Volunteer

Description

Aphasia is the term for language problems caused by brain damage, such as stroke or traumatic brain injury. Aphasia can make it difficult for people to express their thoughts in words, or to understand what others are saying.

Aphasia Ireland is a registered charity, formed with the sole aim of creating awareness and providing support for people with aphasia and those around them. We strive to empower people with Aphasia to overcome challenges and barriers that stand in the way of a normal happy life. We also wish to help their partners, close family members and carers to successfully support their loved ones living with aphasia. Aphasia Ireland has been set up to do this in the following ways:
 

• To create awareness of what Aphasia actually is.

• To establish a nationwide network of Support Groups where both sufferers and their carers can benefit from the experience and understanding others

• To keep abreast of the latest developments in the management and treatment of Aphasia and pass that information on.

 

PLEASE NOTE: One of the rules and regulations of Aphasia Ireland is that any volunteer asking for a reference is obliged to reside in Ireland and to commit for a minimum of 3 months with an 85% meeting attendance and performance rate.

This is a 100% voluntary role and will be carried out entirely on zoom/remotely.

Is training provided?: Yes

Tasks that the volunteer(s) will be expected to undertake:

• Provide all round support for people with aphasia who have communication difficulties.

• supported and supervised by senior SLTs and senior members of the SLT team, SLT students should always work on sharing their skills and experience that might be beneficial to our clients in a varied capacity as well.

• Assist with our support groups, such as Friends of Aphasia and the Voices of Aphasia (conversation groups), CPT (Communication Partner Training). However, we welcome volunteers who have other skills and experience, that might be beneficial to our clients in a varied capacity as well. Other responsibilities may include:

• advocacy work

• creating resources

• identifying community supports available.

Skills required for this role:

• Good communication skills

• Strong IT skills: The volunteer should be a confident user of video call technology, in particular Zoom.

• Experience dealing with people with communication and language disorders.

• Ideally, studying towards a degree in one of the following:

•  Speech and Language Therapy

• Psychology

• Occupational therapy

 

General skills areas include:

• Community Development/ Social work

• Education/ Training

• General Admin/ Office Support

• Phone Support/ Information Giver

Details of time commitment needed for role:
3 hours per week minimum

Minimum time commitment per week:
3 hour p/week

Additional screening required for this role:
CV, Interview