Narrating Aphasia

It is a pleasure to share an invitation to you and your students to the third event of the speaker series that Karen Goldman and I are organizing, "Illness, Disability and Writing in the Hispanosphere" as part of Span 1451: "Disruptive" Bodies: Stories of Illness and Disability. The third event will be an interview with Olivia Rueda, "Narrating Aphasia," on Wednesday March 26 at 3:00, via Zoom. This talk will be in Spanish.

Here is the link to register:

https://pitt.zoom.us/meeting/register/GVljROXGTe2YunVU6oiHiQ

 

Olivia Rueda (1968, Barcelona, Spain) was a professional documentary editor for television. However, her life was profoundly altered after experiencing a stroke, which necessitated the relearning of both speech and writing. Following an extensive process of linguistic and cognitive rehabilitation, she published No sabes lo que me cuesta escribir esto (You Don't Know How Hard It Is for Me to Write This; Blackie Books, 2018), a memoir detailing her lived experience with aphasia. In an interview with the professor and students of the course "Disruptive Bodies", Rueda will discuss her stroke, the challenges of aphasia, and the complexities of her writing process as it pertains to her condition.

 

Her recovery process, filled with challenges, frustrations, and small victories, is documented in her book, where she candidly and with dark humor describes how she relearned language and adapted to her new reality. She found writing to be a crucial pillar of her recovery. Her book not only reflects her personal struggle but also provides a unique perspective on aphasia and the challenges faced by those who live with it.

Her story has gained widespread attention in Spain and has been covered by numerous media outlets. She has been interviewed by RTVE, where she shared details about her recovery process and the importance of support from her family and friends. She has also been mentioned in El País and other prominent publications, which have praised her bravery and ability to turn a traumatic experience into a heartening narrative. Her book has been warmly received in literary circles, standing out for its honest, emotional, and humorous style. Additionally, Olivia has taken her testimony beyond the written word by participating in conferences and talks where she shares her experience with audiences. One of the most notable is her TEDx talk, titled You Don't Know How Hard It Is for Me to Give This Talk, in which she humorously and openly recounts the difficulties of relearning to speak and write.

Her story is a reminder of the power of communication. Through her book and various media appearances, Olivia Rueda has brought visibility to the reality of those living with aphasia and has shown that, despite obstacles, it is always possible to find new ways to express oneself and move forward.

I have attached the flyer for this event in JPG and PDF format. I would appreciate it if you shared this with your students and other people who might be interested in this event.

Thank you for your attention.

 

Paola

 

 

 

Paola Calahorrano, PhD (she/her)

Teaching Assistant Professor of Spanish

Minors Advisor / Spanish Club Advisor

Department of Spanish and Portuguese

1309 F Cathedral of Learning

4200 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15260