SPHR: Support Adults with Brain Injury – Volunteer Opportunity (Friends Program Application Reopened!)

[Jessyca Anson]

Hi SPHR Students!

Are you interested in building a meaningful friendship with an adult living with acquired brain injury (ABI) while learning from their experiences? The Friends Program may be a great fit for you! 

If you missed the first round, applications for the Summer Friends Program have reopened!

What is the Friends Program? 

The Friends Program is a collaboration between Portland State University (PSU) and Brain Injury Connections Northwest (BIC-NW) that matches students with adults living with ABI to build supportive, communication-based friendships.

Many adults with ABI experience social isolation following injury. Through regular video or phone meetups, Friends Program participants engage in conversation, shared interests, and social connection in a supportive, low-pressure environment.

This is not a clinical role. Instead, students build meaningful friendships while learning from the lived experiences of adults navigating life after brain injury.

Why Participate?
The Friends Program offers opportunities to:

• Learn about the lived experiences of adults with ABI: Explore how adults living with acquired brain injury navigate identity, relationships, community participation, and everyday life after brain injury.

• Build communication and supportive listening skills: Develop greater confidence interacting with adults with diverse communication, cognitive, and life experiences.

• Prepare for future professional roles: Gain valuable experience with a population you may serve in future clinical, healthcare, rehabilitation, or community settings.

• Strengthen graduate school and career preparation: Build experience relevant to Speech-Language Pathology and related fields while strengthening your resume and connecting with PSU graduate students, faculty, and community partners. 

• Develop meaningful relationships: The goal is not therapy—it is friendship, connection, and shared conversation, offering a unique experience beyond traditional clinical or academic settings.

• Increase experience with virtual communication: Build familiarity with virtual platforms, adaptive technologies, and creative ways of staying socially connected.

Ideal Candidate: 

We are looking for students who:

• Are interested in learning from the experiences of ABI survivors

• Enjoy building connections and engaging in conversation

• Are willing to complete virtual training (June 2026)

• Can commit to at least one virtual meetup with their Friend every other week for approximately 5–6 months (June–November 2026)

• English-speaking and/or bilingual Spanish-speaking students are encouraged to apply

Application Process
Interested students can complete the Online Friends Program Application (CLICK HERE)

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and will remain open until available matches are filled.

Thank you for your interest! We would love to have you join us!

Best,

The Friends Program Team

Have Questions?

Please feel free to reach out with any questions. Please send an email to Dr. Manaswita Dutta (mdu...@pdx.edu) or Jessyca Anson (jes...@pdx.edu) or Bailey Thompson (b...@pdx.edu) if you have questions.