From paramedic to aphasia advocate

This event will be online on YouTube and in-person (New York City). The speaker and live stream starts at 7:30 pm ET. In-person attendees may arrive as early as 7 pm ET. If arriving late, please leave a comment on this page and someone will come down ASAP.

Description
In this inspiring and educational presentation, Avi Golden shares his personal journey from working as a critical care and flight paramedic to becoming a stroke survivor living with Broca's aphasia. Through photographs, personal stories, and firsthand experiences, Avi explains what aphasia is, how it affects communication, and the daily challenges faced by people living with the condition.

Attendees will gain insight into the emotional, social, and practical impact of aphasia, learn effective communication strategies, and discover the importance of support, advocacy, and community. This presentation highlights the power of determination, rehabilitation, and inclusion while helping audiences better understand and support individuals with aphasia.

Attendees will learn ...

• What aphasia is and how it affects communication
• Common challenges experienced by people with aphasia
• Communication strategies that help support successful conversations
• The emotional and social impact of stroke and aphasia
• The importance of rehabilitation, support networks, and advocacy

Presenter bio
Avi Golden is a practicing EMT and former Critical Care and Flight Paramedic with North Shore LIJ (Northwell) EMS and NY Presbyterian EMS. Avi holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and has extensive experience as a practicing paramedic both in the US and with Magen Adom David in Israel.

After experiencing a stroke in 2007 and experiencing resulting aphasia, Avi now educates the medical and lay community and advocates for aphasia awareness. Avi is passionate about disability sports and encouraging others to participate.

Accessibility
The presentation will have human captions [CC], not automatic captions. For ASL preferred speakers, learn about the Aira ASL App, and download it before the event.

For the Blind and Low Vision community, learn about the Aira Explorer App and download it before the event. To access the online webinar for audio description, use the A11yNYC Access Offer to call, or simply inform your Visual Interpreter that you'd like that offer applied when you connect.

For additional accessibility requirements, please email meryl@equalentry.com two weeks before the event.

Livestream
YouTube link coming soon.
Provided by Internet Society Accessibility SIG.

Location details
The event is at 72 Spring street on the 4th floor. Everyone must be accompanied to the event on the 4th floor. Because everyone needs to be escorted, please arrive early or on time. When you enter the ground floor, a representative from A11yNYC will be there to provide elevator access.

Transit
The building 72 Spring street is near several transit stops:

6 train

• Spring Street (non-accessible stop): 100 feet
• Canal Street (accessible stop): 0.4 miles

B/D/F/M trains

• Broadway-Lafayette Street (accessible stop), 0.2 miles

N/Q/R/W trains

• Prince Street (non-accessible stop): 0.2 miles
• Canal Street (accessible stop): 0.3 miles

M1 / M55 Bus lines

• Broadway/Spring Street stop: 500 feet

Cabs and rideshares can let passengers out right near the building entrance.

Finding the building
In Google Maps, find 72 Spring street. It shows the correct location of the entrance: on Spring Street, halfway between Crosby and Lafayette.
It’s also between the Glossier store and the Krewe Eyewear store.
Inside and over the reception desk in our building 72 Spring st, it says “Marc Jacobs.”

Traveling to the event?
We recommend Hotel on Rivington or Crosby Street Hotel.

Accreditation
All A11yNYC meetups are pre-approved for IAAP Continuing Accessibility Education Credits (CAEC).

Sponsors
Thanks to Aira, AKQA, Deque, Evinced, Equal Entry, and Fable for sponsoring. Want to be a sponsor? Contact meryl@equalentry.com