Custom Communication Sciences and Disorders Program in Belize - Penn State

I participated in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program in Belize in May of 2022. Here, students ran a Tykes Camp, in which we planned STEM, gross motor, and linguistic activities for child clients. The camp provided me with an accurate simulation of a what a future therapy session may look like. That program was the first hands-on opportunity I had received in my undergraduate learning and I am forever grateful. I enjoyed it so much that I recruited students from my university (Penn State) to create a custom program. Therapy Abroad assisted me in narrowing down dates, providing information and flyers, and meeting with me to discuss the best way to increase participation. I traveled with Therapy Abroad again in May of 2023 for a Custom Communication Sciences and Disorders program in Belize.

Therapy Abroad did a great job of introducing us to cultural differences, and providing Belize's history during our orientation. The town of San Ignacio is a cultural hub with markets, restaurants, shops, and activities. Not to mention, the people are extremely friendly in town. I felt safe throughout the entire trip and the safety measures taken by Therapy Abroad exceeded my expectations. The visit to Helping Hands helped me learn more about the culture, the importance of communication in everyday life, and the opportunities the center provides to the community. During this program, we also had the opportunity to visit a few local schools and engage in speech and hearing screenings for children. The diverse caseload ranged in age, ability, and needs which made each session unique and interesting. We assisted our supervisors in report writing, by sharing our data and notes. The SOAPS note skills I gained on both programs have helped me greatly at the graduate school level. We also visited the archeological site of Cahal Pech, led by knowledgeable, passionate tour guides. My favorite excursion activities were canoeing in the caves and snorkeling on the island of Caye Caulker. Therapy Abroad does a fantastic job of providing balance between learning and fun. I appreciate the skills I have taken with me and will be more aware of cultural differences in my future practice.

After traveling with them on two programs, I will attest that no program is exactly the same. I loved that I had the opportunity to interact with different "clients," established new friendships, and participated in another type of excursion. Therapy Abroad has made a lasting impact on my life and my future career. The first program I went on reinforced my decision in pursuing speech-language pathology and the second solidified my career goals of becoming a travel SLP. I hope to participate in a future program.