Tanzania Physical Therapy Fund
Donation protected
My name is Kristen Connolly, a Doctor of Physical Therapy with a grand mission. I am collaborating with other professionals to create a national and worldwide movement toward a rehabilitation model where community and return to function are the lens in which we see our patients. This involves adding social and cultural backdrops to all patient care, in addition to integration with the world outside an isolated clinic. I see this world combining injury prevention, community outreach, and multiple disciplines for individuals of all abilities to transcend perceived limitations.
My current materialization of my grand mission is in Tanzania, Africa, where I have organized a group of Doctors of Physical Therapy and Student Physical Therapists to volunteer with multiple organizations in Arusha. We will evaluating, treating, and recommending future interventions for adults and children with special needs. One of these organizations is Step-By-Step Learning Centre (www.sslc-tz.com ), which is a developmental school for children with learning and physical disabilities. These children have limited access to health care, and many have never received any rehabilitative intervention in their lifetime. Their diagnoses vary from cerebral palsy to autism, but some children do not have a confirmed diagnosis and have been excluded from the school system due to their developmental delays. These students have been given a second opportunity for success at Step-By-Step Learning Centre, where a team of passionate teachers and aides provide individual education plans for all children.
I am requesting your kind donations in order to support the following goals at Step-By-Step:
1. AIR TRANSPORT of various therapeutic materials to Africa. I will be bringing orthotic donations from Cascade DAFO, and am working on collecting other therapeutic materials from local clinics.
2. MATERIALS PURCHASE for a variety of causes, especially building adaptive equipment. Robert Combs, an engineer by study and artisan of many crafts (building furniture, remodeling, etc.), will be joining this mission. We will be assisting the school with remodeling and building custom devices to assist children with mobility and positioning, in order to maximize their function in the school. We will need to purchase hardware, tools, and possibly transport materials from the U.S. in order to be successful.
3. TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT for the children. I have a grand goal of eventually purchasing an iPad in order to facilitate access to assistive communication and learning applications. Additionally, I would like to purchase a laminator in order to create communication boards/visual schedules for the children as needed. This would be specifically helpful for children who have difficulty with verbal communication. Though I am not a Speech Language Pathologist, I have been blessed to work alongside talented clinicians in the pediatric setting, and have the basic knowledge to build reward charts, communication boards, and visual schedules.
4. SENSORY ROOM DEVELOPMENT. Currently, Step-By-Step has a room designed to regulate children with Autism and other sensory integration disorders. I would like to add to the current materials by homemade crafts (such as lap beanbags for deep pressure), and future purchases.
...and more. Step-By-Step has big future goals, including:
-A third block to provide more classrooms, assessment clinic, reception, resource room and office. **CURRENT PRIORITY**
-Construction of a Irrigation project which includes; rainwater harvesting, aboveground water-tank, piping and pump.
-Building a house for the director at the school.
-Construction of the Third Block for extra rooms for another class, assessment, physiotherapy/simple clinic, resource centre, reception, accounts and office.
(The above taken from their website here)
Any donation is greatly appreciated. Please be aware Go Fund Me takes a percentage of profit from all donations. If you or your organization would like to make a donation directly to the cause, please contact me directly.
Any questions or comments are welcome. I am so grateful for the opportunity to combine my passions, and continue giving to such an inspiring organization.
Asante sana :)
My current materialization of my grand mission is in Tanzania, Africa, where I have organized a group of Doctors of Physical Therapy and Student Physical Therapists to volunteer with multiple organizations in Arusha. We will evaluating, treating, and recommending future interventions for adults and children with special needs. One of these organizations is Step-By-Step Learning Centre (www.sslc-tz.com ), which is a developmental school for children with learning and physical disabilities. These children have limited access to health care, and many have never received any rehabilitative intervention in their lifetime. Their diagnoses vary from cerebral palsy to autism, but some children do not have a confirmed diagnosis and have been excluded from the school system due to their developmental delays. These students have been given a second opportunity for success at Step-By-Step Learning Centre, where a team of passionate teachers and aides provide individual education plans for all children.
I am requesting your kind donations in order to support the following goals at Step-By-Step:
1. AIR TRANSPORT of various therapeutic materials to Africa. I will be bringing orthotic donations from Cascade DAFO, and am working on collecting other therapeutic materials from local clinics.
2. MATERIALS PURCHASE for a variety of causes, especially building adaptive equipment. Robert Combs, an engineer by study and artisan of many crafts (building furniture, remodeling, etc.), will be joining this mission. We will be assisting the school with remodeling and building custom devices to assist children with mobility and positioning, in order to maximize their function in the school. We will need to purchase hardware, tools, and possibly transport materials from the U.S. in order to be successful.
3. TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT for the children. I have a grand goal of eventually purchasing an iPad in order to facilitate access to assistive communication and learning applications. Additionally, I would like to purchase a laminator in order to create communication boards/visual schedules for the children as needed. This would be specifically helpful for children who have difficulty with verbal communication. Though I am not a Speech Language Pathologist, I have been blessed to work alongside talented clinicians in the pediatric setting, and have the basic knowledge to build reward charts, communication boards, and visual schedules.
4. SENSORY ROOM DEVELOPMENT. Currently, Step-By-Step has a room designed to regulate children with Autism and other sensory integration disorders. I would like to add to the current materials by homemade crafts (such as lap beanbags for deep pressure), and future purchases.
...and more. Step-By-Step has big future goals, including:
-A third block to provide more classrooms, assessment clinic, reception, resource room and office. **CURRENT PRIORITY**
-Construction of a Irrigation project which includes; rainwater harvesting, aboveground water-tank, piping and pump.
-Building a house for the director at the school.
-Construction of the Third Block for extra rooms for another class, assessment, physiotherapy/simple clinic, resource centre, reception, accounts and office.
(The above taken from their website here)
Any donation is greatly appreciated. Please be aware Go Fund Me takes a percentage of profit from all donations. If you or your organization would like to make a donation directly to the cause, please contact me directly.
Any questions or comments are welcome. I am so grateful for the opportunity to combine my passions, and continue giving to such an inspiring organization.
Asante sana :)
Organizer
Kristen Connolly
Organizer
Massapequa, NY
