SCA Training Workshops

Westman Aphasia Inc.

2013 Program and Workshop Information

“Building Communication Bridges”Mar. 19, Apr. 16 & May 14 Conversation Group 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Cost: $15.00

Individuals with aphasia attend these sessions on their own and they will be facilitated by the program clinicians and trained volunteers. A new topic of conversation will be chosen each week. These topics will include discussion about current events, issues of personal interest and living and coping with aphasia. This is an opportunity to further develop and practice using SCA™ tools and techniques, to share with others who have aphasia and to learn from one another’s communication experiences. These sessions are offered in a group setting which promotes the development of a support component amongst the members.

Caregiver GroupApr. 2 & 30 and May 28

1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Cost: $15.00

Caregivers/communication partners attend these sessions on their own.

These sessions will be facilitated by the program clinicians and it is an opportunity to discuss specific communication challenges and psychosocial issues that are a part of coping with aphasia. The program clinicians will provide assistance on how to deal with the communication and psychosocial components of these issues on a situational basis.

Family and Friends of Aphasia Evening March 14 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

This is an educational evening that is open to the public and is facilitated by the program clinicians. Information is provided about aphasia, what it is like to live with a chronic communication impairment, what is involved in communicating with someone who has aphasia and what is involved in supporting those coping with aphasia and their caregivers. Videotaped examples of different types and degrees of aphasia and examples of these individuals using supported conversations techniques (SCA™) developed by the Aphasia Institute in Toronto will be used during this evening.

Healthcare Provider Workshops Date T.B.A.

This 5 hour workshop is designed for healthcare professionals and it provides resources, video illustrations and role-play situations which can be adapted to specific health care situations. Emphasis is on the use of the Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia (SCA™) approach, developed by the Aphasia Institute in Toronto, along with pictographic resources and non-verbal methods of communication with individuals who have moderate and severe Aphasia. The topics covered include language and aphasia, what is SCA™, the goals of SCA™, the basic components of SCA™, an introduction to tools, observation of the tools being used and practice using the tools. The final two hours of the workshop focuses on learning and utilizing more advanced communication tools, exploring ways to adapt the tools to specific situations and environments and to increase confidence in the use of the SCA™ tools. The ultimate goal is to assist health care providers with identifying ways to improve service delivery and improve health care outcomes by improving their ability to communicate with this challenging population.

Caregiver/Family WorkshopJune 11 9:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Cost: $50.00

This 5 hour workshop is designed for family/support persons or caregivers and it provides resources, video illustrations and role-play situations which can be adapted to specific everyday communication situations. Emphasis is on the use of the SCA™ approach along with pictographic resources and non-verbal methods of communication with individuals who have moderate and severe aphasia. The main components of this workshop include: language and aphasia defined; communication problems, service delivery and improved health outcomes; what is SCA™ and what are the goals of SCA™; and an introduction to some of the basic tools, observation of tools being used and practicing these tools.

Volunteer Training WorkshopSept. 17 9:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

This 3 hour workshop provides the necessary education and training to new volunteers. This training is necessary prior to engaging in regular program volunteer opportunities throughout the yearly WAI programs. Ongoing learning opportunities and training is provided by the program clinicians throughout the year during regular program time. Additional discussion about skill use and development also occurs during a period of |debriefingat the end of program sessions.

Program participants interview dates Sept. 16, 17, 23 & 24

The individuals with aphasia and their communication partners participating in the 6 week “Communication for Adults with Aphasia Program, SCA™ Skill Development Program” (October 1 – November 5, 2013) will participate in a 1 hour interview with the Speech-Language Pathologist and Social Worker to ensure individuals are appropriate candidates for the program and to determine what the communicative and psycho-social needs are.

A WAI clinician will contact individuals to set up a suitable interview date

and time.

Communication for Adults with Aphasia Program Oct. 1, 8 & 15

SCA™ Skill Development Program - weeks 1-31:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Cost: $75.00 per couple for the 6 week program

Communication partners attend alone for weeks 1-3 and will learn about aphasia, the SCA™ approach and will practice using these communication techniques with the assistance of the program clinicians and volunteers. These 3 weeks of training were a part of WAI’s former “It Takes Two to Tango” program which is based on the Aphasia Institute’s Supported Conversation ™ for Adults with Aphasia (SCA™) approach. This program teaches individuals with aphasia and their conversation partners to communicate more effectively once againwith the assistance and support of a Speech- Language Pathologist, program volunteers and Social Worker.

Communication for Adults with Aphasia ProgramOct. 22 & 29 and

SCA™ Skill Development Program – weeks 4-6Nov. 5

1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

The individuals with aphasia and their communication partners will attend together for weeks 4-6. The final 4 weeks of this program will focus on further developing the SCA™ “toolbox”. The individuals with aphasia will be introduced to these communication techniques and tools by their communication partners under the direction of the clinicians and assistance of the programs volunteers. The opportunity to learn about and use new tools each week occurs in a supportive environment where new conversation topics will be focused on each week. The caregiver support component of this program is provided under the direction of the WAI Social Worker.

Family and Friends of Aphasia Evening November 14 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Communication for Adults with Aphasia Program Nov. 19, 26 &

SCA™ Skill Development Projects Dec. 3 & 10

1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Cost: $15.00 per individual

$30.00 per couple per 4 weeks

Program participants and communication partners may come together or each may come on their own. This is a follow-up training and support program that is available to those individuals and caregivers who have completed the 6 week “Communication for Adults with Aphasia Skill Development” program or the previous “It Takes Two to Tango” program. This is an opportunity for those with aphasia and/or the caregivers to practice using and further developing their communication skills. It is facilitated by the program clinicians and volunteers.Individuals with aphasia will have the opportunity to engage in conversations about current events and conversation about some of the communication challenges that occur when interacting with members of their community (e.g. how to introduce yourself).

The caregiver component of this program is facilitated by the Social Worker who helps to address some of the specific communication challenges and psychosocial issues that are part of living with someone who has a chroniccommunication impairment.

These sessions are offered in a group environment which promotes the development of a support component amongst the members.