Peru Volunteering-Health-Special Needs Physiotherapist

Description

Volunteers assisting at this home as a physiotherapist will be asked to provide stimulation and encouragement to children with a variety of physical disabilities. Because there are so many children at this centre, you will work with the ones most in need of therapy.
Due to their varying levels of ability , each child at this placement needs to be provided with an individual physiotherapy program designed to meet their unique needs. This may consist of massage, therapeutic exercises, neuro-developmental therapy, mobilization, stretching and strengthening, and/or posture education. During your first week you will help assess the needs of each child that is able to participate in a therapy program, and design a short-term therapy plan. From then on you will work on a regular basis, one-to-one and in small groups with the children. Also after helping to assess the needs of the youth, you will make a plan for dividing the children individually and/or into small groups and create a weekly schedule for the therapy sessions.
A typical day at this placement may look something like this: You will arrive at 1:00 pm and after greeting the kids, you will begin a 45 minute session with an individual child or small group of youth of similar ages and abilities. You will conduct two or three sessions per day. Each youth,(that has been previously determined will benefit from physio), should have the opportunity to receive therapy from you at least twice a week. Between sessions, you will have a chance to simply play and interact with the youth, and assist the staff with daily activities such as spoon-feeding meals.

Requirements:
Volunteers at this placement must be trained and qualified physiotherapists. Experience working with special needs individuals is highly recommended.

Requirements

Language

English