ANCDS, 2345 Rice Street, Saint Paul, MN (2026)

04/20/2026

Member Monday! Spotlight on ANCDS member research! 🌟

Authors explored how people with neurogenic communication disorders perceive quality of life (QOL) using Photovoice, a method that allows participants to express their experiences through self-selected photos.

Two small groups: one with aphasia after stroke, the other with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Each group shared photos and discussed their meaning.

Key themes emerged:
For individuals with aphasia: faith, gratitude, independence, and social connections
For individuals with TBI: isolation, emotional struggles, fatigue, support, and hope for the future.

The study shows Photovoice is an inclusive tool for understanding QOL in this community, offering new ways to capture their perspectives beyond traditional measures.

04/17/2026

🚨 Friendly Reminder for Students! 🚨

The Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences (ANCDS) is still accepting applications for 12 Student Fellowship Awards at the 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting!

As a student fellow, you will receive:
- One-year ANCDS membership for 2027
- Free registration for the 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting
- Exclusive "Fellow-Mentor Networking" events
- Personalized mentorship with an ANCDS member

Eligibility: Open to full-time speech-language pathology and related graduate students (Master’s & Doctoral) enrolled in Spring 2026. Membership in ANCDS is NOT required to apply!

To apply, submit a one-page resume, a letter of recommendation, and a 500-word essay about your interest in neurogenic communication sciences and disorders.

⏰ Don’t forget, the application deadline is Friday, June 12, 2026, at 4:00 pm (Central)! Applicants will be notified by 4 pm CT on August 14th, 2026.

Submit your application and find more details on the ANCDS website: https://buff.ly/wkwUnNp

04/16/2026

April 16th is World Voice Day, and the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences is proud to join the global community in honoring the power, complexity, and vulnerability of voice. ✨

To every clinician, researcher, and person navigating a voice or communication disorder: today is a reminder of why this work matters. 🤍

Here's to the voices we protect, restore, and amplify every day.

04/15/2026

Late to the party, but never late to the purpose! ✨

April is Arab American Heritage Month, and ANCDS is proud to recognize the profound cultural, scientific, and clinical contributions of Arab communities worldwide.

For us as professionals in speech, language, hearing, and neurorehabilitation, this month is also an invitation to reflect. To ask: Are we centering linguistic equity? Are we practicing culturally responsive care? Are we building research that truly includes everyone?

These questions don't have a one-month answer. But Arab American Heritage Month gives us a meaningful moment to recommit to scholarship that crosses borders, care that honors every language, and a field that reflects the full diversity of the people we serve. 🤝

04/13/2026

Exciting announcement! 🎉 Our ANCDS members have contributed a chapter to the newly published book, Advancing Speech-Language-Hearing Practice in the Asian Context.

This chapter delves into the lived experiences of Asian American clinicians in the Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, following the real-life journeys of a graduate student, a practicing speech-language pathologist, and an assistant professor. Through their stories, the chapter highlights the unique challenges Asian professionals face - including addressing biases, navigating professional expectations across diverse cultures, and finding a sense of belonging in a predominantly White profession.

Each case study is followed by critical-thinking questions and insights from Asian American professionals, opening important dialogues for everyone involved in the field: healthcare systems, institutions, supervisors, clients, faculty, practitioners, and students alike.

We’re proud to help amplify these voices and foster meaningful conversations in our profession!

04/11/2026

Today is World Parkinson's Disease Day, and we stand with the millions of individuals and families navigating life with PD. 🌷

Parkinson's disease touches nearly every dimension of a person's life: movement, memory, communication, swallowing, and connection. It is one of the fastest-growing neurological conditions worldwide, and its impact extends far beyond the individual to the communities and care teams surrounding them.

At ANCDS, we believe that every person living with Parkinson's deserves access to specialized, evidence-based care, and that advancing that care requires collaboration across disciplines, borders, and communities.

To those living with PD, and to the caregivers, clinicians, and researchers by their side, your resilience and dedication drive this work forward. 🤍

04/10/2026

🌟 Meet Our ANCDS Student Fellow: Fatima Eldes! 🌟

Fatima Eldes is a Ph.D. student at Vanderbilt University, working with Dr. Melissa Duff to elucidate how memory systems support everyday functioning following traumatic brain injury (TBI). She seeks to bridge the gap between cognitive theory and practical rehabilitation outcomes.

Fatima is passionate about integrating controlled experimental paradigms with ecologically valid interventions to support long-term outcomes in TBI. She hopes to continue developing theory-driven, scalable interventions that improve everyday memory outcomes in individuals with TBI!

Help us welcome Fatima to the ANCDS community! Connect with her at fatima.eldes@vanderbilt.edu. We look forward to celebrating her achievements and seeing her impact on the field!

04/08/2026

🧑‍⚕️🧠 New research by ANCDS members explored the psychosocial experiences of 77 caregivers for people with aphasia.

Using a cross-sectional survey and regression analyses, the study found that higher caregiving burden is significantly associated with increased depressive symptoms. Importantly, friendship support buffered this relationship: caregivers with high levels of friendship support did not experience the same increase in depressive symptoms, even under high burden. 🤝

These findings emphasize the need to address not only the communication and participation of individuals with aphasia, but also the social and emotional health of their caregivers. The study supports integrating friendship support into family-centered aphasia rehabilitation and calls for future research to further investigate these mechanisms in larger, more diverse caregiver populations.

04/06/2026

🌟 Last Chance: Don’t Miss the Final ANCDS Board Certification Mentoring Session on April 6th! 🌟

Join us this evening for our virtual group mentoring session! Ask any questions you have, learn more about the process, and hear from members who have completed board certification!

🗓️ Date: Tonight, April 6th
🕦 Time: 4:30 PM PST | 5:30 PM MST | 6:30 PM CST | 7:30 PM EST

What are you waiting for? Email info@ancds.org to join tonight!

Don’t miss your last opportunity. See you at our final session on April 6th!

04/01/2026

🌐 New research from ANCDS members spotlights the vital role of digital technology in the lives of people with aphasia!

📱 The study explored how information and communication technology (ICT)—like smartphones and social media—helps people with aphasia stay connected and maintain friendships. Through interviews with people with aphasia, their loved ones, and friends, the researchers found that over 90% of participants rely on digital tools to maintain strong relationships.

🔑 Three key themes emerged:
1️⃣ Flexibility is essential for successful technology use.
2️⃣ Technology supports identity negotiation and self-expression.
3️⃣ For many, technology is truly a lifeline to friendship and connection.

💬 The discussion highlights that ICT can be overlooked in rehabilitation, yet it's crucial for social connection, identity, and support. The research calls for more training and support to empower people with aphasia in digital spaces—and paves the way for more inclusive, connected communities.

👏 Celebrate these important advances in care and digital inclusion!

03/30/2026

🌟 Reminder: ANCDS Board Certification Mentoring Continues Tonight, Hurry and Join Us Before Our Sessions End on April 6th! 🌟

Join us this evening for our virtual group mentoring session! Ask any questions you have, learn more about the process, and hear from members who have completed board certification!

🗓️ Date: Tonight, March 30th
🕦 Time: 4:30 PM PST | 5:30 PM MST | 6:30 PM CST | 7:30 PM EST

What are you waiting for? Email info@ancds.org to join tonight!

See you tonight!

03/27/2026

📢 New Book Alert! 📢

We're thrilled to announce the publication of the 5th Edition of Motor Speech Disorders by Joseph R. Duffy, PhD, BC-ANCDS (a board-certified ANCDS member!).

This comprehensive and updated edition provides cutting-edge, evidence-based insights into understanding, diagnosing, and managing motor speech disorders. Dr. Duffy's expertise shines through in chapters covering the neurologic bases, types of dysarthria, apraxia of speech, clinical assessment, and rehabilitation strategies.

What's new in the 5th Edition?
✨ Enhanced illustrations
✨ Revised case studies
✨ Key points for every chapter

Perfect for clinicians, students, and researchers looking to stay ahead in speech pathology.

Find it available now on Elsevier: Duffy JR. Motor Speech Disorders: Substrates, Differential Diagnosis, and Management. Fifth Edition. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2027.

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