Volunteer
Our volunteers are highly motivated, eager to learn , and fulfill an essential role in our novel approach to living successfully with aphasia.
What do Volunteers Do?
Conversation facilitation:
Working with groups of 4 – 6 people with aphasia, volunteers enable members to interact, engage, challenge and develop amazing conversations. Always working in partnership with another co-facilitator, your role is to provide communication techniques specific to the members with aphsia, while also taking part in the conversation. This is an integral position in our program and a great starting place for new volunteers.
Other volunteer opportunities include:
Painting/Creative Program Assistant; Fitness Assistant; Book Group Co-facilitator; Introductory Program Facilitators; One-to-One Computer Facilitator; Outreach Home-Visit Communication Facilitators.
There are also positions available in the areas of research, administration, fundraising, and governance.
“Every day is a ‘learning day’. This is a volunteer experience that challenges me to explore new knowledge about communication, conversation and language.” Myriam Shechter, Conversation Facilitator 10 years.
How Do I Get Started?
We value the long-standing commitment and dedication our volunteers bring to our centre. We require that volunteers make a one year commitment typically consisting of a weekly 3-hour shift.
1. Attend one of our Volunteer Information Sessions
2. Get in touch with Coordinator of Volunteer Services using the form (below). OR fill out our volunteer application form.
3. Coordinator of Volunteer Services will contact you to arrange an interview.
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Volunteer Information Session
Monthly information sessions provide an opportunity for us to present the wide range of volunteer opportunities, provide a “big picture” of our programs and then allow you to “interview” us to ensure that we can provide what you are looking for in a volunteer experience.
Volunteer Orientation Sessions typically occur on the last Friday of each month. They start at 2:00pm and are generally one hour in length. These sessions provide information about our volunteer opportunities, expectations of our volunteers, and what you can expect from us. They are highly recommended if you are considering applying for a volunteer position at the Aphasia Institute.
Please contact Shannon Hill, Coordinator, Volunteer Services at
416 226-3636 ext. 17 to reserve your spot at one of the following Friday sessions at 2:00 p.m:
- March 16
- April 27
- May 25
- June 15
- July 27
- August 17
- September 28
- October 26
- November 30
When do I start?
Start dates for volunteers are coordinated in conjunction with our member registration and our Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia training program.
Entry points for new volunteers into our 2011.12 Program are as follows:
Monday April 2, 2012
Monday July 2, 2012
Volunteer Opportunities for Students
Our Conversation Program is an ideal opportunity for students who are pursuing a degree in Speech and Language Pathology. However, due to the high number of student applicants, we accept a fixed number of students at each entry point into the program. We therefore have a highly competitive process for student applicants. If you require a clinical reference from our Speech and Language Pathologist as part of the application process for Graduate Studies, please ask our Coordinator of Volunteer Services about our specific requirements for Clinical References