, let's help build a community that is more informed, patient, and inclusive for people living with aphasia.

💬 Please share this post to help spread awareness about aphasia and amplify the voices of those who live with it every day.

06/01/2026

🧠💙 June is Aphasia Awareness Month 💙🧠

This month, we shine a light on aphasia: a communication disorder that affects a person's ability to speak, understand language, read, and write. Aphasia can happen after a stroke, brain injury, or other neurological conditions, but it does not affect intelligence.

Yet despite affecting millions of people worldwide, aphasia remains one of the least understood communication disorders.

This month, we invite you to learn, listen, and help spread awareness. Every person living with aphasia deserves to be heard, understood, and included.

Together, we can build a more informed, compassionate, and communication-friendly community.

Join us this June as we raise awareness, celebrate resilience, and advocate for individuals and families affected by aphasia.

Because communication is a human right. 💙

05/22/2026

La Nube 2026

05/22/2026

A huge thank you to the Junior League of El Paso for sponsoring the El Paso Aphasia Connection Center’s visit to La Nube! 💙

For many of our members, this was a first-time experience. After stroke and brain injury, people often participate less in community activities due to communication challenges, mobility changes, and social isolation. That’s why opportunities like this matter so much.

Today was filled with laughter, connection, exploration, and moments that reminded us all that community inclusion matters at every stage of recovery. We are incredibly grateful for organizations, like the JLEP, that help make these experiences possible for people living with aphasia and brain injury.

05/11/2026

We are pleased to introduce our Board Treasurer, Mark Bandy, CPA, MBA.

Mark is a seasoned financial professional with extensive experience in accounting, financial management, and organizational leadership. With a strong foundation in financial reporting, compliance, risk management, and strategic planning, he has supported business growth and guided complex financial operations across both corporate and consulting environments.

Throughout his career, Mark has worked closely with executive teams and boards of directors, bringing clarity, insight, and structure to financial decision-making. Known for his analytical mindset and approachable leadership style, he is deeply committed to fiscal responsibility, transparency, and sound stewardship.

We are grateful to have his expertise supporting the mission and sustainability of our organization.

05/09/2026

What’s more fun than making TikToks 😆

05/08/2026

Today was a beautiful day of connection, learning, and laughter at the El Paso Aphasia Connection Center!

We had the opportunity to spend time with the amazing occupational therapy students from Pima Medical Institute, and what better way to bring everyone together than a lively game of lotería. 🎉

We are so grateful to the occupational therapy students and faculty at Pima Medical Institute for partnering with us and supporting our mission. Thank you for spending your time, sharing your hearts, and helping create such a meaningful experience for everyone involved. ❤️

Collaborations like this are incredibly important. They help future clinicians learn directly from people living with aphasia while creating opportunities for inclusion, understanding, and compassionate care. Together, we are building a stronger, more connected community where people with aphasia are seen, heard, and valued.

05/07/2026

We are proud to introduce our Board Secretary, Claudia V. Cortez.

With over two decades of dedicated service to individuals with disabilities, Claudia brings both expertise and heart to her role. Her background as a recreational therapist and vocational rehabilitation counselor, along with her master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, reflects her deep commitment to creating opportunities and meaningful support for others.

Currently serving as Assistant Director in the Office of Medical Education at the Foster School of Medicine, Claudia focuses on enhancing student experience and leading quality improvement efforts. Beyond her professional work, her passion for advocacy continues through volunteer service with disability-focused organizations in both Lubbock and El Paso.

Claudia’s lifelong mission to promote inclusion, independence, and community engagement makes her an invaluable part of our leadership team.

We are honored to have her serve and help guide our community forward.

05/05/2026

We’re incredibly grateful to the CLC and the Brown Chair of English Literacy at U of A for this opportunity.

Because of your generosity, individuals with aphasia and their caregivers are finding new ways to express themselves—bringing their voices to life through comics and superheroes.

We want to spotlight our 2025 grantees at the El Paso Aphasia Connection Center.

Adults with aphasia are turning their experiences into powerful digital superhero comics through a bi-weekly workshop focused on creativity, communication, and community. Together with their families, participants write, illustrate, and share stories that reflect life with aphasia, building confidence and connection along the way.

With support from a CLC grant, this program provides free materials, one-on-one guidance from local artists and students, and a space where every voice matters. These comics will soon be digitized and shared online, making their stories accessible to all.

Everyone deserves to be heard, in whatever way they can. 💙📚

05/04/2026

Please join us in welcoming our new Board President, April Frowner, MSPAS, PA-C.

Some people choose a career. Others answer a calling.

For April, that calling has always been rooted in service, compassion, and community. Born and raised in El Paso, her journey in healthcare is deeply personal. Growing up in a household with a disabled parent, she witnessed firsthand the strength it takes to navigate life with health challenges—and the importance of support, dignity, and care.

Today, as a lead Physician Associate in trauma and acute care surgery, she serves not just patients, but people she considers family. Her work extends beyond hospital walls, driven by a heart to advocate, uplift, and connect others to the help they need.

Now, as Board President of the El Paso Aphasia Connection Center, April continues that mission—standing alongside individuals and families, helping ensure that every voice is heard, valued, and supported.

We are honored to have her leadership guiding our community forward.