Carl McIntyre
Motivational Speaker on Stroke and Aphasia
Carl McIntyre was a successful actor, salesman, and teacher when he experienced a massive stroke in September 2005. The stroke left him with an acquired communication disorder called aphasia, preventing him from reading, writing, or speaking. Because aphasia does not affect intelligence, Carl became a prisoner in his own head.
After his stroke, Carl was given a deadline of 18 months for recovery. After that, he was told, there would be little or no more improvement. Carl met this challenge head on and surprised his doctors by continuing to regain and build on his communication abilities years after his stroke.
In 2010, Carl starred as himself in the celebrated short film, Aphasia, receiving rave reviews for his powerful and nuanced performance.
In an effort to support and inspire others, Carl has built on his experiences and crafted an inspiring spoken word presentation to accompany the film. The film and Carl’s presentation have thrilled audiences across the US, Canada, and Australia.
Although his speech is still affected, Carl is a shining example of perseverance, determination, and personal motivation. He shows humor, strength of heart, and an amazing spirit in the face of staggering obstacles and inspires audiences to do the same in their lives.
The most inspiring motivational speech I have ever seen!
– Dr. Nancy Helm-Estabrooks
