Happy Holidays! With the end of the year commencing, holidays have come and gone, and some of the most festive holidays are fast approaching! As we wrap up November with Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, and Giving Tuesday, we wish that you have had a splendid time with your friends, family, and loved ones and want to thank everyone for the philanthropy and support that you have given Austin Speech Labs through the year. Our Year-End Campaign is still running till December 31st, so make sure to check it out here.

This past Thanksgiving break, our clients were able to share with us their gratitude towards the things that they are thankful for. On roads that have come as difficult and sudden as theirs, they are able to find joy, recovery, and a sense of belonging through their hard work and with the help of our therapy, and your support. Check out some of their reflections below:

We have realized that for stroke survivors and their caretakers, the holidays may look a little different now, with different considerations and changes that they need to keep in mind and adapt to, on top of the adjustments produced by COVID-19. We want to highlight a few tips and things to consider as stroke survivors celebrate the holidays:

Traveling

Traveling can be a big part of the holidays, but it can be challenging.

1. First and foremost, especially with a relatively recent stroke, make sure to clear with your doctors or professionals that you are cleared to travel.
   

2. If a stroke survivor has mobility issues, make sure to check with your travel agency, hotels and airports/flights to prepare for appropriate accommodations. For example, request a wheelchair if necessary, apply for TSA precheck so the security process at the airport would be easier, and/or make sure that your hotel room is accessible. 
   

3. On long-haul flights or long road trips, you are likely to be inactive for a long time, so make sure to take lots of pit stops and move around to exercise those muscles lightly. 
   

4. Don’t forget your medication. Make sure to check the correct type of luggages and carry-ons for the medication, and that you bring enough for any potential delays.

Gifts

Gift-giving can be difficult for stroke survivors if they don’t have the means to do something as sophisticated as in the past. We have a few ideas for simple and thoughtful gifts for your loved ones that you can utilize:

1. Design and create your own holiday cards. This can be a very meaningful handmade gift that is priceless for your friends and family. Click here for some examples and ideas for you to get started.
   

2. Bake cookies, brownies, or any other favorite treats. You can ask someone to help as well, so they have double the gift: to have fun AND to eat the tasty treats!
   

3. Decorate your personalized ornaments. Tell your story and express your creativity with this fun and unique gift. Check out some examples by clicking here.
   

4. Give the most special gift of framing a photo(s) of a memorable moment with an important person to remember it forever. This gesture is sweet, simple, and special.
   

5. Create bookmarks that are practical and will also help your loved ones remember you at every page. Get started by clicking here for some ideas.

Upcoming Event:

Austin Speech Labs is holding a Craft Workshop for all of our stroke survivors EVERYDAY next week (December 13th - 19th) with all kinds of fun and different creations. We will have a craft station set up all day from 9am-4pm with our staff helping. Stop by anytime next week to make amazing, meaningful, and fun gifts for your loved ones this holiday season!

Holidays are fun and a meaningful time to spend with loved ones. As you reflect on this year, be proud of yourselves for making it through, and doing so strongly. We hope you get to spend time with those you love, and realize how much you are loved. 

Let’s finish the year strong, and Happy Holidays from Austin Speech Labs!

Comment under this post to let us know if you found this helpful, or if you have any other tips and insights you want to share.

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