The Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) Department offered a study abroad opportunity this past January through a partnership with Therapy Abroad. Therapy Abroad is a company that focuses on delivering services to countries and communities in need, offering sustainable resources, and developing cultural competencies for CSD students.
Ten students and two CSD faculty members, Dr. Heidi Harbers (retired) and Mrs. Amy Yacucci, traveled to Belize, visiting San Ignacio and Belmopan. While in the country, they engaged in a variety of clinical experiences, as well as cultural immersion. Speech-language pathology (SLP) graduate students and CSD undergraduates worked with both children and adults with various speech and language abilities.
“Being able to see the full clinical process of screening and then evaluating allowed me to develop stronger clinical skills and become ultimately a better clinician. Those skills are just a few of the lessons that I’m excited to bring back to campus with me,” said first-year graduate student Bridget McCracken.
Student clinicians, under the direct supervision of licensed SLP faculty members, conducted speech and hearing screenings for children with hearing loss at the Cayo Deaf Institute (CDI), preschoolers at Little Sprouts Nursery School, and elementary-aged children at Evergreen Primary School. Student clinicians also had the opportunity to conduct therapy sessions for children and adults experiencing a range of communication disabilities.
“CDI was my first clinical experience ever and I wouldn’t change it for the world. It gave me a much different side of what we can do as speech-language pathologists for different communities, like the Deaf community. The children were all welcoming and eager to work with us,” said senior Arianne Labrecque.
Outside of completing their clinical duties, the clinicians had the opportunity to connect with the children on a deeper level. At CDI, they enjoyed lunch with the students and staff in their cafeteria and played with the students to experience how they interact with each other. At Little Sprouts Nursery School, the clinicians interacted with the preschoolers during their recess and observed their communicative relationships with each other outside of the educational setting.
“I am leaving Belize with so much more than I could ever provide for the kids I worked with, and I have truly been touched in a way I didn’t know was possible. I made some of my new favorite memories with friends that I will cherish forever,” said first-year graduate student Molly Flannigan.
