Aphasia the Movie to be Screened and Star to Speak at College

March 07, 2016 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—The Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders at Saint Mary’s College is proud to present “Aphasia, the Movie,” part of The Carl McIntyre Aphasia Project, on Thursday, March 17 at 7 p.m. in Carroll Auditorium of Madeleva Hall. The 40-minute movie will be followed by a talk by Carl McIntyre, a successful actor, salesman, and teacher who had a massive stroke in 2005, leaving him with an acquired communication disorder called aphasia. The event is free and open to the public.

Aphasia impairs the ability to process language, making basic communication challenging. Most people with aphasia experience difficulty speaking, reading, writing and understanding others. Since aphasia does not affect intelligence, people who suffer from this disorder often become outsiders, isolated from a fast paced world that thrives on communication.

After his stroke, McIntyre was given 18 months to recover. Beyond that, medical experts said, there would be little or no more improvement. He met this challenge head on and defied the expectations of most experts by continuing to improve far beyond the limit.

Eager to share his story with the world, in 2010 McIntyre starred as himself in the celebrated short film, “Aphasia,” which recounts his struggles in the first year and a half after his stroke. He received rave reviews for his powerful and nuanced performance and is the driving force of the film. He will speak to the audience following the presentation of the film.

Although his speech is still affected, McIntyre is a shining example of perseverance, determination, and personal motivation. He shows humor, strength and an amazing spirit in the face of staggering obstacles and inspires audiences to do the same in their lives.

About Saint Mary's College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, residential, women’s liberal arts college offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study, such as business, nursing, art, chemistry, and social work. Saint Mary’s College also offers two graduate degrees: a Master of Science and a Doctorate. All programs that fall under these degrees are co-educational and include a Master of Science in Data Science, a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology, and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Saint Mary’s College seeks, according to its mission statement, to educate students, develop their talents, and prepare them to make a difference in the world. Saint Mary’s College ranks among the top 100 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges for 2016 published by U.S. News & World Report. Follow Saint Mary's College on Twitter @saintmarys and @saintmarysnews. 

Contact for News Media: Gwen O’Brien, director of media relations, Saint Mary’s College, gobrien@saintmarys.edu (574) 284-4579