"Since graduating from UNC in 1984 with a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, I have worked with individuals of all ages with speech-language disorders and have always loved helping people.  However, communication deficits hit close to home eight years ago when Angie and I had a dear friend whose healthy, athletic 18 year old son suffered a massive stroke. Austin  initially lost the ability to communicate as well as use of his right hand and leg.  While walking through this crisis with Austin’s family, I became acquainted with a new concept that Maura Silverman of Triangle Aphasia Project, Unlimited (TAP) was piloting called a Communication Support Team.  Through volunteering with TAP on Austin’s Communication Support Team, I have seen the significant impact that this type of Life Participation therapy can have on an individual’s communication improvement as well as the impact it can have on their family.  And the thought occurred to me, why can’t this type of therapy be extended to the individual’s work environment as well?"