The Rock of Cashel and Leinster House will be one of a number of public monuments and buildings that will light up in blue on Saturday next, June 3rd, to mark the beginning of Aphasia Awareness Month. Aphasia is a disorder that affects the ability to communicate. It can impact speech, writing and the ability to understand both spoken and written language. Aphasia usually happens suddenly after a stroke or a head injury. Stroke survivor Martin Quinn says that Aphasia Awareness Month is an opportunity to highlight what is a hidden disability. “The impact of the disability is either ignored or underestimated by our society and yet for the 3,000 newly diagnosed people with aphasia in Ireland yearly, it has a significant impact on every aspect of their lives.”
Mr Quinn, says people should not suffer in silence – Mr Quinn has personal experience of Aphasia following a stroke in 2013.
To mark June as Aphasia Awareness Month there will be a number of events throughout the month culminating with a Stroke Conference, where there will be a feature on Aphasia, at the Talbot Hotel, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, on Monday June 26th.
The call is for the wider community to take time to gain an understanding of this medical condition and help to increase public awareness about this disorder. Along with the Rock of Cashel and Leinster House other buildings to light up in blue to mark the month include Powerscourt House in Wicklow, Corporate Headquarters of Limerick City and County Council and Cork City Hall.
