Lots of Learning today at Learning Spot Guatemala!

We returned to Learning Spot today knowing we had a long, but fun day ahead of us!

Our day began with all of us meeting up with our sweet kiddos to continue working toward the goals we set at the beginning of the week, training staff, and supporting parents. Here are the highlights of our day:

Karla got to visit with the PT for the first time this week and she loved MOST of it! She wasn’t too interested in the strengthening, but she LOVED learning to jump, marching in place, and playing soccer. Her mom requested she learn to continuously kick a soccer ball and boy does she know her girl well! The smile as she ran after the ball was just precious! We are SO impressed by Karla’s mom and her willingness to step up to the plate and help her girl learn. Today, she ran Karla’s ST session with the assistance of Paige.  She has also started identifying letters in occupational therapy! 

Angel got a big dose of our behavior specialist, Mary Claire, as he learned to work hard to earn his reward! He learned to make choices and put away toys before he was able to get anything else. His mom will surely benefit from this skill!

Nicolle got some extra special one-on-one time with ST Alyson who took her lunch time to help Nicolle and her mom continue problem solving the safest and most efficient way for her to eat. This has been a work in progress, but we are getting close to finding the best solution we can; and, Nicolle’s mom has been so open to collaborating with us! We are so blessed by her willing spirit.

Sophie has been making big gains in occupational therapy with Katie! Today, she wrote her name on her Easter craft during our group activity with very little help AND tied a shoe all by herself! Additionally, she continues to work hard with ST Paige on production and articulation of her words.

Esteban had significant aversion to oral motor exercises on the first day during his evaluation, but today, he tolerated them calmly with his ST Alyson! Esteban continues to work hard in PT. He was fitted for new, wedged AFOs that will allow him a slight stretch, but fit easily for longer wear.

Each day before lunch we organize a group activity and today’s task was dying Easter eggs! This was easily our most successful group activity to date. Nicolle sat up tall in a corner chair while dying her Easter egg with Ms. Katie; Sophie stood on two balance discs and sequenced her way through dying her eggs; Karla sat sweetly and used dot markers to decorate her Easter picture; and, Angel actually participated today as he dropped the eggs into the dye and scooped them out with a spoon. Esteban enjoyed pushing stickers onto his artwork he had made with Mary Claire earlier in the morning.

Our late afternoon consisted of LOTS of education! Katie and Mary Claire educated the parents of our kiddos on sensory activities that can be done in the home and Kelly taught the staff the progression of balance attainment.  Tonight was a special night of education where all the parents of the children served at Learning Spot were invited to come hear us speak. Kelly opened with why it is important for therapists and parents to collaborate as a team to progress the skills and function of their children. Then, the group was split in two.  Mary Claire and Katie gave basics of sensory integration and behavior management, while Alyson and Paige spoke on early language development and speech production.

It was a VERY productive day and we are excited to see what our last day at Learning Spot has in store! These kiddos have made such great gains already and we are encouraged by the engagement and willingness of all involved to continue on once we leave Guatemala.

Fun Times at Learning Spot!

One loooong Update!

Hello all TEAMworks blog followers! So sorry for the late update! We have had a few issues with internet, but…WE MADE IT!
After a smooth check in and on time flights, we arrived in Guatemala late on Friday night. We were welcomed by two of our favorite people (Diana and Anita) who graciously picked us up at a late hour and whisked us of to our home for the week!

Before we begin, a history lesson…

On one of our first trips to Guatemala, we met a woman named Diana. She was a special education student at a university here in Guatemala. Upon graduation, she had a dream to start her own therapy clinic where she would serve kids who couldn’t afford therapy. She dreamt she would provide special education services and basic therapy services for a fraction of the price families would typically pay for outside services!  Learning Spot was born! Diana has been a great connection for us during our many years of serving in Guatemala and we occasionally helped out by seeing some of her kiddos on previous trips, but THIS time we wanted to collaborate to establish long term therapy care of the kids she serves at Learning Spot. 

So, lets meet our very own TEAMworks/Learning Spot Fab 5 and see what they have been up to for the past couple of days with our therapy team!

Nicolle
Nicole has been working hard in speech on feeding. She works really well with Alyson who has been working extra hard to help her and her mom get a more coordinated feeding routine down. In OT, Nicole has been enjoying her time with Mary Claire rolling and popping bubbles. Nicole LOVES bubbles! In PT, Nicole was fitted with some braces so she could stand upright in a stander. This is the first time she has been in a standing position!! Also, JUST LOOK AT THAT SWEET SMILE!!!

Angel
This spunky boy has had us all on our toes this week! He’s got AMAZING potential…if only one of us could get him to sit still. Just kidding (sort of…). With only two days of speech therapy with Paige, Angel has been using a communication device to request items he wants, as well as gain multiple sounds using tactile cues.  OT has been working on sitting to play at the table with different fine motor activities for up to 3-5 minutes, which is a significant fete for this little Tasmanian devil!  PT is working on controlled movement and strengthening. He really enjoyed popping bubbles with his toes!

 

Karla
This sassy, yet non-verbal, little lady is learning to use PECS (picture exchange) with Paige and Alyson and has rapidly gained the skills to request what she wants and it has made a HUGE difference.  OT has been working hard at actively engaging Karla in puzzles, learning her shapes, and arm exercises using weights and popping bubbles! PT is waiting to see Karla for the week, but it is sure to be a good time working on balance, coordination, and gaining strength for improved walking patterns.

 

Esteban
This handsome face is familiar to some veteran TEAMworks therapists and stole the hearts of our new therapists! He has been working on oral motor exercises and tolerance with Alyson and Paige; as well as eye gaze communication on an eye gaze  board.  PT had a successful day today with extra hard work in hands and knees, side sitting, and neck exercises for strengthening.  OT has been working on activating toys and playing with hands in midline by lying on his side with good success!

 

Sophie
Sophie is our jokester! If you’re not careful she will show up behind you with a sneaky tickle! Sophie has been working SO hard in OT with Katie and Mary Claire to write her name and today she wrote it for the first time by herself! In Speech therapy, Alyson and Paige have been working on breaking down syllables for word production and improving Sophie’s clarity when she talks. And PT….well PT is not Sophie’s favorite, but she worked hard today to strengthen her legs and improve coordination.

Every day we have given a staff training to those who work and intern at Learning Spot in hopes they will be able to use some of these more advanced techniques to further the therapy of the kiddos once we leave. We have been so encouraged by their engagement in each training and are POSITIVE they will do great things when we are gone. Additionally, we have given a parent training at the end of the day for simple ways to incorporate speech, OT, and PT into the home with their kiddos! They have been so responsive and have been asking really great questions! We are so blessed to be in such a collaborative environment with all of these professionals and families working to help each of these sweet children! We are excited to see what these last few days have in store!

Stay tuned!

 

Oh… and we hiked a volcano!