Matt Langridge
Meet 35 year old, Matt Langridge, from Leeds. Matt was diagnosed with Aphasia following a stroke in 2018. A referral to Aphasia Support saw Matt receive specialist input, helping to improve his ability to communicate with others. With long-term support in place, Matt has been working hard to find an accessible career which will see him thrive.
Background and Support
Matt presents with moderate expressive Aphasia and mild receptive Aphasia. This means he has more difficulty with speaking and will often find it very hard to communicate, especially with strangers. He is fully able to understand the spoken word, but has difficulties reading large pieces of text.
Matt was first referred to Aphasia Support by the Leeds Aphasia Technology Service in July 2019. Before this, he had received assistance from the Community Stroke Rehabilitation Team and was on the waiting list for the Community Speech and Language Therapy Team at the time of referral.
Initially, Aphasia Support provided Matt with personalised one-to-one speech and language therapy. This intense programme used technology and supported conversation to aid Matt's progress. Following this provision, Matt began attending regular group sessions through the charity's twice-monthly Aphasia Cafe. This focusses on community-centred rehabilitation and peer-support, enabling Matt to build new friendships and be part of a community who truly understands.
Building Confidence Through Aphasia Support's UKSPF Project
From July to September 2024, Aphasia Support engaged in a project facilitated by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). As part of this, Matt was offered ten one-to-one support sessions with Karen, a project worker from Aphasia Support. The pair regularly met at Leeds Library to explore a range of specialist speech and language therapy apps. This block of additional support gave Matt the tools, skills and confidence he needed to slowly explore entering the workplace again - something Matt is very keen to do.
Understanding the importance of building confidence through work experience, Matt was given the opportunity to join the team at Cancer Research in Kirkstall. Karen, from Aphasia Support, met with the store manager to ensure they fully understood Matt’s unique challenges and how to best support him in the workplace.
Current Progress and Future Goals
Matt is now gaining valuable work experience at Cancer Research several days a week and is thoroughly enjoying the role. He continues to be actively involved in Aphasia Support activities and lots of other community groups. With his confidence growing, Matt is now actively seeking employment - exploring fork-lift driving as a potential role. Aphasia Support has committed to providing a reference to strengthen his job applications, helping him take the next step toward achieving his career goals.
Matt’s journey showcases the power of tailored support, perseverance, and community involvement in overcoming challenges. His story is an inspiring example of how individuals with Aphasia can rebuild confidence, develop skills, and move toward meaningful employment opportunities. We are incredibly proud of Matt’s progress and look forward to seeing what he accomplishes next.
