It was an emotional day on Friday for Carole Pound as she said goodbye to the communication disability network Connect, which she co-founded with Sally Byng in 2000.
Latterly Carole has been Director of Innovation at the national charity, overseeing the creative development of projects, training, publications and consultancy. She leaves with justifiably high hopes for Connect's future: "That we build on 10 great years of championing the skills, competence and rights of people who live with aphasia. That we have more active citizens with aphasia, more user involvement, more power in the hands of people with aphasia to influence the services and opportunities available to them. And have people with aphasia out there, not just being supported and involved, but in control and in the driving seat."
I first met Carole at a study day on empowerment in Edinburgh nearly 20 years ago. This had a profound influence on me, and she continues to be one of the speech and language therapy profession's foremost thinkers and doers. Although Carole will retain links with Connect, she is turning her focus to a PhD at Brunel University. It's no surprise to hear that its priorities will be driven by a team of people with communication disability.
Along with her Connect colleagues, I wish Carole all the best in her new venture.
Recent Comments