Join Therapy Abroad and our partners at Bilinguistics for a transformative 5-day continuing education program in Costa Rica. Designed for Speech-Language Pathologists, university faculty, and graduate students, this program combines ASHA CEU workshops, cultural immersion, and professional networking in one of the world's most biodiverse regions.

Whether you are a practicing SLP looking to enhance your skills, a faculty member seeking to enrich your curriculum, or a graduate student preparing for your professional journey, this program provides the perfect balance of professional growth, cultural exploration, and community connection.

This program is designed for:

• Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs): Earn ASHA CEUs while expanding your expertise in cultural and linguistic diversity.

• University Faculty: Strengthen teaching, research, and mentoring with international experience. Gain amazing teaching experience. Faculty discounts are available when registering with graduate students.

• Graduate Students: Build professional confidence and gain exposure serving diverse populations before entering the workforce.

• Friends, Family & Guests: All are welcome to join the cultural immersion and excursions, even if they are not earning CEUs.

• Children & Teens: Kids are welcome to travel with family members and can participate in age-appropriate excursions and cultural activities.

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate between communication disorders and linguistic differences in bilingual and multilingual populations.

• Apply evidence-based strategies for assessment and intervention with culturally and linguistically diverse clients.

• Collaborate effectively with interpreters and cultural liaisons.

• Demonstrate cultural humility and ethical decision-making in service delivery.

• Integrate global and cross-cultural perspectives into clinical practice and academic teaching.

• Become a Global Practitioner: Study abroad and experience the rewards of learning in a culturally rich and immersive environment, developing a global perspective that's essential in today's world.

Participants will strengthen:

• Embrace Cultural Competence: Cultivate a deep understanding of Cost Rica's diverse norms and cultures, and learn to integrate this awareness into your clinical practice.

• Bilingual & Multilingual Assessment Techniques

• Clinical Application in Diverse Contexts

• Interpreter Collaboration Skills

• Reflective Practice & Professional Growth

• Design and Implement Interventions: Develop the ability to create and adapt culturally appropriate intervention plans, utilizing a variety of strategies, approaches, materials, and instrumentation to meet the unique needs of each client and their family.

Costa Rica provides the ideal setting for exploring cultural and linguistic diversity in practice. Known for its Pura Vida lifestyle, Costa Rica is home to multiple languages and dialects, a strong commitment to education, and one of the world’s most diverse ecological systems. Participants will engage in:

• Community-based learning experiences (e.g., school or clinic visits, case discussions).

• Cultural excursions such as La Paz Waterfall Gardens, coffee and chocolate tours, and guided ecological site visits.

• Discussions with local experts on bilingualism, multicultural education, and community health.

Participants and guests will stay at Croc’s Resort, a premier oceanfront property located on the vibrant north end of Jaco Beach, Costa Rica. The resort offers spacious, air-conditioned rooms with private balconies, modern amenities, and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean or the tropical mountains surrounding Jaco.

All accommodations include daily breakfast, Wi-Fi, fitness center access, and full resort amenities such as the pool, beach loungers, and onsite restaurants. Conference sessions will take place within the resort’s dedicated meeting spaces, allowing participants to enjoy a seamless blend of professional development and relaxation.

Participants can choose from several room options:

• Standard Experience – Shared Mountain View Room

• Ocean Experience – Shared Ocean View Room

• Premier Experience – Private Ocean View Room

Family and guests are welcome to join and can select from shared or private room options with access to all group meals, activities, and excursions.

Whether relaxing by the pool, enjoying sunset dinners by the ocean, or exploring the local shops and cafes just steps away, Croc’s Resort provides the perfect balance of comfort, convenience, and authentic Costa Rican hospitality.

Participants will earn up to 20 hours of ASHA CEUs over the course of the 5-day program. CEU certificates will be issued by Bilinguistics upon successful completion of all workshops and activities.

To secure your spot at the 2026 Costa Rica Conference, a $500 deposit is required at the time of registration. Space is limited, and accommodations are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis once payment is received.

After submitting your deposit, you’ll receive a confirmation email and invoice outlining your selected package and remaining balance. Flexible payment plans are available, allowing you to spread your balance over multiple installments leading up to final payment.

Payment Deadlines:

• Deposit Due: (Transferable but Non-Refundable)

• First Payment: April 29, 2026

• Balance Due: June 1, 2026

All payments can be made online by credit card or ACH transfer through our secure registration portal. Credit card transactions incur a standard 3% processing fee, while ACH payments have no additional charge.

Please note that pricing includes all lodging, scheduled meals, local transportation, group activities, and conference sessions. Airfare and personal expenses are not included.

For questions about invoices, receipts, or alternate payment arrangements, please contact us.

And if you’re worried about payments, we’ve got options to help:

• Use our new built-in Contribution Page feature—just like GoFundMe, but directly linked to your program's fee balance! So each time someone donates, you automatically owe less on your next payment.

• Bring a friend and share a room!

• To save on extra processing fees, we recommend making your payment by ACH (direct bank transfer).

• Need more flexibility? We can help customize a payment plan that works for you—just ask!

Flights are not included in the program fee.

• Participants should plan to arrive at San José International Airport (SJO) on July 19, 2026 before 3:00 PM.

All meals

• Participants should plan to purchase some meals that are not included

If you choose to cancel, we will hold onto your initial deposit for you to use on a future Therapy Abroad trip. This deposit is not transferable to another person. Refund percentages not including the non-refundable deposit:

• 100% refund for cancellations made 90+ days before departure.

• 75% refund for cancellations made 90–60 days before departure.

• 50% refund for cancellations made 59-30 days before departure.

• 0% refund for cancellations made within 30 days of departure.

Safety is our top priority, and we take a hands-on approach to ensure every aspect of your experience is secure. Every location, accommodation, and activity is personally vetted by Therapy Abroad directors. Costa Rica is a safe destination with strong infrastructure, and we work closely with our teams in-country to manage every detail of your trip. From departure to return, we provide a seamless, worry-free experience. You’ll always be part of a group led by experienced facilitators—never outsourced staff. Our team ensures access to medical care, clean food and water, and reliable communication at all times.

Arrive in Costa Rica and transfer to your accommodations along the stunning shores of Jaco Beach. Settle into your hotel, enjoy a welcome dinner with Therapy Abroad staff, and meet fellow participants, faculty, and guests. In the evening, we’ll gather for a relaxed orientation and a presentation on culture and language in Costa Rica. The sound of the ocean will set the perfect backdrop for beginning your professional and personal journey.

Difference or Disorder: Speech Development in Dual Language Learners

Speech Sound Disorders

Community Health Access and Disability Perspectives

Kick off the conference with practical strategies for distinguishing speech difference from disorder in bilingual learners, classifying speech sound disorders, and selecting effective intervention approaches. The day concludes with an immersive look at Costa Rica’s healthcare and rehabilitation systems through the lens of speech-language pathology.

Difference or Disorder – Language

Evaluating Students who Speak a Language You Don't

Tarcoles River Boat Safari

Dive into bilingual language assessment and learn how to confidently evaluate students who speak languages you don’t.

After the workshop, we’ll head out for a boat safari on the Tarcoles River, home to one of the world’s largest crocodile populations. Along the way, local guides will share insights into Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity, from scarlet macaws to iguanas, as we float toward the Pacific and back.

Learn streamlined approaches for referrals and re-evaluations that save time and improve decision-making.

The afternoon is free for you to design your own Costa Rican adventure. Options include surf lessons on Jaco Beach, a canopy zipline tour, exploring boutique shops and cafés in town, or simply unwinding with toes in the sand. Families and guests are encouraged to join in—there’s something for everyone.

Explore literacy-based and curriculum-based intervention strategies that support students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds while accelerating classroom success.

Alas, all good things come to an end! We will spend our last evening together celebrating new friendships and new knowledge with an oceanside dinner on the beach with a good dose of food, libations, music, and culture.

We know from our last few trips that the only way to make it better is to not let it end! Tack on a few days to see more of beautiful Costa Rica or neighboring countries.