Allied Health Students Make a Difference in Kenya
A group of occupational and physical therapy students journeyed to Africa in March to perform key research that will improve the quality of life for Kenyan children with disabilities, opening their eyes to a different way of living and working. For the children, the visit meant hope for more independence and freedom in life.
The group – comprised of nine OU students, one seasoned occupational therapist who is a graduate of OU now based in Tulsa, and faculty from the College of Allied Health’s Department of Rehabilitation Sciences from both OU-Tulsa and the OU Health Sciences Center – made the trip in partnership with the Wheels Project, which works to improve wheelchair accessibility and usage.
“Our goal with the research project was really to look at wheelchairs that have been provided for the kids. A lot of them are free wheelchairs that people give, which is very kind … but a lot of times the wheelchairs aren’t appropriate for the kids,” said Jessica Tsotsoros, Ph.D., OTR/L, assistant professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Services, OU Health Sciences Center, who led the trip.
The Wheels Project is a collaboration between OU, LeTourneau University and AT Catalyst, a group that facilitates wheelchair donations. The project’s mission is to improve the lives of people with disabilities in developing countries. Their research evaluates wheelchair performance and usage in low-resourced areas. The data is then provided to wheelchair manufacturers who donate the devices.
This was the first time OU students joined Wheels Project for the service trip.
While the group conducted research, they were also able to work with the children to help them better utilize the wheelchairs they have.
“Our overall goal with the wheelchair is to get the kids sitting upright and proud and able to go out into the community,” Tsotsoros said.
The students were able to provide reassurance to families that their child is safe, and up off the floor in a wheelchair. Families reported being able to go to work on their farms because they could bring their children along in the wheelchairs. For the kids, they could now go outside and interact with their friends as they played soccer. The group also works to fight stigmatization of people with disabilities within the local culture.
Hailey Chamberlin, a third-year physical therapy student, enjoyed all aspects of their mission.
“It was a cool experience to get to have every piece of a trip combined in one: service, research, really cool experiences, but also using our knowledge to help kids,” Chamberlin said.
The group from OU had some traditional tourist experiences as well, such as a safari outing, but the participants agreed that wasn’t the focus. Reagan Collins, a third-year occupational therapy student, said the days they spent being hands-on with the children and their families were the most fun.
“Just being able to apply what we’ve learned in school and along with actually seeing how we are impacting those families personally, and being a part of their culture and their faith was such a huge portion of this project,” Collins said. “It has been truly a wonderful and purely impactful experience overall, professionally, culturally, and spiritually.”
To learn more about the Wheels Project click here.
By Bonnie Rucker
Article Published: Wednesday, May 4, 2022