Program Reviews

I had never been abroad prior to this trip, so I was understandably nervous about how I would handle myself in a new environment without having prior clinical exposure due to being an undergraduate student, I had no idea how this trip would be, but I was extremely relieved by how organized, helpful and friendly the therapy abroad team was throughout the trip. The trip allowed me to become more confident in myself as a clinician, producing some of the best experiences I’ve had! (food was amazing)

Therapy Abroad has an amazing team. Our group leaders made sure we were where we needed to be and handled unexpected events with professionalism and grace. I'm so thankful that I participated in this program because I grew as a clinician and as a person. The people in Belize were so kind and welcoming, and the food (especially breakfast at Martha's Guest House!) was fantastic. There was a nice balance of work and play. We provided services at multiple sites and still had time each day to enjoy something new in Belize. I can't wait to go back.

A group of 8 speech pathology grad students, 2 professors, and about 8 Therapy Abroad professionals were part of the team which traveled to the beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands. The Special Needs Unit of the Dept of Education hosted us very generously and we enjoyed the beaches and local food. We met families of children with communication difficulties, did evaluations, and ran a camp for three days. I had the privilege of working with four autistic boys between ages 3 and 6 as well as some overlap with other campers whose diagnoses varied. I loved seeing their comfort level change from day one (clinging to the parent's leg, teary-eyed) to day three (running in to the gym for a hug and leading me by the hand to our first activity). I think we could have been more effective if we had meetings with the campers' parents and completed informal evaluations of the kids before we launched into camp. This was the first time Therapy Abroad ran a camp like this in Turks and Caicos, so it served as a good starting place. It was also interesting to visit schools and observe members of our team strategizing with local special needs advocates to work on ways to improve access to services throughout the country. In our spare time, we enjoyed a truly unforgettable boat tour and I was introduced to a bright, colorful world under the ocean's surface as we snorkeled. We also enjoyed a fish fry in the community and visits to local restaurants. Overall, this experience was intensely difficult and intensely fun - very formative for me as a student clinician, a traveler, and a friend within my cohort.

The Therapy Abroad trip I took to Turks and Caicos was one I will never forget. It was the first time Therapy Abroad had gone to Turks and Caicos, so there was some typical bumps and miscommunications as we got set up and provided evaluations to some kids and therapy camp for other kids for 3 days. The amount of growth that each child and student had was unbelievable. The staff on the trip was warm and welcoming, and when we weren't providing services to the children of TCI we were making memories together!

This Therapy Abroad trip to Turks and Caicos was a wonderful experience in which I gained a lot of experience doing speech therapy with autistic and non verbal children. There is a large need of services in the area, and I hope that others get the chance to go back. The activities that were done outside of the therapy camp were super fun, and the area was beautiful! We went snorkeling and to the beach often. The hotel we stayed at was very nice and I felt safe there. Overall, very glad I went and it was totally worth it!

My experience was unique because it was the first every speech-language pathology therapy aboard to Turks & Caicos island. I had the opportunity to work with other professionals like PT/OT, behavioral specialist, other SLPs, and the TCI special needs unit. I gained so much clinical knowledge and hours towards my graduation requirements for my masters degree. I also learned a lot of skills involving parent and teacher education. I gained more cultural competence working in the Turks and Caicos Islands!

Traveling abroad to provide services to children on the Turks and Caicos islands was the most fulfilling and educational experience I have had so far in my life. I learned so much about working with children with Autism,. dealing with children's sensory needs, working with different cultures, schools and services in other countries, AAC use with young children, and working with other professionals, all while influencing young childcare's lives and forming life long relationship. I cannot wait to hopefully return someday.

I had such an amazing experience on this study abroad trip. I appreciated Therapy Abroad's organization in regard to the food, excursions, and clients. It was great to have our food orders already in when we went to restaurants, and it was great to have the activities/excursions already on the schedule. The excursions were so much fun, and I learned so much from the experiences about Belize culture, history, and the natural environment. I also loved working with clients on this trip. I got great experience with screenings, evals, and therapy and learned valuable skills relating to cultural humility. The housing arrangements were great. Our room was spacious and had a beautiful view of the city and mountains from the balcony and bathroom window. Breakfast every morning was delicious, and there was a wide variety of options. Staff were super friendly and responsive. San Ignacio as a whole was a great location for this trip. We were in a good location for both fun activities and clients. Overall, I had an amazing time on this trip and would definitely recommend that others go!

This trip was so much fun! I would recommend it to anyone. Not only did we have a great time, I learned so much - more than probably all of my 4 undergraduate semesters combined! The lessons learned and friendships made will last forever. I’ll never forget all the wonderful people we met in Belize. As an undergraduate student, it was the first time many of were able to get hands on clinical experience. It was great to do this under such wonderful supervisors who were so helpful and understanding. Everyone seemed so thankful for our help and I really felt like we made a difference in their lives - and I know they made a difference in ours!

This was one of the best trips I have been on! Each day was very organized and I felt extremely safe wherever we went. Therapy abroad does a great job organizing the daily activities we are able to experience. One of my favorites was the trip to go zip lining because it was challenging to get to the top but extremely rewarding on each line down. Our coordinators were extremely polite and respectful! Martha’s Guesthouse was a great place to stay. The experiences I had were one of a kind and I would do it again in a heartbeat!