June Officially Recognized as Aphasia Awareness Month in Jacksonville, Florida
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On June 8, 2026, Jacksonville, Florida, Mayor Donna Deegan officially proclaimed June as National Aphasia Awareness Month. A special ceremony was held at Jacksonville City Hall to recognize the strength and resilience of individuals living with aphasia, honor their families and communication partners and emphasize the importance of accessible communication in our community.
More than 70 people attended the ceremony, including many members of the Brooks Rehabilitation Aphasia Center. Lakesha Burton shared a powerful tribute to other caregivers, after becoming one herself when her husband, Greg Burton, former Duval County Public Schools Chief of Police, had a stroke and was diagnosed with aphasia.
Additional speakers included:
- Sunil Joshi, MD, Chief Health Officer, City of Jacksonville
- Jodi Morgan, CCC-SLP, director of aphasia programs, Brooks Rehabilitation
- Neurointerventionalist Nima Amin Aghaebrahim, MD, system medical director for stroke for Baptist Health
- Doug Baer, President & CEO, Brooks Rehabilitation
- Jacksonville City Councilman, Rahman Johnson, PhD.
Aphasia is an acquired communication disorder that impairs a person’s ability to speak and understand others but does not affect intelligence. Aphasia most commonly occurs as a result of stroke, but may also be caused by traumatic brain injury, brain tumors or progressive neurological conditions. More than two and a half million individuals across the United States are living with aphasia, including many residents within Jacksonville and the surrounding communities.
Check out the News4JAX segments below.
