Participant Perceptions of the Aphasia Camp Experience:

A qualitative analysis
1, 2Thomas

Sather,

1Communication

1Jerry

Hoepner,

1Britton

Clarke,

Beth Clark,

2Michele

Knutson

Sciences and Disorders - University of Wisconsin Eau Claire; 2Mayo Clinic Health System Eau Claire

The generous
helpfulness of staff
and volunteers

Background
Participation-based, weekend aphasia camp
Attendees include people with aphasia and family
Staff include SLPs, trained student and community
volunteers

Methods
Aphasia Camp surveys, consisting of 22 open-ended
questions per survey.
Yr.

PWA

Caregivers

Totals

2013

18

27

2014

12

15

27

Total Surveys:

2Mary

Enjoy, relax, learn

Conclusions
Very organized
Camp logistics

People of camp

Positive emotions/
statements

Beautiful, calming

Steady improvement
over the years

Super qualified,
enthusiastic and
empathetic

By far the best thing

weve done since her
stroke

Camp Principles: Choice, challenge, and environment

facilitates participation.
Physical attributes
Wonderful camp
location

Focus on
Activity
I never
experienced [chair
yoga] until camp
I loved it!

54

Impact of camp

Activity

Qualitative Content Analysis (Graneheim & Lundman,

2004) to identify categories and sub-categories

Advocacy - To be
more vocal about
letting people (with
aphasia) know
about opportunities
available to them

Aphasia
Camp
experiences

Barriers Specific aspects that impede the camp

experience.

Experiences - Relating to the emotions or perceptions

of camp; a statement of the nature of camp; could be
positive or negative; lacks a specific, direct, or implied
tie to participation.

I liked the ongoing

activities; variety;

Need chairs in the

cabins

Participation
at Aphasia
Camp

Physical Layout
The steps were a bit
steep

Camp Logistics
get to test their limits
into directions they might
not be able to, or have
imagined, at home

Aphasia
Camp
barriers

Id imagine this was more

helpful for students [than for
campers]
Activity Design

Partners

Focus on
Relationships

Relationships: Collaboration and interaction with

peers/students/staff facilitates solidarity, belonging,
confidence, and camaraderie. There is a need for
time together and time apart.
Impact of camp (intrinsic and extrinsic): Confidence,
carryover, advocacy, role at camp; physical activity,
acquiring goods, connecting with others

Implementing change as a result of surveys:

Spouse retreat; Round table; Duration;
Heterogeneous and homogenous
opportunities

I have more
confidence

Aphasia
Camp
facilitators

Impact
I feel less alone in
this world

Fun but should have been

smaller groups

Resources
Many people here that I
keep in contact with

Schedule

All three primary coders have direct

involvement in the aphasia camp. Two
coders are founding staff members (JH
and TS) and third coder is a student
volunteer and mentor at camp (BC).

PWA

Location: The location is critical to this camp

experience. The rustic allure supports participation,
calms, and fosters further camaraderie, but does
present potential barriers.

Facilitators Specific aspects that support and/or

positively impact camp participation or participation
outside of camp as a direct result of camp itself.

Statement of Bias

People of Camp: A gathering of like-minded

individuals made up of people with aphasia, partners
and staff that connect and network at a micro- and
macro-level.

Would have liked more

info about the project
ahead of time

Chapter 1 Products
and Technology
Better because of bike
riding available.

Relationships
WHO

WHO-ICF
Environmental Factors
Chapter 2 Natural
environment and
human-made changes
to environment
Beautiful it was like
finding a calm place in
the crazy hectic life.

Chapter 3 - Support
and Relationships
But best of all it was
talking to other
caregivers and getting
hints from them.

A great connection with

others we identify with

Worrall, Sherratt, Rogers, Howe, Hersh,

Ferguson & Davidson (2011). What people with
aphasia want: Their goals according to the ICF.
Aphasiology, 25 (3), 309-322.
Michalski, Mishna, Worthington & Cummings
(2003). A multi-method impact evaluation of a
therapeutic summer camp program. Child and
Adolescent Social Work Journal, 20 (1), 53-76.

Chapter 4 Attitudes
Everyone (especially
the staff) is always
friendly and helpful.

Chapter 5 Services,
Systems and Policies
Knowing someone else
is watching out for my
husbands interests.

Acknowledgements: The Chippewa Valley Aphasia Camp