As an essential component of our Community Aphasia Program, Conversation Groups provide an opportunity for our clients to engage with each other, to learn and stimulate social engagement. Ideally, topics for conversation are suggested by the clients and may also be determined collaboratively with support from the volunteer Program Facilitators. Group participants are ultimately encouraged to share personal opinions and life experience, engaging with each other through support provided by the volunteer Program Facilitators. Conversation groups typically consist of 5 – 7 clients with aphasia and 3 to 4 volunteer Program Facilitators. 

Time Commitment: 

● Approximately 2 - 3 hours per week

Volunteer Training:  We provide an online 15-hour training - Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia (SCA) 

Monthly volunteer seminars (online) for volunteers of all levels of experience.

Program preparation time and weekly debriefings means volunteers are highly supported by our staff Speech Language Pathologists.

Skills Required

● Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

● Natural conversation starter

● Fluency in spoken and written English

 ● An ability to work with individuals with severe disabilities 

● Be comfortable in engaging clients in discussion by making connections between group members – identifying their common and diverse interests and using this as a way of developing the group 

● An awareness of current relevant media 

● An interest and willingness to explore personal growth in communication

● Provide weekly feedback/debrief with Program Staff on specific members progress, challenges and suggestions for program development

● A desire to learn and embrace self-directed learning

● A sense of humour

● The ability to be flexible and to adapt to changing environments and working with a variety of different people

● Able to perform functions of Host and Co-Host on Zoom platform