In a Washington Post op-ed, Gabby Giffords ’93 discusses her experiences with aphasia, with which she has lived for 11 years. “An aphasia diagnosis doesn’t mean an end to communication or connection—rather, it requires a shift in how communication and connection occurs,” Giffords writes, adding, “People who communicate differently don’t want to be made to feel like burdens or outcasts. We’re seeking—and we deserve—the same level of human connection as everyone else.” Giffords represented Arizona’s 8th District in the US House of Representatives from 2007 to 2012.