Gabrielle Dee Giffords is an American retired politician and gun control advocate who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives representing Arizona’s 8th congressional district from January 2007 until January 2012, when she resigned due to a severe brain injury suffered during an assassination attempt.
A member of the Democratic Party, she was the third woman in Arizona’s history to be elected to the U.S. Congress. Though a moderate on the issue during her time in Congress, Giffords has since become an ardent advocate for gun control.
In January 2013, she and her husband launched Americans for Responsible Solutions, a non-profit organization and Super-PAC which later joined with the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence to become Giffords.
On October 13, 2022, she was named the Grand Marshal of the 2023 Rose Parade and will preside over the Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl game.
Does Gabby Gifford have aphasia?
She has aphasia. Giffords has spent months in a rehabilitation facility in Houston, Texas, where she recovered some of her ability to speak, walk, read and write.
She continues to receive speech therapy along with music, physical, and occupational therapy. When Giffords is spoken to, she replies mostly with one-word greetings and responses.
While the media coverage of her recovery has described her condition as “aphasia” it is a little-known disorder to most of the U.S. population.
Aphasia (pronounced uh-fay-zhuh), is a loss or reduction of language following brain damage, typically as a result of a stroke, or an injury or trauma to the brain.
Although intelligence remains intact, those affected by aphasia experience difficulty with speaking, understanding, reading, and/or writing.
“Today, the Aphasia Center of California provides cutting-edge treatment programs that offer a ‘lifeline’ for individuals, families, and caregivers affected by aphasia—creating a community of support and understanding—along with stories of success,” says Elman.
“We hope that Gabby Giffords’ story will bring light to those still in the dark about aphasia. We are heartened that the media has begun using the word aphasia in their coverage of Giffords’ recovery and hope this is the beginning of ongoing public education about this disorder.”