On 20 October, World Aphasia Day, the Stroke and Aphasia Association (AIA) calls on Bulgarian society to ensure that people with aphasia are not left in silent isolation. Timely, appropriate speech and language therapy can significantly improve their communication and quality of life.
The day will bring together the signing of a memorandum of cooperation, open doors at aphasia therapy centres and visits by speech and language therapy students.
Signing a memorandum of practical cooperation
At 9:30 a.m. at St Anna University Hospital in Sofia, a memorandum of cooperation will be signed between the Stroke and Aphasia Association, Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski through its Faculty of Educational Studies and the Arts, and St Anna University Hospital, home to Bulgaria’s first high-tech stroke centre.
The partnership focuses on practical action: training specialists in aphasia therapy, early diagnosis, timely access to therapy and effective multidisciplinary care for people with aphasia following stroke and other neurological injuries.
Those attending will include:
Prof. Milen Zamfirov, Dean of the Faculty of Educational Studies and the Arts at Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski;
Dorina Dobreva, Chair of the Association for Stroke and Aphasia;
Anna Stoykova, Sofia Municipal Councillor and proposer of the programme;
Minka Yovcheva, Director of Sofia Municipality’s Social Services for Children and Adults Directorate and Chair of the Programme Council for the Programme for Establishing Aphasia Speech Therapy Centres;
Assoc. Prof. Rosen Kalpachki, Head of Bulgaria’s first high-tech stroke centre;
Dr Slavcho Bliznakov, CEO of St Anna University Hospital in Sofia;
Dr Filip Aleksiev, Chair of the Bulgarian Stroke Society.
From identifying unmet needs to accessible free therapy
At AIA, with the firm support of Sofia Municipal Council and Sofia Municipality, and in partnership with Sofia University, particularly its Faculty of Educational Studies and the Arts, we have worked effectively and consistently to support people with aphasia.
In 2024, we identified unmet needs, including the lack of accessible aphasia therapy. In 2025, Sofia Municipality’s Programme for Establishing Aphasia Speech Therapy Centres was developed and adopted. A free application was also created to support communication during visits to a doctor, dentist or emergency service.
In 2026, the first two centres opened at Diagnostic and Consultative Centre 12 (DCC 12) in Lyulin and DCC 17 in Oborishte. More than 100 people have received services at the centres since the beginning of the year, and over 10 have already successfully completed their therapy.
Two more centres are due to open in November, at Fifth City Hospital Knyaginya Klementina and DCC 20 in Krasno Selo. This will double the programme’s combined monthly capacity from approximately 40 to 80 service users.
Therapy under the programme is free of charge.
Open doors for people with aphasia and their families
On 20 October, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the centres at DCC 12 and DCC 17 will welcome people with aphasia, their families and anyone interested in learning about therapy or how to enrol.
Speech and language therapists will demonstrate how the centres work. Volunteers — students who successfully completed placements at the centres during the summer — will welcome visitors at the entrance to each DCC.
In response to growing interest among speech and language therapy students at the Faculty of Educational Studies and the Arts, third-year students will visit the aphasia therapy centre CRTA2517 at DCC 17 in two groups, at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., to learn about the therapist’s work with people with aphasia.
Programme for 20 October 2026
9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. — CRTA2512 at DCC 12, Lyulin, and CRTA2517 at DCC 17, Oborishte: Open doors at the aphasia speech therapy centres — information about therapy and enrolment.
9:30 a.m. — St Anna University Hospital, Sofia: Signing of a memorandum of cooperation.
10:30 a.m. — CRTA2517 at DCC 17, Oborishte: Visit by the first group of third-year speech and language therapy students from the Faculty of Educational Studies and the Arts.
12:30 p.m. — CRTA2517 at DCC 17, Oborishte: Visit by the second group of third-year speech and language therapy students from the Faculty of Educational Studies and the Arts.
Help the message reach more people
We ask the media and everyone supporting this cause to share our short aphasia awareness video. The video will also be shown on the Sofia Metro. (https://youtu.be/KNJQzM2BFpE)
Through understanding, support and access to therapy, we can help people with aphasia communicate and participate more fully in society.