Q- “What would you like to be doing that you’re not doing?”
A- “I’m not sure, what are my options ?”
The Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group (CVAG) staff dedicates part of each group session to talking about “What is possible”. We call this portion of our group session: Checking-in. Our Checking-in activity may review recent research or we may discuss adaptations that group members want to share with one another. We have talked about physical activity, nutrition, ideas about life long therapy, and technology. Checking-in is a time to consider possibilities.
During February of this year, staff described the Kindle 2 during our checking in time. The idea that a device as thin as a pencil could hold thousands of books, and could acquire these books wirelessly was interesting, but difficult to grasp. The idea that the device could read text was intriguing. However, group members had an immediate negative reaction when told the price. The cost “barrier” stopped our discussion of the possible benefits for people with aphasia.
The CVAG staff was puzzled that group members chose to discard investigation of this technology solely based on price. Our group did not even want to risk a “test drive” of this device because of cost. CVAG staff made a brief motivational video for the next Checking-in. The video acknowledged how little we knew about the Kindle 2 and how the funding barrier would keep us from ever knowing. The staff challenged the group to break down the barrier. Staff encouraged all group members to consider contributing to a Kindle fund. (We used a Mason Jar to represent the place for loose change to collect) If the group pooled their resources and bought one Kindle 2; we could all try it out and decide if the device was useful for people with aphasia. We suggested group members could seek contributions from friends and family. Inherent in the Kindle Collection Plan was a key tenet of the CVAG: making personal activity Choices. There was not a forced participation or a forced disclosure of who was or was not collecting funds. Rather, there was a Choice to consider the Kindle Collection.
Group members, staff, and volunteers contributed funds and solicited funds. Student volunteers placed Kindle Jars strategically in their environments. Speech pathology staff encouraged other hospital employees to contribute. Group members sought and brought donations from community sources. What had been a frustrating resignation of impossibility, became a momentum building work in progress.
After the first week of Kindle Collections, it became clear to all involved that this was about much more than just gathering funds. As the group worked together toward a common goal; unique ideas for gathering Kindle funds were emerged. Kindle Jars showed up in the rounds conference room at the hospital. One volunteer’s father agreed to place a Kindle Jar on his office desk at school. Others placed Kindle Jars at family gatherings. One group member with aphasia took the initiative to solicit funds through a local church group. With each contribution that was gathered, there were stories of discussions about aphasia, about Kindle, about aphasia groups. Our group raised $385.00 in 3 months. In addition we received a one time gift of another $380.00. That story will be shared in our next article.
The Kindle Collection raised awareness of aphasia in our community, at the hospital and across our region. In addition to raising funds and raising awareness, the group had the satisfying benefit of executing a plan in pursuit of a goal.
