Graduate Health Sciences Adventure: Speech, Occupational, Physical & Behavioral Therapy
When Can I Travel?
Applications are currently open for 2023. We have a rolling admission process, which simply means that the window for applications closes when all of the spaces are filled. We also offer discounts to students who apply early!
Where Am I Going?
Who Should Sign Up?
Graduate students and students enrolled for graduate school
Why Should I Travel with Therapy Abroad?
More than ever, OT, PT, SLP, and Behavioral Therapy employers are looking for well-rounded graduates who have a thorough understanding of their respective fields of interest and the ability to work collaboratively across cultures. You will work with and learn from a distinguished group of licensed, professional occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech therapists in a cross-cultural setting.
We created this program specifically to help participants not only grow in the above areas, but also gain hands-on experience that’s hard to duplicate in the classroom: professional observation hours, one-on-one time with OTs, PTs, SLPs, Behavioral Therapists and other professionals in formal and informal settings, direct experience in public and allied health, and a chance to support local children and families with special needs.
What Will I Do?
Your cohort will work directly with the Ministry of Health to bring services to children in Providenciales and/or Grand Turk. With an intentional focus on cooperative learning and capacity building for both visiting and hosting professionals, our licensed professionals will take you through a cross-disciplinary, cross-sectoral and cross-cultural program that will change the way you develop within your field. Students will work directly with pediatric and adult clients.
Therapy Abroad students and staff provide essential services such as screenings, direct rehabilitation, evaluations, referral and/or care to promote fitness, health and wellness and capacity building in the provision of occupational, physical, and speech therapy to individuals, organizations, and communities. You will learn about diverse approaches to teaching and implement methodologies for designing and evaluating learning experiences used in the education of patients/clients, students, colleagues, and the broader community.
Excursions: While you will earn clinical hours, there will also be opportunities for fun, cultural excursions. Some activities planned include snorkeling and swimming at the most beautiful beaches in the world. You will also learn about the history of the islands on a locally guided tour.
- May 1 - August 15 ( Summer Dates Available Soon )
Will I Get Observation And Volunteer Hours?
Yes! Our TCI program is a perfect way to diversify your experience working in different settings and gain needed clinical and volunteer hours. The experience working in an interdisciplinary setting will set you apart from others on your resume as well as prepare you for real-world settings. The bulk of your hours will come from running our award-winning Adventure Camp for kids with special needs.
What is the Itinerary*?
- Day 1: Fly to Provo (PLS) either on a group flight (most popular choice) or on your own**
- Day 2: Clinical Prep Day
- Day 3: Full Clinical Day
- Day 4: Adventure Camp Day 1 / Afternoon Excursion
- Day 5: Adventure Camp Day 2 / Afternoon Excursion
- Day 6: Adventure Camp Day 3 / Afternoon Wrap-Up & Beach Bar-B-Q
- Day 7: Fly home
Where Will I Stay?
You will stay in nice, 3-star hotels on the island walking distance to the beach. Every day you will have access to Wifi. Meals will be a combination of local and Western cuisine. We have a 100% guarantee that you will have plenty of amazing food! We can cater to specific dietary needs as long as you let us know ahead of time. In addition to TCI’s many scenic charms, the warmth and hospitality of the people and culture will make you feel at home in no time!
Benefits For Students Who Participate In This Program:
- Hands-on experience
- Build experience and resume for graduate school admissions
- Gain clinical hours
- Cultural responsiveness
- Learn from professionals in small discussion
- Practice skills in a multicultural environment
- Learn to compare and contrast speech-language pathology, Physical and Occupational Therapy and Behavioral Sciences services in developing countries with that in the United States.
- Intercultural exchange in creative learning environment
- Increased skills of intercultural communication
- Experience in research and collaboration
- Greater international understandings of social issues
- Better understanding of global social change
- Greater understanding of inequalities and differences in world systems
- International travel experience
Tuition:
7 Day Program price is $1,900 USD not including *international airfare.
*Airfare from the Continental US is estimated at $600.
What’s Included?
We got you covered: Travel and study abroad is a big investment and our commitment to you is that we will work hard every day to make sure you are going to have the most amazing experience: professional staff, tasty meals and comfortable accommodations, and overall, a well-crafted itinerary full of diverse activities and good people.
With the exception of international airfare, our trips are all-inclusive. We won’t try to upsell you on any “additional activities” or “additional optional activities” that aren’t advertised as part of the program. More specifically, your program includes:
- Pre-departure support
- Group flight booking assistance
- Flights team support staff
- Professional and licensed staff (practitioners and academics)
- 24-hour emergency support staff and in-country support
- Airport pick-up in Turks and Caicos
- Private transport throughout the country
- Experienced facilitators
- Shared, comfortable accommodations
- All meals
- Snacks and drinking water
- Orientation and curriculum
- All necessary equipment, materials and supplies
- All activities listed in the program itinerary
- All domestic transport
- Materials, tests and diagnostic tools
- Therapy Abroad tee-shirt
IMPORTANT NOTE: You must be enrolled in a graduate program for physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, or behavioral Sciences to participate. Spaces for this program are limited and fill up quickly. All applications will be individually evaluated on a rolling basis. Students on this program will primarily be working with children, so all applicants should be comfortable working with children and be creative and flexible to get the most out of their experience.
