The Aphasia Institute’s Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia (SCA™) programs is designed specifically for healthcare professionals seeking to enhance their skills in working with clients with aphasia. Our institute is renowned as a premier teaching and learning center, committed to empowering individuals with aphasia and enabling effective communication.

The Aphasia Institute’s exceptional reputation is acknowledged in the International Journal of Aphasiology, as a place founded on values of autonomy, joint enterprise, empowerment, dignity, information evaluation, socialization, and access, all encapsulated in the fundamental concept of “conversational” partnership. With unwavering dedication, we strive daily to uphold this commitment throughout our workshops.

Elevate your professional capabilities and make a profound impact in the lives of individuals with aphasia. Enroll in the SCA™ program and embark on a transformative learning experience that will shape your career in healthcare. From the novice student to the experienced clinician, the Aphasia institute has something fresh and exciting for everyone!

ASHA CE Provider approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products or clinical procedures.

You know your clients are competent, intelligent individuals. With Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia (SCA™) techniques, you will learn how to work with clients to overcome the communication barriers aphasia creates, and then help them re-engage in everyday life. Best of all, you can teach clients and their loved ones how to communicate again.

During our comprehensive training sessions, you will acquire practical techniques and strategies applicable to various clinical scenarios such as assessment, counseling, group therapy, and working with both clients and their communication partners. We also teach you how to develop SCA™ -based programs at your own organization. To support your learning journey, we provide valuable resources, materials, and manuals. If you’d like to get a glimpse of SCA™ and Communicative Access, click here.

Our training programs are divided into three levels, each building on the previous.

  1. Introduction to SCA™ (eLearning)
  2. SCA™ CORE Training (2-day)
  3. Advanced/Applied SCA™ Training

All our training programs are delivered online through the Community Hub platform and Zoom. If you would like us to conduct an off-site training at your location, please email us at: training@aphasia.ca

This module provides an overview of the basic concepts of Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia (SCA™). Participants will develop an understanding of aphasia and how it affects communication and learn techniques to decrease language barriers and improve access to healthcare for individuals with aphasia. This training is open to All Healthcare Professionals.

Upcoming Sessions: Available as a self-paced eLearning program 24/7
Fees: Free of charge
ASHA CEUs: 0.1 ASHA CEUs
Click here to request for ASHA CEUs after completing the course. There is a $10 CAD administrative fee if you request for ASHA CEUs.
Pre-requisites: None

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You need to have a Community Hub account to complete this eLearning.

This is a 2-day online workshop where trainees will learn the theory of SCA™ and have the opportunity to practice the techniques through role-playing. Trainees will learn how to apply the principles of SCA™ to their own work setting, and practice their techniques on Zoom with a group of people with Aphasia. This training is open to All Healthcare Professionals.

Upcoming Sessions:
– Oct 18 & 19, 2023 (9am to 4pm ET)
– Nov 27 & 28, 2023 (9am to 4pm ET)
Fees: $888 CAD
ASHA CEUs: Day 1: 0.55 ASHA CEUs, Day 2: 0.55 ASHA CEUs
Pre-requisites: Introduction to SCA™ (eLearning)

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Free Spots for Ontario Healthcare professionals

The Aphasia Institute in partnership with Ontario Health is pleased to provide Free training spots for the SCA™ Core (A2 & A3) Training program for all healthcare professionals in Ontario. Our system will randomly choose eligible candidates on a rolling basis for each free spot available and if you’re chosen, we will reach out to you to confirm your availability for the next training date. Please click here to apply.

Upcoming Sessions:
– Sep 11 & 12, 2023 (9am to 4pm ET) [This session is at full capacity – Please apply above to join the waitlist]
– Nov 6 & 7, 2023 (9am to 4pm ET) [This session is at full capacity – Please apply above to join the waitlist]

Advanced/Applied SCA™ Training Options

We offer a variety of advanced/applied training programs that are specific to clinical scenarios.

SCA™ and Group

In this 2 half-day workshop, participants who work with groups will learn to adapt SCA™ to a group setting. Trainees will have the opportunity to observe a live program with people living with aphasia and have a discussion afterwards. This training is open to All Healthcare Professionals.

Upcoming Sessions:
– Nov 21 & 22, 2023 (9am to 1pm ET)
Fees: $362 CAD
ASHA CEUs:
Day 1: 0.35 ASHA CEUs, Day 2: 0.35 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level; Professional area)
Pre-requisites: SCA™ CORE Training

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It Takes Two to Tango: Helping Partners Communicate

This full-day virtual workshop teaches Speech-Language Pathologists proficient in SCA™ how to help people affected by aphasia become better communication partners. Participants acquire strategies for running their own teaching program. This training is open to Speech-Language Pathologists only.

Upcoming Sessions:
– Oct 25, 2023 (9am to 4pm ET)
Fees: $613 CAD
ASHA CEUs: 0.55 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level; Professional area)
Pre-requisites: SCA™ CORE Training

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Counselling for People with Aphasia

The focus of this half-day workshop is to share the Life Participation Approach developed at the Aphasia Institute in the context of counselling for people with aphasia and their families. Counselling principals, themes and approaches utilized by Speech Language Pathologists and Social Workers at the Aphasia Institute will be introduced. Participants will learn how to make counselling accessible to people with aphasia through the use of SCA™ techniques. This training is open to All Healthcare Professionals.

Upcoming Sessions:
– Oct 24, 2023 (9am to 1pm ET)
Fees: $272 CAD
ASHA CEUs: 0.35 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level; Professional area)
Pre-requisites: SCA™ CORE Training

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Train the Trainer: Bringing SCA™ to the World

In this full-day workshop, Speech-Language Pathologists will learn how to teach other healthcare professionals an introduction to SCA™. Training content will be reviewed and a framework for how to teach the program will be provided. This training is open to Speech-Language Pathologists only.

Upcoming Sessions:
– Oct 30, 2023 (9am to 4pm ET)
Fees: $613 CAD
ASHA CEUs: 0.55 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level; Professional area)
Pre-requisites: SCA™ CORE Training

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Our Instructors Disclosures are available here

If you have questions regarding any of the training programs, please reach out to us at: training@aphasia.ca

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"Invaluable experience and education. Beautiful opportunity to provide the ability to use conversation with all people. Inspired to continue to make a difference in others’ lives. "
- Anonymous
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