SRVS (pronounced serves) is an amazing organization dedicated to the development, learning and growth of adults with disabilities. Volunteering today at SRVS’ learning center affirmed two things for me:

1) I would love to study some sort of therapy one day that helps people discover the many things they are capable of accomplishing.

2) Personal growth paired with fun and laughter is the essence of life.

After four and half years of living and working with impoverished communities in Nicaragua I came across various cases of both adults and children with developmental disabilities. For individuals with disabilities who live in rural areas of the country there are few resources available to assist them in their development. As a result, their days are often spent sitting around. Culturally they might be seen as “sick” or incapable and therefore unable to contribute to their homes and/or communities. It was something that saddened me and which I had no idea how to respond to seeing as I have little experience working with disabled individuals.

Chris and I are all smiles after a successful counting activity

This is the reason that for the past year I have been playing with the idea of one day studying some area of occupational therapy. I would love to be a part of providing support to individuals with disabilities who are part of communities with little or no access to learning and developmental opportunities.

One morning at SRVS affirmed how important it is to provide such opportunities. Allison, the wonderful volunteer coordinator at SRVS who showed me the ropes, explained how families observe growth in their loved ones who attend SRVS. They have seen them engage more in day to day activities and become more talkative. It is evident to me that their growth is directly attributed to the fun and busy schedule SRVS offers to those who attend their learning center. Every classroom and activity area is set up Montessori style so that the participants are able to initiate which types of activities they want to do.  I had a blast doing puzzles with Earnest, playing catch with Roselyn and Patrick, and counting with Chris. I saw people out watering plants in the sensory garden and others excitedly anticipating art class where they would make colorful pillows.

Rosalyn would dance and sing after every catch. (and demand that I join her!)

It may sound corny, but SRVS is just a really happy place to be. Around every corner you see people learning, playing and laughing. It is with incredible patience that every staff member and volunteer walks alongside the participants as they develop their abilities and it is evident how much they care about their vocation at the learning center. I left SRVS feeling refreshed and more inspired to obtain the training needed so that I may one day contribute to the lives of those with disabilities and more determined to be like the SRVS participants who I met today: laugh a lot, smile and enjoy all aspects of personal growth and development.

Puzzles with Earnest

El resumen en español:

SRVS es una organización dedicada al desarrollo, aprendizaje y crecimiento de adultos discapacitados.  Pasar un día en el centro de aprendizaje como voluntaria me afirmo dos cosas:

1)      Que me gustaría sacar una preparación trabajando con individuos discapacitados.

2)      El crecimiento personal junto con  diversión y risas es la esencia de la vida.

Después de trabajar 4 años y medio en comunidades pobres en Nicaragua encontré varios casos de ambos niños y adultos discapacitados. Por falta de acceso a centros o escuelas para personas discapacitadas junto con la cultura que ve a las personas así como enfermas o  incapaces, a veces las personas discapacitadas pasan sus días sentadas sin hacer mucho. Muchas veces no pueden contribuir a las tareas diarias en la casa ni en su comunidad. Cuando encontré casos así me dio mucha tristeza por no saber cómo responder. Tengo muy poca experiencia trabajando con individuos discapacitados.

Por esta razón he estado pensando en estudiar un tipo de terapia ocupacional. Me encantaría brindar apoyo para individuos discapacitados con poco o ningún acceso a oportunidades para aprendizaje continuo desarrollo personal.

Una mañana sirviendo con SRVS me confirmo la importancia de estas oportunidades. Los participantes de SRVS están en aulas llenas de diferentes actividades para que ellos mismos escojan lo que quieren hacer. Todas las actividades animan a su desarrollo. Disfruté tirar la pelota con Roselyn y Patrick, contar con Chris, y hacer unos rompecabezas con Earnest. Yo vi a los participantes de SRVS regando el jardín sensorial  y anticipando con mucha emoción participar en la clase de arte en la cual harían almohadas de muchos colores.

Yo sé que suena algo cursi pero SRVS es simplemente un lugar gozoso para estar. En cada esquina que uno dobla puede ver a personas riendo, jugando y aprendiendo. Cada miembro del staff y los voluntarios tienen mucha paciencia mientras caminan al lado de los participantes de SRVS. Es muy claro que ellos quieren mucho a su ocupación en el centro de aprendizaje. Yo salí hoy refrescada y aún más inspirada a estudiar una carrera en la cual yo pueda apoyar a individuos discapacitadas y también decidida a ser más como los participantes en el centro de aprendizaje de SRVS: reír mucho, sonreír y disfrutar cada aspecto del desarrollo y crecimiento personal.