Message about Haiti from President Moyers Cleveland

During my presidency, sadly, there have been many disasters I have written to you about. Some have been global. Some have been very personal, like floods affecting my hometown, or Hurricane Katrina devastating our own educational programs. Now we are faced with another significant challenge to our worldwide family. We are deeply saddened by and concerned about the devastating earthquake in Haiti on January 12. Our deepest sympathies go out to those who lost loved ones and friends in the disaster.

 For those members who have expressed concern and asked what they can do in response to the needs of the Haitian people, at this time, relief efforts are focused on the acute stages of disaster relief. To that end, we encourage our members to donate if they are able to the many legitimate charities gathering resources. Check to be sure the organizations are legitimate. On behalf of our members, AOTA is donating to the American Red Cross to support their efforts in Haiti. Volunteers may be needed in your home communities to organize other donations. Check local community resources.

 AOTA will keep abreast of any international efforts being undertaken by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) in response to the earthquake in Haiti and keep our members informed of any opportunities for involvement. We are aware of some occupational therapy students who have been to Haiti and are contacting them to get more information.

 Because the devastation is so significant, it may take a while for non-emergency volunteers to be dispatched. Check InterAction to monitor for many types of overseas volunteer opportunities. Clearly, occupational therapy has much to offer.

 Also, read:

·      AOTA’s paper on emergency response and disaster preparedness

·      An article talking with OT experts

·      An article for consumers about OT’s role

We can share with each other, too. Members who are interested in facilitating a grassroots discussion on the topic can respond to my blog, post on one of the forums on AOTA’s OT Connections or start a new discussion of your own.

Additional information and updates:

·      http://www.hhs.gov/haiti/

·      http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/01/20100118a.html

·      http://www.cidi.org/incident/haiti-10a/

 

Published 20 Jan 2010 10:03 PM by Penelope Moyers

Comments

# re: Message about Haiti from President Moyers Cleveland

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 11:00 PM by marshall010

Hi my name is Autumn and I am a occupational therapy grad student at Gannon University finishing up my last semester. Christina Metz cheif public affairs officer for AOTA recommended I post what I sent her on my connection and work in Haiti.

I know quite a bit about Haiti, what is going on over there right now, and have done quite a bit of OT with a disabilities orphanage over there. I am in contact with people from Haiti daily and therefore if anyone has any questions feel free to ask them and I will do my best to answer them.

Haiti is my big passion, I love these people like family. I plan to possibly live there full time and do OT or do OT 6 months out of the year.

Here is a little bit of what I do in Haiti

I am the OT (not technically though because I am still a student) for the Miriam Center. The Miriam center has 5 programs running out of it. Miriam Home- home to 23 disabled chidlren, For Jonthan Sake- outreach program to 30 disabled children and their families who live in the community, Roos Corner- home for terminally ill infants, Deaf school, and Education program for disabled children (included miriam home kids and For Jonathan sake kids).

Since the earthquake hit my heart has hurt and has been breaking. Praise God all my kids are alright and safe. Well, that is what I thought a few nights ago when I received word that we were going to have to close down our For Jonathan Sake Program due to lack of funding and access to food right now since all food supply comes from Port-A-Prince. There is not funding to buy food at the increased prices right now. This means that we had to bring more tragic news to these famillies who have all lost loved one and friends and the burden they have of not finding food for themselves and the rest of their kids due no distribution of food and rising costs. I am hoping to raise enought money to reopen this program soon. I have a 5 year old who only weighs 15lbs right now and my heart is breaking thinking he  may die before I get the program up and running.

For Jonathan Sake is the program that was opened to help change the mindset of a parents about thier disabled children. Not only the parents mindest but also their communities and eventually country to show them that these children are special, and worth their love and attention. In Haiti disabled children are looked down upon, looked as possessed, evil, worthless. Many of these chidlren would be dead without this program. Families do not feed their disabled chidlren. Not only are disabled children looked down upon but if you are a parent of disabled child you are looked down upon. We grew this program from 7 parents and children coming in June to 30 now. We have formed a support group for parents, educated them, provided theri kdis with nutrition, therapy, and education. My heart is breaking at the thought of this program closing.

Our organization has also been contacted about 68 disabled orphanes from a disabilities orphanage in Pourt-A-Prince who they are looking for a place. We are trying to figuere out how we can help but right now struggling. We are in the process of partnering with 4 other organizations to build a 150 disability childrens orphanage but we are still in the plannign process. Have the land bought. We feel now in the wake of the tragedy occuring in Haiti now this building is more important than ever because children who were not disabled before are now going to be.

The Miriam center has grown so much in the last 3 years I have been working in Haiti. The first time I went in their were concrete block walls, concrete floors, kids were laying in cribs, contractures were forming, few toys, no stimulation. Now there are tons of educational toys, colorful wall, wheelchairs, care-givers have been educated on positioning, daily schedule was developed, stretching done daily, therapy room equipt with trampoline, foam playground, foam barrel, lycrome swing, etc. The kdis are smiling, kids are walking with walkers and gait belts that never walked before, kids are feeding themselves, bathing themselves...They are learning to be independent :) The kids have huge smiles and crave to learn. My heart leaps for joy everytime I hear them make a new gain, or see a miracle occur with these children. This past summer a PT from Canada and I created an eval template and evaluated all the children who were there in the Miriam Home and for Jonathan sake, wrote treatment plans, took pictures of the most appropriate toys and positioning for each child and created a binder for each. Since this summer we have 30 new kids that need evaluations and the other need re-eval and new plans made.

I have pictures and up-to date news on what is going on in Haiti on my blog at www.autumnsreflections.blogspot.com

or the missions website www.nwhcm.org and go under ministries to special needs children to find out more info.

If anyone is interested in going on a short-term trip in to help out you can contact me at marshall010@gannon.edu or check the mission website out abotu when their are trips going in. I will be going in the middle of may and staying till the middle of June but there are trips going in all summer. These kdis are amazing! Facilities are great!

Let me know what other information you would like, one thing I never get tired talkig about is Haiti.

Thanks

Autumn

# re: Message about Haiti from President Moyers Cleveland

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 11:11 PM by Penelope Moyers

Autumn,

I am so very proud of all you are doing. Please give us updates on my blog. Many members would be inspired to help by what you have to say. It would also encourage others to share what they are doing!

Penny

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