Academic Modules

Aphasia Access’ Academic Curriculum

In the past 15 years, a growing evidence base and literature supports the shift toward person-centered care (rather than treating symptoms). Typical in ‘knowledge translation to practice’ there has been a lag in the integration of the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia (LPAA) into academic curricula for students who are training to work with people with aphasia. Faculty members are unsure how to integrate LPAA into their courses, or worse, are unaware of this essential movement in patient care.

To tackle this challenge, Aphasia Access has launched a four-part downloadable academic curriculum to help communication disorders or related faculty introduce aspects of the LPAA into student training.

Limited Free Student Memberships

Aphasia Access and its members support the growth of the next generation of clinicians by making a number of complimentary Aphasia Access student memberships available throughout the year. To learn how you can take advantage of this, either for yourself or for your classroom, please email info@AphasiaAccess.org.

The Evidence for LPAA

This module provides a foundation in the formation of the Life Participation Approach for Aphasia, with an emphasis on research supporting the need for the LPAA, treatment studies targeting multiple ICF domains, treatment studies targeting a single domain and intervention targeting psychosocial adjustment. Includes an instruction guide and summary of research references that are separated into categories.

LPAA: Key Elements for Implementation 

The second module in the series is designed to provide an overview of key elements for effectively implementing the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia. It is created with the following learning objectives in mind.

Upon completion, students will be able to:

  • Distinguish key elements in the implementation of LPAA model
  • Identify how LPAA augments/extends impairment based treatment
  • Construct a therapeutic environment that encompasses the LPAA model for PWA

Assessment in Life Participation Approach to Aphasia 

This presentation has been developed for speech-language pathology (SLP) students and current practitioners and is one portion of a series of LPAA academic modules for adoption in pre-professional and continuing education.

The Working Group on Academic Curriculum of the Education and Research Committee of Aphasia Access has developed this module to describe principles and processes for assessment when adopting the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia.

Upon successful completion of this learning module, participants will be able to:

  • Differentiate between using the LPAA model from impairment-based models of assessment
  • Apply the LPAA model to assessment processes and procedures for people with aphasia

Intervention in LPAA

The Working Group on Academic Curriculum of the Education and Research Committee of Aphasia Access has developed this fourth module in the series to describe principles of intervention when adopting the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia.

Upon successful completion of this learning module participants will be able to:

  • Identify aspects of intervention as they fit within the A-FROM model
  • Identify areas in which LPAA principles can be applied to aphasia intervention
  • Access resources to incorporate LPAA into their clinical practice
  • Develop client-centered intervention plans grounded in LPAA

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