Conference in Udine, Italy
Hanka Mayhew, 18th October, 2025
An Aphasia conference took place in Udine, Italy, last weekend organized by Aphasia Association Friuli and Venezia Giulia. Jean-Marie Annoni (neurologist from Switzerland and AIA member), and I (member of SayAphasia UK and AIA), were invited to speak by Giuseppe Bobbo.
Jean-Marie talked about the degenerative form of aphasia (Primary Progressive Aphasia), about the project “aphasia friendly” from Canada, proposing free online training to become Aphasia aware, and about the “Co-Creation of Aphasia Topics Priorities” done with clinicians and stroke survivors AIA members.
I presented on the AIA General Assembly 2025 in Cyprus and International Aphasia Awareness. We both discussed the Australian funding international campaign ‘Match the Momentum – Unite for Aphasia awareness’ which is inspiring and very exciting!
Listening to the Aphasia choir and taking part in Tango therapy at the end of the conference was wonderful. Afterwards we were invited to a buffet lunch which gave us the opportunity to chat with other conference members, people with aphasia and their careers, speech therapists, doctors etc.
In the evening Giuseppe took us out for a farewell dinner in the old town and showed us the red lights for Aphasia. Last Sunday was the Italian National Aphasia Day and, in many cities, the red lights were raising awareness for people living with aphasia. Fantastic!
A special thanks to Giuseppe Bobbo, the organiser, and his daughter Miriam, who was our private ‘taxi service’ and translated for me at the conference.