What is the Burke ICAP?

The Burke Rehabilitation Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP) is a community-based program for people with chronic aphasia that meets 4 hours per day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks, and provides daily speech-language treatment in small groups of no more than 4-6 participants. New in 2025, participants will also receive an individual 30-minute session with a Burke speech-language pathologist (SLP) at least once per week during the ICAP, in addition to intensive daily group treatment! In addition to intensive daily speech exercises for several hours each day, participants will receive weekly occupational therapy, neurologic music therapy, and even canine therapy — all with a language focus — as well as individualized, customized computer-based treatment using the leading neurocognitive app, Constant Therapy. This app will be provided to ICAP participants for 2 additional months free of charge at the conclusion of the program, to promote carryover of participants’ improved language skills. Also at the conclusion of the ICAP, participants will be invited to attend a weekly ICAP Communication Support Group run by a Burke SLP, either virtually or in-person, on an ongoing basis at no additional cost.

Who runs the ICAP?

The Burke ICAP is facilitated by a licensed, certified SLP with many years of experience working with people who have aphasia. The SLP is assisted by graduate students in speech-language pathology from a local university program who are vetted for their clinical readiness and academic excellence.

What about caregivers?

The Burke ICAP has an important caregiver component too! Caregivers or partners are requested to participate in the ICAP Caregiver Support Group, which meets for 1-hour each week, run by a licensed clinical social worker in Burke’s Marsal Caregiver Center (https://www.burke.org/patients-visitors/family-caregiver-support/). Additionally, caregivers and partners will receive caregiver training on the final day of the ICAP, along with a Burke ICAP Workbook, and will receive guidance throughout the program, to assist with carryover of techniques and methods used throughout the 4-week ICAP.

Who qualifies?

Burke ICAP participants should have a diagnosis of aphasia and should be at least 6 months post neurological incident (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury, etc.). Participants should either be able to ambulate independently or have someone available throughout the program who can assist with ambulation or personal hygiene if needed. There is no cap on the number of months or years post diagnosis. All participants should have some experience receiving traditional outpatient speech therapy. While ICAP participants may have various aphasia types and levels of severity, participants should not have a concurrent progressive neurological diagnosis. Finally, participants and caregivers should have a way of getting to Burke Rehabilitation. For those coming from out-of-town, there are area hotels that provide discounts to Burke ICAP participants.

What’s next?

Contact us at 914-597-2834 for more information and to set up a screening, which can be done either in-person or virtually. If this program is a good fit for you, we will send you the Burke ICAP Participant Agreement along with the Aphasia-Friendly Supplement to the Participant Agreement. All participants will receive a full aphasia evaluation 1-3 weeks prior to the Burke ICAP, as well as 1-3 weeks after the conclusion of the program. We hope you will reach out for more information about this successful program!

Listen to this podcast for more information!

Apple Podcast – The Hidden Workforce – Information about the Burke ICAP is included!