Susan Dempsey Reflection – Juntos Podemos (Together We Can)

Susan Dempsey was awarded a Center for Global Health Student & Trainee Travel Grant in the fall of 2023 to pursue a project with FNE International in León, Nicaragua. View more photos of her project in this Flickr photo gallery.

My time in Nicaragua gave me insight for my OTD capstone project and its potential impact on caregivers. I learned more about the country, the healthcare system, and the inner workings of a non-profit organization (FNE International). I worked alongside a medical brigade and collaborated with a school for children with disabilities. The experiences I had and lessons I learned will continue to shape who I am as an occupational therapist.

While with the medical brigade, I met lots of children with various medical conditions: cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism and muscular dystrophy. I was shocked by the number of children with little to no access to therapy services. Their families were eager to receive care for them and increase their knowledge as caregivers. We had the opportunity to educate them on stretches, positioning, abdominal massage, foot supports and fine motor activities.

During clinics, I witnessed some of the challenges these caregivers face. The patients and their families came from all over and many of them had no adaptive equipment. Caregivers came into the clinics carrying their adolescent children because they lacked appropriate transportation devices. We were unable to meet all their material needs but we saw the impact of offering education and support. Caregivers seemed happy to have someone listen and care for their child. We also had the opportunity to conduct several home visits where we suggested some adaptations for families in their home environment. Through the clinics and home visits I learned about challenges these families face and the gaps in the healthcare system.

During our time at the school, I interacted with teachers and students. The teachers offered insight into their classrooms and the challenges they confront daily. They want their students to have the best education possible and are eager to learn. I introduced the online resource platform I created, Juntos Podemos, to the school staff. They gave me feedback about the platform. I will use their feedback to improve the platforms functionality and guide future projects. Their feedback was positive, and they voiced excitement about its potential to aid not only work in the classroom but the caregivers of their students at home. From the teachers and FNE International staff I learned more about special education in the area and the challenges the school encounters.

Overall, I learned so much through this trip. I am thankful for the opportunity to work alongside other health professionals and teachers. I learned so much about interprofessional collaboration and the workings of NGOs abroad. I am also grateful for the feedback I received from the teachers. The knowledge I gained from this experience will help better my resource platform. I am excited to see its growth and future impact.