Voices for Independence
Title: The Mind and Muscle Gauntlet: Building Teamwork and Promoting Mobility
Student Interns:
Joshua Harbison
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Randy Kulesza, PhD
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Tiffany Frey
Voices for Independence
Rachel Thorpe
Voices for Independence
Community Site:
Voices for Independence is a community organization serving people with disabilities. Its mission is to improve their quality of life, help provide them with a sense of independence, and give them a greater sense of control. The organization has multiple divisions that offer services such as home modifications, personal assistant services, and wellness and other activities. Within the activities sector, the organization holds events for consumers throughout the community that promote and encourage the company’s ideals. Cooking class, crafts, aerobics, boxing class, and other social events are just some of the activities hosted each week on site.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps intern’s project involved organizing four different outdoor team-oriented activities for clients and support staff to participate in. The Olympic-style contest pitted four teams against each other in different events. The goal was to promote teamwork, communication, and competition within the groups in hopes of improving the mental health and social capabilities of the consumers. Physical movement and extremity dexterity were also encouraged. Various equipment at the facility was used in creative ways to design the games. The event gave individuals an opportunity to enjoy themselves while improving both their mental and physical health.
Reflections
The time I was able to spend with Voices for Independence truly taught me so much and deepened my perspective surrounding individuals with disabilities. After starting, I quickly realized the variety that exists within this group, including severity of intellectual disabilities as well as physical disabilities. Each consumer is impacted by their disability in a very personal way, and no disability is the same. As I met and interacted with the consumers and their support staff, I learned more and more how each person adapts and succeeds. I observed directly their desire for independence and involvement in everyday activities. What I learned about communication, empowering, and respecting those who have any level of disability is something I will carry with me for the rest of my career and is invaluable to being an effective, empathetic physician in the future.
Joshua Harbison
