Therapy Clinics International (TCI) values the use of local resources when partnering with other organizations and people within a country to provide community-based rehabilitation. This not only includes training local rehabilitation promoters who know the language and culture of the area in which they will work, but also the use of supplies from those areas. Thanks to my friend Erin Cottos, PT, DPT, we have been able to do this more and more over the last several years. She brings what she has learned in Haiti about building different equipment and shares it with us.

One day, I hope our staff, or better yet a former patient and or family members, can help us make these things. Here are a few pictures and stories about some of the equipment built for some of our children. 

Jose, pictured above, has difficulty walking, but he is eager to explore what is going on around him. Crawling is slow and cumbersome, but I hope with this new walker he will get a chance to explore more and develop the strength he needs to walk without it.

Jonathan, pictured above, has a sensory integration disorder. He does not like to be alone and for most of his life his mother has had to hold him constantly. He does not sleep well, so his mother has not had much rest or time to do much else, other than care for her son. Sometimes, to get the sensory input he needs, he even bangs his head on hers. It has been difficult. This past week, Jonathan received his special chair that allows him to move and seek out the sensory input he needs. We hope this will give his mom more rest and time to do other things and help Jonathan to continue to develop and grow in his independence.

Then there is Julio, pictured above. He is still learning to sit on his own. With a little help from this chair, we hope he can develop the strength he needs to sit, crawl, and possibly even walk one day.