2026 Group Heroes:
The Aphasia Recovery Connection
“We are deeply honored to receive the 2026 American Stroke Association Group Heroes Award — but the real heroes are the stroke survivors and families living with aphasia who simply needed a place to belong, and found one in our community. This recognition belongs to every one of them, and to the shared belief that every stroke survivor deserves connection, inclusion, and hope on their recovery journey.” – Carol Dow-Richards, Founder & Director, The Aphasia Recovery Connection
People living with aphasia — difficulty speaking, reading and/or writing after brain damage, frequently from a stroke — often feel lonely and isolated. That is why The Aphasia Recovery Connection exists: to connect people with aphasia to a supportive community, and to provide free aphasia support and education that is available to anyone, regardless of money or geography. The nonprofit serves over 20,000 members and community subscribers, who benefit from the support and compassion as they navigate recovering from strokes and changes in their speech.
In 2013, Carol Dow-Richards and her son, David, founded ARC after David suffered a stroke at just 10 years old. The mother-son duo wanted to help people facing the same trauma, and David’s transformation from childhood stroke survivor to nonprofit co-founder has inspired thousands of people. The organization’s motto is “You belong here, exactly as you are.”
Weekly virtual programming features speech language pathologists and other professionals. ARC’s written materials use simple language, visual supports and clear formatting to make reading easier for people with aphasia, which affects more than 2 million Americans. ARC reaches more than 1 million people quarterly through social media, where the organization also shares stroke survivor stories. In 2025, ARC won the prestigious Robin Tavistock Award, an international honor in the aphasia field.
ARC’s message is clear: Stroke survivors belong here, and community makes all the difference. Survivors with aphasia find a community filled with hope, compassion and people who truly understand what they are going through and offer like-minded support.
