Physical Therapy Ministry & Chariots of Cielo Update

The following article was written by our ministry partner, Deanna Lusty. Deanna and a team of therapists, technicians, and teachers have been working with us for the past several years developing our Rehabilitation Ministry for Special-Needs Children.  

  
It’s that time of year again when our group starts making plans for the Dominican Republic! I am delighted to say that last year we were able to service more kids and adults than ever before. In just one week’s time, we were able to see about 70 people for new equipment or adjustments to their current equipment. Education was also provided to the Dominican physical therapists on standing frames and several of the therapists were able to take a standing frame back to their satellite clinics around the country. 

The Dominican therapists that we have been working with routinely now identify and evaluate children that need complex rehab equipment. Now that the knowledge and understanding of the importance of complex rehab has been grasped the need and request for equipment has grown! In the last year, a partnership with another facility that focuses just on children with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and autism has been developed. Thus, we are expecting to further our reach in delivering equipment and educating therapists to at least two different locations this year.   

  
Mission Emanuel’s Chariots of Cielo program is also continuing to grow! This program allows for Dominicans in the community, some with their own disabilities, to assemble parts and produce ROC Wheels wheelchairs. In the last year, 148 of these wheelchairs were able to be assembled and provided to several groups that did distributions in the Dominican and even one distribution in Cuba. Many of these chairs are assembled now and ready to go, they are just looking for sponsorship!

Our hope and goal is to help bridge the gap for provision and knowledge until a sustainable year round process fully run by Dominican staff can be further developed and maintained for evaluating, funding, assembling, delivering, and maintaining the chairs that are being assembled in the Dominican. We have come so far. It has been very exciting to see where God has taken this project and how He is putting the pieces together!

    
If you are interested in helping with the project, here are a few ways you can help:

  • Monetary donations are also appreciated for the cost of transport/shipping the equipment or sponsoring all or part of a ROC Wheels wheelchair ($400 per chair).
    • Tax deductible donations can be made online at: https://missionemanuel.org/donate. Please select the Oct. Open Trip and in the memo type Dallas w/c shipping or sponsor ROC W/C
  • If you are interested in the most fun part … actually coming on the trip, to turn tools or provide education (in any rehab area) please let me know ASAP! Trip dates are October 17th – 24th. 
  • Please consider forwarding this email to any of your contacts other ATPs, techs, PTs/OTs/SLPs, physicians, etc. that you think might be interested in supporting or participating.   

 Thanks so much for all your support!

      ~Deanna Lusty