CARE-Belize: We can help differently-abled kids

For the past three years, CARE-Belize has been quietly working in homes around the country, assisting parents of differently-abled children to help their loved ones live happy productive lives. But this week, the organisation went public, launching a campaign to send their message of hope to even more families.

Sr. Beverly Hoffman, Coordinator, CARE-Belize
?We use a community based rehabilitation model, which means that our field officers are trained and they go to the homes of the parents of children who are physically disabled and we provide services in the home, so that there?s not the cost and the trouble of the parent trying to come into a clinic. We actually provide the services free of charge in the homes and them the parents can learn right there at home and can use the techniques that we teach them.?

?We teach both physical therapy and social work skills to our rehabilitation field officers, and they are Belizeans and what they do is they network with the families for whatever needs they have in their homes with the agencies that are available here and also with international agencies that may come down and then we also provide them with physical therapy techniques and play activities that will enhance their children?s learning and their physical skills of walking or moving and doing that in the home setting using everyday activities and everyday objects. We try to keep things low cost and low technology.?