Summer Newsletter

International Therapy Outreach Teams, Inc

bringing hope and help to show God's love to the world

                                                                                                                                                    Summer 2011





     In April and June, I was able to work with a team of teachers and other therapists at two of Joni and Friends International Family Retreats,one in Serbia and one in Ghana. We worked with each child and their family individually to teach therapy techniques and answer questions.

     In addition to the Serbia retreat, I was able to give a Sensory Processing workshop at a school for children with special needs on April 23rd in Sombor, Serbia. The workshop was attended by twenty teachers who learned about the sensory systems and how to help children with sensory processing disorders. They were taught how to adapt the environment and to add important activities into the school day in order to help the childen be ready to learn and develop.

The training ended with teams of teachers brainstorming new activities to do

with equipment that is available at the school including pillows, therapy balls

and blanket.





Dorothy



    Dorothy is a 10 year old girl with arthrogyposis, a developmental disorder that fuses the joints so that you can not bend the elbows, wrists, knees or ankles. When she was born, her parents were told to throw her into the river. This is still a common practice in Ghana where disability is seen as a curse from the devil. Thankfully, Dorothy’s parents didn’t listen to that advice.

   Dorothy is a very smart little girl and after a number of surgeries she is now able to bend the elbow of her right arm which makes it possible for her to do almost everything for herself including feeding and dressing herself independently. Her knees are still healing from surgery but she should be able to walk with crutches soon. We were able to share ideas with her parents for ways to practice walking with support when she is ready. We also gave them lots of encouragement for the great job they are doing with their daughter. Dorothy’s big smile and determined spirit made it clear that she is not going to let anything stop her! 

      UPCOMING TRIPS

       California Joni and Friends office

 July 20-26

Romania

 Aug. 29-Sept 6

Haiti

 October 7-16

iTOT provides therapy and training to the disabled in the developing world

who are often rejected, isolated and hopeless to show them God's love.

To make a tax deductible donation send check payable to:

iTOT

231 Adrian Court

Lansdale, PA 19446