Communication Sciences & Disorders in Belize

I went on this trip not knowing a single other person and came out with the greatest of friends from all over the country that I never would have known otherwise. I also came back with more knowledge than I've ever had on speech-language pathology, Belize, and my own abilities I didn't know I possessed. I had always wanted to study abroad, but never found any programs specifically for CSD and that weren't an entire semester long - which would throw off all of my classes (especially with being a senior). When I heard about Therapy Abroad, it was the exact thing I had always been looking for. At first, it may seem too good to be true, but it IS true and you will not regret it. You get to work hands-on with children of all different levels and practice doing real things used in therapy. I learned things here that I never would have learned in my Undergrad classes let alone applying them. Even in such a short amount of time, you can possibly see progress and changes happening among the kids. There's no need to worry about your level of knowledge going in because the SLPs/supervisors teach you and allow you to trust in yourself with what you do know. Our supervisors were incredible and helped us to not be scared, but to trust that we can do this and to learn from one another. I discovered strengths and weaknesses I never knew I had. Yes, it was incredibly hot and humid which wasn't always easy, but I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if I let that hold me back. I felt completely safe at Monkey Bay and everywhere we went. The food and people are absolutely wonderful. Zip-lining, snorkeling, cave tubing, and walking the ruins were also SO incredibly fun and I am so glad they were incorporated in the trip. Going to the island is such a fun time and you'll wish you could stay! Learning about the culture of Belize is amazing and I was genuinely sad to leave what honestly started to feel so comfortable after just two weeks. You work hard and get to experience something incomparable to anything else with a special group of people who you will always share that with. You will be pushed to limits and face challenges that will only help you grow in your CSD academics and also a personal level. This trip has developed a heart in me to want to provide speech services internationally in my future career. This trip gives you the opportunity to start a small part in changing some lives and also changing your own. To me, it opened up a whole new world of what speech pathology can be. It was pretty much the best thing I ever did and would love for as many people who can, to also experience it!!

Traveling with Therapy Abroad to Belize for two weeks was an experience I will treasure forever. The hands-on learning was nothing like anything I had done before. We were able to come up with and execute plans for a day camp, and also work with licensed SLPs in the process.

During my trip, we were able to travel to a school and give hearing screens as well as assist in taking speech samples that were used to determine if the students should be recommend for treatment. We also traveled into the community and observed the SLPs giving language screenings to at risk populations who were unable to travel to clinics in town.

On the weekends we were able to do SO many fun and unique things! We went cave tubing (during the hike I held a tarantula!) and zip lining the first weekend. Both were activities I had never done before. I felt completely safe and had an amazing time during both experiences. The last weekend in Belize we traveled to a near by island. This was where we got to go snorkeling!! (With sharks and sting rays!!!) Again, this was an activity I had never done before, and I felt safe and was never pressured. It was definitely a once in a life time opportunity that I will never forget!

I was unsure what was in stock for in on my Therapy Abroad journey starting out and I'm so glad I got the experience I did! Traveling to Belize during the summer of 2018 I had hands-on therapy experience every day. Working with amazing SLPs I was given a chance to practice without the fear of a grade looming over my head. Getting to experience all of this while making connections with other students from around the country gave me 12 lasting friendships that we have continued after returning home. On top of the therapy, we also were given the chance to go on fun excursions that I will never forget. The knowledge I obtained during my time in Belize helped me immensely throughout my following semester and made me feel like I had a leg up starting out my final year of college strong!

Therapy abroad was by far the best experience I have had. The staff is awesome and you get to spend two full weeks with students like yourself learning, bonding, and experiencing everything the beautiful country Belize has to offer.

As for the clinical aspect of the program…IT WAS AMAZING!!! Therapy abroad sets up a program called Tykes Camp where children that have been previously screened are chosen to attend the two week long camp. You get paired up with another aspiring SLP on the trip with you and the two of you get assigned a kiddo. You spend the first day of the camp evaluating their speech, communication, and behavior skills. Then it is up to you and your partner to come up with a diagnosis, as well as a plan for the future. For the two weeks you are there, you work with the kiddo based off of your plan, and when you leave the next person after you can continue your plan with the child. I was able to evaluate, diagnose, and follow through with lesson plans, and SOAP notes as if I was a real life practicing clinician. The supervisors are great and they are there to teach you and guide you, but they take a step back and let you run the show. If something went wrong (and trust me it will) they were there to step in and help.

Not only does this program allow you to advance your skills, but it also changes the lives of so many children. In the entire country of Belize there is one practicing SLP, so they need as much help as they can get. ALSO…. there is so much more to the program. Yes the best thing is getting to go to another country to help others, but therapy abroad does a nice balance of work and play. On the weekends you will spend your time adventuring through the Mayan Ruins, go cave tubing, snorkeling, and so much more. And the friendships you make on this trip are for a lifetime. I still talk to all 14 of the girls that were on the program with me.

This program helped me to understand myself better as a clinician and a person and I would recommend it to every aspiring SLP. Please, please, please do it, you will not regret it one bit.

Therapy Abroad provided me with insane experiences from learning about Belizean culture and wildlife to getting hands on experience working with speech pathologists and linguists. We went zip-lining, cave tubing, to a zoo, to the Caye Caulker island and had a blast! Aside from that fun weekend stuff, I was able to actively participate and ask questions, and kept a thorough journal of everything I did in my time there for the future. We did community based rehab and was able to trail the speech pathologist/linguist doing the assessment, as well as learning how to do an oral mechanism exam! These are opportunities that are not presented in the United States because of safety and security reasons. I am so grateful for the people I've met and the opportunities presented to me. I would definitely go again.

I had an amazing time! Everyday was something new, but I really loved that we were able to learn more about S.O.A.P. Notes and how to write a lesson plan before we went into the city to have our own client. I appreciated how fun and lighthearted everyone was. I also loved that I was getting hands-on experience. My patient was a three-year-old with a hearing loss. Being around others from different schools and in different years at school, we were able to bounce ideas off each other and learn new techniques. I was very nervous about not knowing enough, but I enjoyed that the supervisors gave more learning tools to everyone and held mini classes. I was able to learn more about taking data, developing goals, and developing objectives. Aside from the classroom aspect, I loved that I was also immersed in the culture and had a great time. This experience is one that I will never forget!

I honestly was not sure what I was getting myself into, I know my friend was applying and she did her research, but I just kind of followed lead for the experience of learning over seas. It was probably one of the best experiences I could ever have. I will say I was beyond nervous going to Belize by myself and leading a camp definitely brought out my lack of confidence in my own skills, but with my fellow goers and the support of the clinician supervisors, I say it really improved my own confidence in my knowledge and skills as I continue to work on becoming an SLP and the knowledge that working with these kids is why I fell in love with Speech Therapy. Aside form the fun, having more hands on experience enhanced my learning more than a classroom setting could provide. It really helped to with starting graduate school applications to learn about different programs across the state and creating a network for our future careers.

This experience is an excellent way for SLP students to gain experience in the field before entering graduate school. It is challenging and motivating to plan a two-week camp for children with disabilities that is both appropriate for their cognitive abilities and engaging. Students learn about the paperwork and documentation progress as well which is essential for graduate school. The professionals on the trip have different therapy styles and strategies that help the students learn what works and doesn’t work for their personal therapy style. This program created lifelong friends and connections within the program. The girls in my group still talk all the time, and I was able to connect with Kristofer Brock, an SLP on the trip, at ASHA! I highly recommend this program to learn about SLP in an area where there aren’t a lot of services, and gain essential skills for graduate school. Belize is a beautiful country, and a great place for people who haven’t traveled a lot to learn about life outside of the United States. We have a lot of fun on this trip zipling and cavetubing and visiting the Mayan Ruins!