LIU Brooklyn Belize PT Service Trip 2019

In March 2019, students from Long Island University-Brooklyn's Physical Therapy program will be going on a service trip to Belize. With only 3 physical therapists in the entire country, many children with disabilities are not able to receive the medical care they need. This trip has the opportunity to benefit many of these children (with disabilities including Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Developmental Delay, etc.) who travel from all over the country to receive care. Some of these children, many of whom are living in poverty, will be using this opportunity to receive proper care for the first and only time in their lives. By partnering with the Belize Inspiration Center and LIU's Occupational Therapy department, we will be able to work directly with these children by performing evaluations, treatments, and educating families on ways to increase their children's ability to participate in life.

For anyone who is unsure, physical therapists examine, evaluate, and treat individuals living with any degree of physical limitation. We work directly with patients to improve, restore, or prevent further deficits in individuals' physical abilities. Working with our patients is a team effort, as we prioritize each person's unique situation and work together with them to develop their goals and maintain their vision every step of the way. Our main intention is to help our patients become or remain as functionally independent as possible, while helping to remove barriers that prevent them from participating fully in their lives.

The students going on this trip are Lillie Capone, Paula Chang, Penelope Koulos, Alexis Meyer, and Emma Stroh. We are all so excited to be a part of this experience and to help these children as much as we can while we are there. Each student is responsible for funding their own transportation and hotel costs, and therefore, any donation would be greatly appreciated to help us complete our goals. Your support means so much and will go a long way! Thank you for your help!!