iTAWC (pronounced “I-talk”) is the first and only intensive aphasia program available in all of Western Canada, and has been running continuously since 2011. Located in beautiful Vancouver, we provide evidence-based, personalized, intensive aphasia therapy. Although our aphasia program location in Vancouver, British Columbia may provide especially convenient access to those in western Canada (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) and the western United States (Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah), we welcome clients from all corners of Canada, the United States, and beyond. We also offer M-iTAWC pronounced “My-Talk”, which stands for Modified Intensive Treatment for aphasia in Western Canada. This is for people who wish to take intensive aphasia treatment on an individual basis. Our program is an “ICAP” (standing for Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program) and is one of only a handful of such programs world-wide. Within iTAWC, we provide treatment that is recovery-based alongside treatment that is focused on increasing social participation. Technology is used as appropriate for our clients for reaching both of these goals. Please take A Closer Look at our program to learn more about the structure and approaches used. Upcoming Programs Our fall 2024 program, scheduled for November 4th – November 29th, is open for registration on a first-come-first-served basis. It will take place at our offices, conveniently located on West Broadway and serviced by rapid transit in Vancouver. For further registration details or information please check out our Frequently Asked Questions, or contact us at itawc@columbiaspeech.com or 604-875-9100 to request an application package. Mission Statement At iTAWC, our mission is to provide evidenced-based therapy and treatment for people with aphasia, focused on both recovery of function and increased life participation; to build capacity for aphasia treatment by providing clinical training for future clinicians; and to provide a foundation upon which future research into aphasia treatment can be conducted. Core Values and Beliefs The ability to communicate is an essential component of an individual’s quality of life Each person with aphasia is an individual who must be respected as an expert in their own aphasia and their own aphasia symptoms; their treatment must be personalized to their goals and needs People with chronic aphasia can improve their communication regardless of time post onset, with appropriately focused and intense aphasia treatment The social network of people with aphasia is an essential part of their lives and their recovery in and out of therapy Future service delivery to people with aphasia will be enhanced by future clinicians receiving increased exposure both to people with aphasia and to current evidence-based treatment methods as part of their clinical training Future research into the efficacy of various aphasia treatment methods is necessary We are now accepting registrations for our Fall 2024 program on a first come first served basis....
For those who are interested in reading more about intensive aphasia treatment, or related information about neuroplasticity or constraint induced language therapy, we provide here a few references for articles that have been published in peer-reviewed journals and/or textbooks.
iTAWC co-developers Alisa Ferdinandi and Wendy Duke have presented results of their pilot project (2011) to their fellow speech-language pathologists and to other rehabilitation professionals at these conferences: