PTDOS Stories:
Compassion, Community, and Collaboration

Schereville, Indiana - “Blankets for Kids”

“Our group of PT/PTA students, professors, and therapists have worked with Campagna Academy for PTDOS for the last 3 years. This last year we wanted to come up with a service that could benefit the children and teens for an extended amount of time. They were in need of blankets for the upcoming winter, so we got busy! We got together and made over 20 tie blankets of various sizes and themes. The kids were able to pick out a blanket to call their own. It was such a blessing to help these children, and in doing so, unite our community of students, therapists, and professors! Global PTDOS was a great success in our community!”  ~ Courtney Huisenga, PTA

Durham, North Carolina - “Habitat for Humanity”

"In 2017, the Duke DPT program utilized the 1 week window surrounding the actual PTDOS to organize 3 different service events. We recognize that our students are busy so we felt that it was best to provide multiple ways for our students to participate in PTDOS. We organized an event where our students provided functional movement screens to local residents at a vocational rehab center. These functional movement screens helped clear the residents for work and helped to screen the residents for necessary referrals to other providers such as physical therapists, physicians, and psychologists. We also organized a Habitat for Humanity volunteer day on the actual PTDOS where 15 of our students participated building a community member’s new home. Lastly, we organized a way for 10 students to volunteer with Miracle League of the Triangle game, a program designed to help people with special needs experience joy and community through baseball."  ~ Kathleen Daly, Duke University

Barbados - “Hands Up for Home Improvements”

On PT Day of Service (PTDOS) 2017, the Barbados Physical Therapy Association participated in its first PTDOS project. The association selected the Thelma Vaughn home  (facility catering to individuals with disabilities and respite center) for its community service project. Physiotherapists, national athletes and Kiwanians all volunteered and worked to spruce up the home by painting the rooms. Volunteers also engaged the residents of the home in various board games, colouring activities and donations of various food and household items were made to the matron of the home. The BPTA was very pleased to have participated in PTDOS 2017 and to have made a positive impact on the Barbadian community. “One of our major goals last year was to increase our presence in the community- to give back to communities, to lend a hand where needed and to take part in projects that are important to us- putting service above self.” - Dr. Nicola Yard BPTA President

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