The Trustees of the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia are pleased to announce that Dr Jenny Dautlich DFPH is the 4th recipient of The Robin Tavistock Award. This award , named after Robin Tavistock, the 14th Duke of Bedford who founded the TTA, is presented annually to a person or group who has made a significant contribution in the field of aphasia. This year, for the first time, the award goes to someone who, like Robin, has overcome their own aphasia and gone on to help improve the lives of others.

Originally from Ecuador, Jenny was training as a specialist registrar in Yorkshire when her life changed suddenly and dramatically. Jenny suffered multiple strokes whilst visiting New York in December 1998. She was in a coma for 10 days and when she came out of it she was told that she would never walk or speak again.

In 1999 Jenny and her husband Wilfried moved from Yorkshire to Gloucestershire to be closer to their families but unfortunately Jenny could find no aphasia support in the county. Jenny worked hard to overcome her aphasia, which was made more difficult as English is Jenny's second language. She attended specialist aphasia courses, adult education and college courses in order to improve her communication skills and rebuild her confidence.

In early 2001, with the support of Chris Code and Speakability, Jenny, together with Mary Bracewell, started a self help group for people with aphasia which became Glos-Speak. It took her months of hard work to set up, and the result is a vibrant active group that offers long term support to people with aphasia, and their families.

Jenny, however, had a wider vision - encouraged and supported by her husband, she wanted to find a way to make it possible for people with aphasia to be accepted by society and contribute to the communities where they belonged. She wanted, also, to reach more people with aphasia. In 2005, again after much research and planning, Jenny launched her ground breaking aphasia-friendly website AphasiaNow.

AphasiaNow is a forum run by, and established for, people with aphasia. It is a place where people can find useful information, interesting articles and vital encouragement. It is a place where people, wherever they are, can share experience and pass on expertise. The website has not only grown into one of the best websites about aphasia, it has also enabled a virtual community to evolve. In 2007, AphasiaNow hosted its own two day conference.

Jenny determination and single mindedness has achieved so much in such a short space of time, both personally and for so many. She is an inspiration to many people and so deserves this award.

Jenny Dautlich was also the recipient of the National Health & Social Care - "Outstanding Achiever of the Year" award 2007.