Your Therapy Source Magazine for Pediatric Therapists September 2016 | Page 9

We are trying to initially outreach to these children by providing education to caretakers on how to understand their child ’ s challenges , provide rehabilitation services in the home and supply wheelchairs / adaptive equipment to the children . Our hope and dream is to ultimately construct a rehabilitation clinic where children can receive Occupational Therapy , Physical Therapy , Speech Therapy and nursing services . We also hope to provide educational classes on disabilities , so caretakers have a greater level of understanding on the origin of a disability and how they can help their child .
Q : Do you provide all the OT services or do you have other therapists who help you ? I am currently the only Occupational Therapist on our team . Upon arriving in Uganda , I ’ m actively seeking to work with Ugandan Physical Therapist ( PT ) and Occupational Therapist ( OT ) who have a heart for helping children with disabilities . The level of training for OT ’ s , PT ’ s and medical professionals in Uganda is drastically different from America , so I hope to connect both worlds , so we can learn from each other . I ’ m also actively trying to set-up a rotation of Occupational Therapist , Physical Therapist , Speech Therapist , Nurses and Doctors from Europe and America to come over to Uganda and help serve alongside us . Together we can help empower abundant life for these children . If you can help provide a connection to set up other medical providers send an email to Clare @ Imprint Hope . com Q : Has it been difficult starting a non-profit organization ? Forming a non-profit organization has been a humbling learning experience of asking questions , seeking out the help of knowledgable professionals , problem solving and many sleepless nights of filling out IRS documentation . My motivation throughout this exciting and challenging journey has been vividly seeing the eyes of those children with disabilities lying in mud huts all day staring up at a roof with no access to medical care or rehabilitation services . Those children need a voice to fight for them and I want to be that voice of hope , understanding and love , whatever the personal sacrifice . Q : When you return to Uganda later this month , what is your top priority ? I ’ m moving back to Uganda on August 17th for an indefinite period of time to work in a village with a high prevalence of children with disabilities . Initially upon arrival , our initial goal is to establish a presence and rapport with the local people by traveling in / out of their homes and providing the children with OT and PT services , medication , and wheelchairs / adaptive equipment . Establishing a connection with Ugandan medical professional will be vital throughout this whole process as well . This is an ingrained culture of disregarding children with
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