According to the Statista Research Department there are approximately 410,000–540,000 people who self-identified as having a disability in Jamaica as of 2019. Children under 14 make 21% of that population (Unicef, 2018). Sadly, most children with disabilities in Jamaica aren’t getting the support they need.
Mobile Therapy Bus
Our goal is to make it increasingly possible that every child with special needs in the Caribbean has a bright future with consistent access to support they need.
Our vision is to create a school bus outfitted to bring therapy to wherever the child is, therefore increasing access to much needed services.
This mobile clinic would be geared to support special needs kids with various therapy needs. By using mats, tunnels, and other toys on board the bus we will be able to help kids by providing much needed access to therapy.
OT in Jamaica
About 30% of children in Jamaica have special needs, according to The Mico University College, yet “only 313 of Jamaica’s 23,000 teacher cohort are trained in special education.” (Dr. Polly Bowes-Howell, The Gleaner, March 13, 2019). Further, 52% of Jamaicans with disabilities live in rural areas where resources to address their needs are nonexistent.
Our goal is to build therapy to thrive in Jamaica, by improving education for skilled therapists on the island, get more skilled therapists to the island, and to remove barriers to therapy.
One of our recent projects has been working with ECHO Autism to set up ECHO Autism Jamaica which is set to begin serving children and families in 2024. This innovative system allows professionals and caregivers to increase their confidence in identifying and treating autism and expand their knowledge about treatments and solutions.
Another pillar of our programming includes getting more skilled therapists to the island to provide services. Through our recent Splinting Clinic, we were able to teach 15 Jamaican medical professionals on how to create custom splints for special needs youth. We also were able to donate materials to make about 200 custom orthotic splints and shine a light on the challenges to serve special needs youth.
OT in Schools
Much like in other settings, Occupational Therapy in schools focuses on using purposeful activity to facilitate a child's active participation in self-maintenance, academics, and play within school environments. When access to occupational therapy in school is consistently available, children with special needs can have a bright future and pursue their dreams.
When we look at the Role of Occupational Therapy in Schools we are looking at the ability to build a child’s autonomy, confidence, and increase independence. In Jamaica there are currently 10 occupational therapists compared to the approximately 139,077 in the United States. Occupational Therapy plays an important role in helping to enhance a child’s ability to learn and thrive in their educational environment - this is what fuels our team to work towards increasing access to quality, consistent therapy in Jamaica.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy (PT) is care that aims to ease pain and help you function, move, and live better. For children with special needs, physical therapy focuses on a child's ability to move as independently as possible. Physical therapy can help child body functioning such as grasp patterns which can influence the level of independence a person has during daily tasks. For children who are physically disabled, therapy and the right mobility devices are needed to participate in daily activities at eye level alongside peers and to increase quality of life.
Sensory Integration
Sensory integration, also known as sensory processing, is the process by which our brain recognizes and responds to the information our senses provide. So, just as it sounds, sensory integration is the process of how we integrate things that we see, taste, smell, touch, or hear.
For children on the autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing often looks a little different and can be a key indicator for diagnosing autism in children.
Occupational Therapy is able to use a number of activities to help children that are either hyper or hypo sensitive to different sensories be able to better process and function in the world around them. These activities specifically help children to;
- Focus on motor planning skills and sensory processing for affected senses (check out our DIY Sensory Play: 5 Great Ideas for Homemade, Hands-on Play for ideas)
- Support the “organization of self” or self regulation while encouraging body movement.
- Create focused activities, with specific equipment, to help improve behavior. Focused activities in Sensory Spaces Play Key Role in Self Regulation
More Resources
Self determination is a person’s ability to decide what they want for their own life, what will bring them joy and satisfaction and allow them to live the life that they think fits them best. Especially when it comes to children, if they are not allowed to solve problems that make sense to them – it leads to alienation and learned helplessness. We aspire to help every differently-abled child live a fulfilling life by helping boost their success with simple choices such as choosing their outfit and packing a lunch before bed.
When it comes to therapy, access to equipment and supplies needed to make therapy the most beneficial for your healing and health is crucial. A letter of medical necessity from your occupational therapist can help you get access to needed gear. Having access to the many wonderful developments of the modern world can enhance the quality of life for special needs youth.
