Volunteer
Opportunities
in Montreal

• Association québécoise des personnes aphasiques (AQPA) Soutien aux personnes aphasiques en offrant un lieu d’appartenance et du support afin de favoriser leur épanouissement et leur intégration sociale. Support to people with aphasia through a variety of bilingual activities and services.

Friendship Visits

Offer number: 00913

• Association québécoise des personnes aphasiques (AQPA) Soutien aux personnes aphasiques en offrant un lieu d’appartenance et du support afin de favoriser leur épanouissement et leur intégration sociale. Support to people with aphasia through a variety of bilingual activities and services.

Activity sector(s)

• Seniors
• Disability

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Type(s) of activity Personal assistance and moral support Activity facilitation Technology

District Remote volunteering Ahuntsic-Cartierville Anjou Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Côte-St-Luc Dorval Lachine LaSalle Le Plateau-Mont-Royal Montreal-Est Montreal-Nord Montreal-West Outremont Saint-Laurent Saint-Léonard Verdun Ville-Marie Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension Westmount

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Context
The Quebec Association for People with Aphasia (AQPA) has a mission to support people living with aphasia and their loved ones by promoting their integration and social participation.

Aphasia is a communication disorder most often caused by a stroke (CVA) or a traumatic brain injury. It affects the ability to express oneself, understand, read, or write, without altering intelligence.

The AQPA offers a variety of activities, workshops, and services aimed at reducing isolation, supporting social participation, and promoting accessible communication. The friendship visits program aims to offer a meaningful human presence, reduce isolation, and stimulate communication in a non-therapeutic setting.

General Mandate
The friendship visits volunteer offers regular meetings to a person with aphasia, at home or in the community, in order to foster exchanges, social connection, and the practice of communication in a warm and safe environment.

Main Responsibilities

• Carry out friendship visits according to the agreed schedule (e.g., weekly or bi-weekly)
• Establish a relationship of trust based on listening, respect, and kindness
• Stimulate communication through simple and adapted activities (conversation, reading, writing, games, walks, etc.)
• Adapt communication style to the person’s abilities (speaking slowly, using simple sentences, gestures, and visual supports as needed)
• Respect the limits of the role (friendship visits are not clinical or therapeutic interventions)
• Report any concerning situation or observed change to the program coordination
• Respect confidentiality and the AQPA's policies

Desired Profile

• Interest in helping relationships, communication, or the community sector
• Patience, empathy, reliability, and openness
• Good listening skills and respect for the other person’s pace
• Comfortable communicating with people who have language difficulties (training provided)
• Student or graduate in a related field (speech-language pathology, psychology, social work, linguistics, education, etc.) - an asset, but not required

Required Commitment

• Minimum commitment desired: one semester (approximately 3 to 4 months)
• Approximately 1 to 2 hours per week (varies depending on the match)
• Participation in an orientation meeting and a short training provided by the AQPA

Supervision and Support

• Personalized matching based on availability and interests
• Ongoing support from the program coordination
• Basic training on aphasia and communication provided
• Volunteer attestation provided upon request

Location

• At home (with the matched person) and/or in the community
• Montréal and surrounding areas (depending on the sector)

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Spoken Language(s) French English Bilingual FR-EN

Specific Needs Available only evenings and weekends

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Profiles of volunteers accepted:

• Individual

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Availability(s) sought by the organization

	Before noon Afternoon Evening
Monday	Morning Afternoon
Tuesday	Morning Afternoon
Wednesday	Morning Afternoon
Thursday	Morning Afternoon
Friday	Morning Afternoon
Saturday
Sunday

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