TEAMWorks Guatemala - Day 6 - Wednesday, October, 21, 2015

re·la·tion·ship
rəˈlāSH(ə)nˌSHip/
noun
the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected.

Today we lived by this definition. We returned to a government run orphanage for children and adults alike. This is our third time to visit this orphanage and each time we go to build relationships. Our hope is through these relationships, the therapists, nannies, and other employees will see our hearts and desire to engage with their residents.
We feel our relationship was deepened, if only a little, today. The therapists were more engaged and willing to collaborate regarding the residents with whom they work. Much laughter, smiles, and treatment ideas were shared.  The therapists requested we assess their residents as if we were seeing them for the first time.
Kelly spent a majority of the time in their new multi sensory environment. It was amazing! They had a tactile and auditory wall, ball pit with self activating color changing buttons, a bubble tube, a water bed with LED lights, and a cloud swing.  The therapist were using it as a circuit of input so, Kelly help work with them to adjust the sensory input to fit each child. She was able to demonstrate with both sensory seekers and residents with low activity level. The first little boy they brought was diagnosed with autism and was very sensory seeking but, also had many behaviors. Kelly was able to show how to use their room to best calm his body and how to modify his routine to decrease his negative behaviors. During lunch, Kelly was able to help out some of the child residents learn to eat independently. It was nice to work with the nannies to help improved functional independence.

Paige spent the whole day helping the social worker, nannies, teachers, and psychologist with oral motor, speech production, language, and behavior. Paige was able to help a girl who was very motivated to speak use placement cues to make specific sounds. Late in the afternoon, she came up to Paige and independently used her placement cues to make those same sounds. Paige was very encouraged by her self-initiation to speak.

During the afternoon, the staff asked Nicole to help them with some PT ideas to complete in the sensory room. This was a difficult environment for PT due to limit space for the movement these individuals were seeking, but Nicole was a trooper! She was able to work with a sweet boy using strengthening techniques at the the tactile wall and was able to fit him with braces and shoes for the first time.  He was then able to stand independently for the first time and take steps with minimal assistance. It was so great to see all of his therapists clapping and yelling " Bravo!!".

We were also able to speak with the therapists about what they would like help with in the future. We are encouraged by our blossoming relationship and are excited for our future partnership with this program.

Unfortunately (or fortunately), we were too busy to take many pictures. Here is a story about a boy we worked with at the orphanage. We are happy to say he is now a sweet, gentle young man.

http://www.elespanol.com/enfoques/20151017/72242790_0.html

We are excited to go home to our families but, we will definitely miss our Guatemalan family (Tio Juan, Anita, and Diana)! We are lucky enough this time to take our translator, Leo,  back to the States with us!  Until next time....

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