The New Beginnings program is a beacon of light for clients with aphasia and their families. Throughout this 6-week program, professional staff and volunteers work with clients and families to understand aphasia and provide them with strategies to communicate in new ways and make meaningful connections with those around them.
The New Beginnings program is the first step in restoring confidence and improving coping skills for those affected by aphasia, giving clients and their families a plan on how to live successfully with aphasia.
New Beginnings Program Dates – all 2:00pm to 3:00pm:
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Jan 14 – Feb 18
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Feb 25 – April 1
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April 8 – May 13
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May 20 – Jun 24
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July 8 – Aug 12
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Aug 19 – Sept 23
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Sept 30 – Nov 4
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Nov 11 – Dec 16 (SLP, SW)
Fees: $225.00 per client (this fee includes any accompanying family member or friend)
*The Aphasia Institute does not turn away anyone who is unable to pay the program fee.
Contact Allison Tedesco at atedesco@aphasia.ca or call 416-226-3636 x126 to submit a referral for the New Beginnings program.
The Community Aphasia Program is the next step in rebuilding bridges for those living with aphasia and reducing feelings of isolation. We offer clients a variety of on-going programs – designed to encourage community involvement and social exchange – including:
- Next Steps
- Conversation Groups
- Book Club
- Bridge Club
- Creative Writing
- Creative Expressions
CLICK HERE for our Motown Video
CLICK HERE for our Hear Us Roar Video
CLICK HERE for our Soul Music Video
CLICK HERE for our Disco Video
CLICK HERE for our Calypso Video
CLICK HERE for our Rock ‘n’ Roll Video
CLICK HERE for our Line Dancing Video
CLICK HERE for our Bollywood Video
CLICK HERE for our Reggae Video
CLICK HERE for our Wedding Bell Blues Video
CLICK HERE for our Tough Bunch Video
CLICK HERE for our Inspirational Video
CLICK HERE for our Evolution of Dance Video
CLICK HERE for our The Sound of Music Video
CLICK HERE for our Bad Behaviour Video
CLICK HERE for our Kindness Video
CLICK HERE for our Friendship and Attitude Video
CLICK HERE for our New Raptors Video
CLICK HERE for our Fly Me to the Moon Video
CLICK HERE for our Bank Heist Video
CLICK HERE for our Elton John Medley Video
CLICK HERE for our I Want You Back Video
CLICK HERE for our I Just Called to Say I Love You Video
CLICK HERE for our Halloween Video
CLICK HERE for our Ghosts at the Table Video - Painting, Exercise and Wellness Classes
- Toastmasters International Chapter
- Living and Learning
- iPad Group
Community Aphasia Program Dates:
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Monday, January 4 – Term 1
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Monday, July 4 – Term 2
Fees:
Membership Fee: $2 per year
Program Fee: $292.00 per term (2 terms per year)
*The Aphasia Institute does not turn anyone away unable to pay the program fee.
Registration Form
Click here to download the Registration Form.
The Aphasia Institute offers a range of different programs for individuals with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) and their families.
Partner Program for People Living with PPA
The Living Your Best Life Education and Support Program is offered to people and family members/significant others impacted by PPA. This program has two components – Education and Training, and Support. Running for a total of 7 weeks, people with PPA and their family member/ significant other will discuss a range of important topics and learn Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia (SCA) – a communication method including tools and strategies to support ongoing conversations.
Programs for People Living with PPA
Our Community Aphasia Program (CAP) offers a range of recreational, leisure and educational programs which are communicatively accessible. Where appropriate, individuals with PPA are encouraged to participate in our CAP to connect with others who have aphasia.
Family Support Program
Ongoing monthly Family Support Group Meetings are available to all family members/significant others.
For a copy of the PPA Referral Form, please click here.
If you have any questions about our referral process, criteria for admission or our program, please feel free to contact Allison Tedesco at 416-226-3636 x126 or via email at atedesco@aphasia.ca.
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Click here for our Primary Progressive Aphasia poster, highlighting the Living Your Best Life program. This poster was presented at the Aphasia Access 2017 Conference in Orlando, Florida.
The Outreach Program helps people with aphasia make meaningful connections with those around them in their neighbourhoods. The program has two elements – In-Home Visit and Partnership Training – that provide strategies and supports to help people with aphasia communicate and live fulfilled lives in their homes and communities.
In-Home Visit Program
For 10 weeks, a trained volunteer will provide weekly visits to someone with aphasia in his/her home, using tools to engage a client in conversation and assist with communication skills. Family members benefit from these visits as well as they learn from the volunteer new ways to help their loved ones with aphasia participate again in the world around them. This program reduces feelings of social isolation that often accompanies aphasia and renews a client’s self-confidence at being able to express their needs and desires.
To register for this program, please download and fill out our referral form, indicating on the last page the rationale for requesting outreach, and contact Allison Tedesco atedesco@aphasia.ca or call 416-226-3636 x126.
The Peer Leader Program trains and develops peer leaders to provide support and education to new members at the Aphasia Institute. In this pilot initiative, funded by Human Resources & Skills Development Canada, peer leaders work in partnership with staff and volunteers to give clients and families the benefit of their personal experience in dealing with aphasia. Peer leaders are the Institute’s ambassadors, welcoming new members to a friendly and compassionate place to learn and thrive.
Contact Lisa Samson (formerly Debow) at lsamson@aphasia.ca, or call 416-226-3636 x28 if you would like more information about our Peer Helper Program and its impact.
Monthly Family Support Group Meetings are available to family and others after the New Beginnings program ends.
Groups focus on continued support for family members affected by aphasia.
The groups are facilitated by program staff.
Fee:
$70 / year
(Bursaries are available.)
Contact Julia Breneol at jbreneol@aphasia.ca or call 416-226-3636 x115 to register for the Family
Support Program.
Getting a referral to Aphasia Institute’s programs and services can be made by:
- Individuals with aphasia
- Family members
- Physicians
- Social workers
- Speech-language pathologists
- Other health care professionals
A Speech-Language Pathology assessment and progress report must accompany the referral.
After Referral: What to Expect
- After the referral has been received, the applicant will be contacted by an intake worker within two months.
- The applicant will be invited to take part in an orientation session to learn about the Institute’s programs and services.
- If the applicant is interested in signing up for a program, then a meeting with a speech-language pathologist or social worker will be scheduled to determine if the New Beginnings program and/or the Community Aphasia Program suits the applicant’s needs.
Contact us at 416-226-3636 for more referral information.
A referral for the Aphasia Institute’s programs and services can be made by:
- Individuals with aphasia
- Family members
- Physicians
- Social workers
- Speech-language pathologists
- Other health care professionals
Download the Referral Form. (There is a separate process for people living with Primary Progressive Aphasia. Please visit Living Your Best Life in the Our Programs section of this page for further information and a separate referral form.)
After the referral has been received, the applicant will be contacted by an intake worker within two months. A full assessment made by a speech-language pathologist is preferred prior to admitting clients into our program. The report will help our staff to determine the appropriate group for an applicant.
Assessments can be arranged through the speech pathology department of your local hospital or the Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). An assessment through a LHIN is typically arranged with the help of the client’s family physician. Clients wishing to be assessed by a private therapist may contact the Ontario Speech Language Association at (416) 920-0361 for a list of practitioners. The Aphasia Institute can also provide a list of speech pathologists that provide private services. Please contact us at (416) 226-3636 for more information.
In the event that it is not possible to arrange an assessment, please contact us at (416) 226-3636. Every attempt will be made to accommodate any client who is unable to obtain an assessment.
IMPORTANT UPDATES
We currently offer 8 New Beginnings programs a year, from 2:00pm to 3:00pm (see dates below).
The New Beginnings program dates are:
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Jan 14 – Feb 18
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Feb 25 – April 1
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April 8 – May 13
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May 20 – Jun 24
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July 8 – Aug 12
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Aug 19 – Sept 23
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Sept 30 – Nov 4
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Nov 11 – Dec 16 (SLP, SW)
It is important for you to be aware of the changes to our cut-off dates – we will no longer have referral cut-off dates but will have a rolling intake and assessment process for entry into our New Beginnings program with the goal of ensuring a continuous intake process. Please continue to support us by sending in your fully completed referrals along with an SLP report at the earliest to enable us to ensure a smooth and quick intake process for our mutual clients.
We ask that attempts be made to have a full assessment conducted by a speech-language pathologist prior to admitting clients to our program.
The report helps our staff to determine the appropriate group for the individual being referred. In addition, staff members at the Aphasia Institute rely on these reports as a baseline measure when a client begins the program.
Assessments can be arranged through the speech pathology department of your local hospital or the Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). An assessment through a LHIN is typically arranged with the help of the client’s family physician. Clients wishing to be assessed by a private therapist may contact the Ontario Speech Language Association at (416) 920-0361 for a list of practitioners. The Aphasia Institute can also provide a list of speech pathologists who provide private services. Please contact us at (416) 226-3636 for more information.
In the event that it is not possible to arrange an assessment, please call the Aphasia Institute and talk with the Manager of Intake and Client Services at 416-226-3636 ext.15. Every attempt will be made to accommodate the client who is unable to obtain an assessment.