With training and support, volunteers in our programs are able to deliver the program to our clients. Volunteers receive regular training workshops. They gain knowledge of the brain, stroke, head injury and aphasia.

YDAC offers a selection of YDAC Training Modules each year, based on the current interests and needs of volunteers at the various program sites. The locations of the training sessions vary from site to site. Please check the current training schedule for upcoming modules, dates, times and locations. Check frequently for updates to the schedule.

Upcoming Training Schedule

Full List of YDAC Volunteer Training Modules:

1. Volunteer Orientation
2. Communication Disorders: Described and Applied
3. Understanding Disability and Loss
4. Group Work Process
5. Communication Strategies: Described and Applied
6. Making It Happen: Facilitating Group Discussion
7. Facilitating Creative Communication Activities
8. Facilitating Storytelling, Reading, and Writing
9. Life History Communication Book Process
10. A Closer Look at Dysarthria
11. Depression and Stroke
12. Communication Strategies for Clients with Severe Aphasia: Described and Applied
13. A Closer Look at Apraxia

Other training opportunities

YDAC periodically holds other training workshops such as full-day, multi-module training sessions and share-&-learn sessions. The content of these sessions varies. These training opportunities will be posted on the training schedule, as they are planned. Please check the training schedule frequently for updates.

Volunteer Training Modules -Descriptions

Module 1: Volunteer Orientation

This is the first training session each new volunteer attends. When the program visitation and application process is complete. the YDAC Volunteer Training Co-ordinator makes arrangements for each new volunteer to attend in this session.

Provides an overview of the York-Durham Aphasia Centre (YDAC): who we are, our principles and values, our communication and support programs, and the volunteer opportunities we have. In this module you will also learn who our clients are and what expectations they bring to the program.

Module 2: Communication Disorders: Described and Applied

Provides a basic understanding of what it might feel like to have aphasia and related communication disorders. It also explains the different types of communication changes that result from neurological damage, and how these changes impact situations in everyday life.

Module 3: Understanding Disability and Loss

Centers on the vulnerability of people who have experienced a loss, and outlines ways in which volunteers can offer support in a meaningful way.

Module 4: Group Work Process

Focuses on increasing your understanding of the mechanics of group work and its role in a group communication program, such as how to encourage equal participation by group members.

Module 5: Communication Strategies: Described and Applied

Reviews the purpose and use of communication strategies for clients. You will have an opportunity to explore the use of strategies in discussion groups.

Module 6: Making it Happen: Facilitating Group Discussions

Provides an overview, through sharing and discussion, of how to make a discussion group happen. You are shown how to create an environment that encourages communication, equal participation of group members, and how to create materials to engage clients in communication activities.

Module 7: Facilitating Creative Communication Activities

Demonstrates the effectiveness of creative communication through such activities as art, music, drama, cooking, games, and crafts. Also shows how to design creative communication activities that can be used in a group communication program.

Module 8: Facilitating Storytelling, Reading and Writing Activities

Provides a framework to create storytelling, reading and writing activities. You will learn how these activities can be applied to group communication programs to assist clients as they tell, write, and read their own life stories.

Module 9: Life History Communication Book Process

Describes how to create and use Life History Communication Books (LHCB). These books "bring to life" a clients' life, assisting them in capturing their life story. The books serve as a powerful communication tool for clients, which they can use to connect with other people.

Module 10: Dysarthria: Described and Applied

Provides a basic understanding of dysarthria in terms of physiological changes, what it might feel like to have dysarthria, the supports that might benefit the people who live with dysarthria, and how this communication change impacts their everyday life.

Module 11: Depression & Stroke

Provides a deeper understanding of the relationship between stroke and depression, within the context of YDAC's services.

Module 12: Communication Strategies for Clients with Severe Aphasia

Reviews the purpose and use of communication strategies particularly suited to individuals with severe aphasia.

Module 13: A Closer Look at Apraxia

Provides a basic understanding of apraxia in terms of physiological changes, what it might feel like to have apraxia, the supports that might benefit the people who live with apraxia, and how this communication change impacts their everyday life.