TEAMworks in Belize

Fieldnotes from TEAMworks Belize Therapists

Our 2025 TEAMworks trip to Belize began with an early departure from our local airport. As it is the middle of a cold winter in Northwest Arkansas, we were delayed due to a need to de-ice the plane. [It’s hard to imagine that the very next day we would wake up in tropical Belize, just beginning Belize’s dry season.]

[Our multidisciplinary therapy team of TEAMworks volunteers include: Babe‘Briann Herlein, COTA/L, Bailey Gladdish, MCD, CF-SLP, Anna Bland, OT, OTD, OTR/L, Holland Gazaway, MS, CCC-SLP, and Lori Hannon, PT, MSPT. We’re particularly blessed to have Lori on our trip. Not only is she a wonderful veteran physical therapist at Children’s Therapy T.E.A.M., but she also has an abundance of international clinical experience including past service in Belize. ] 

Lori fitting a girl with braces

Making our Connection Flight… by a hair!

We headed to Houston to meet up with the group from North Carolina. All of our checked bags passed the weight check and the medical equipment (wheelchairs, strollers, walkers, canes) fee was waived. PRAISE! Since the flight to Houston was delayed, we had very little time to make our connecting flight to Belize City. Running through the airport to make the connecting flight to Belize City was a sight to see! Thankfully, we made it just in time, but our crew from North Carolina missed it by a hair.

The Price Was Right at Customs!

Once we got to Belize City, we waited for our North Carolina crew because they were able to get on the next flight out from Houston. Our prayer was that our equipment and checked bags would have a minimal cost to bring into the country when going through customs. This prayer was answered as we only paid 25 dollars! We loaded our 40 passenger bus and headed 4 hours South to Punta Gorda and the Belize Bible College. We finally arrived around 8 o’clock. A delicious homemade dinner was waiting for us. We unloaded all of our supplies, showered, and headed to bed.  

Our First Belizean Sunrise

After a good night’s sleep, we got up and enjoyed our first Belizean sunrise. We explored the grounds: school, greenhouse, outdoor church, and radio station. Church began at 10:30. We worshiped with church members from the local community which included the lead teacher who gave us  information about the students and their needs. We ate lunch and spent the afternoon prepping and organizing materials for the upcoming week. Supplies were taken to the school where we will be serving children this week.

Toledo Learning Center

The Toledo Learning Center is the first accredited school in Belize serving children with disabilities. We are all so humbled to be able to be some of the first therapists to help support these students and teachers. [As we have seen in other countries, having at least one model program is a first step in elevating the level of care in other parts of the country].

To end the day, our entire team ventured to San Antonio falls for an afternoon swim while getting to see more of the local community and landscape. After dinner, we had a birthday celebration for one of our team members and ended our night singing worship songs together.  

Readying our Materials

[Introducing new materials to support our therapeutic interventions is a big part of our work here in Belize.] Above, Bailey is airing up the ball for a balance ball chair to trial with students at school. Lori is cutting a tennis ball with an electric knife to make “munchy” balls for fun hand-strengthening activities at the learning center!

Preparing Our Hearts for the Work Ahead

As we prepared for our first day of work it was a beautiful morning to sit out on the patio and spend time with God. We prepared our hearts for the work ahead. After breakfast, we assisted the ministry team in setting up VBS materials before walking over to the school to meet the students at the Toledo Learning Center for the first time. It was so sweet to finally get to see the kids in person after imagining for so long what they would be like.

Using our Knowledge, Skills, and Equipment

We were able to do a combination of pull-out and push-in therapy with the school students and many other kids at VBS. God orchestrated many moments where specific needs were addressed including the following: 

• a visual schedule for toileting a family specifically asked for (Babe‘Briann made in advance, not knowing there would be a need for one)
• a feeder seat
• a stroller, as well as random foam noodles to adjust foot positioning
• a thumb splint 
• honey bear cups and other feeding strategies recommended
• canes given both to young adults with disabilities and caregivers
• numerous home programs recommended for positioning, stretching, and strengthening
• many other opportunities to observe kids and talk with caregivers and teachers about needs of kids that we will get to brainstorm resources for 

It was so sweet to get to dive in and see God at work here already.  

Therapy Evaluations 

In the afternoon, we went back to the school and evaluated 3 of the five students. Lori got to talk with the classroom teacher and director about reflex integration while the rest of the team evaluated the students for OT and ST concerns. Behavior strategies (visual timers and token board) were discussed and trialed to assist in tolerance of structured activities and sharing toys/ preferred items. We also got to gather information from family members to best support the students and their individual needs. We ended the day playing with a few students with the parachute while they waited on the bus. We can’t wait to see everyone again tomorrow and see what opportunities God presents to us!

New Day Focusing on Meeting Needs at Camp

The day started with busses and vans leaving to pick-up kids and families in their respective villages. We met students at the Toledo Learning Center to greet them and go over resources with the teachers (Visual schedules, Communication book, Handwriting sheets). Today’s camp included worship, story telling, and crafts all surrounding the topic of “Faithful”.  Throughout the camp we noticed different needs in the community and offered assistance: seating, feeding, communication, functional play, transitions, positioning, etc. Holland and Bailey had success with a communication board for a student. 

Shared Experience

Anna and Babe‘Briann got to talk to a mom of a child with Down syndrome who initially mentioned she was struggling with potty training, but opened up about the struggles of being a parent of a child with Down syndrome. Babe‘Briann was able to share that she too was a parent of a child with Down syndrome. We hoped we helped make the mom feel “seen” and not alone. 

Triumphs in Physical Therapy

Lori helped a student on his belly and assisted another sitting in the chair. She cherished the child’s glowing reaction! There were a lot of adaptive equipment needs for not only the children but the adults as well. It was such a blessing that all the equipment given were perfect fits for their respective recipients.

Regrouping and Planning for Another Day

We were touched to learn of the long travels of a mother and son to see us. We regrouped as a therapy team at the end of the day to work on evaluations in addition to talking to the teachers about the students and began planning home trips.  

Our Day for Home Visits has Arrived!

Today was home visit day! Home visits are not what you would expect. In order to access the home, you walk “not that far” (at least a third  a mile through the jungle on a path that has been cut by a machete). 

Our day started later as we packed all of the equipment on the bus to be taken to the five different families we were scheduled to see. Before heading to our first home, we picked up a village ambassador who guided the team to the families houses in the villages. Holland and Babe‘Briann went to see a young girl with Down syndrome whose mom was wanting help with potty training, behavior, and communication. Babe‘Briann was able to make their toilet more comfortable by adding pull noodles around the top/rim. Babe‘Briann also shared a behavior plan to help with some behaviors they have been seeing at home as well as a visual schedule for toileting. While Babe‘Briann worked on the toilet, Holland and another team member played and modeled using communication visuals / pecs cards using a book, play-doh / tools, cards, and bubbles. We were able to pray for this family and hopefully see them back at camp for tomorrow. 

Visiting a Child with Medical Complexities

Bailey, Lori, and Anna visited a medically complex child, where Bailey was able to provide feeding strategies and Lori provided a seating system. Our next two stops were at homes where Lori had previously been. They were able to adjust a wheelchair for one little boy and a stroller for another little girl. Both families attended camp last year where Lori was able to give them both wheelchairs. This year she was able to provide equipment that better suited them and their needs in the home. When Lori visited them this time, she saw the equipment that she had given them previously was still being used and taken care of very well. These parents want and implement the strategies to help their children be the best they can be.

Our Final Home Visit

Before visiting our last home we had the experience of using a Belizean outhouse which was not for the faint of heart! Afterwards we were guided by the ambassador to a home of a child who has never been to camp and has typically not been seen on home visits. Welcomed by a pack of dogs, we stopped dead in our tracks. However, the pack quickly dispersed as its owner threw sticks, and we continued on into the thatched roof home. A very happy teenage boy with Down syndrome and his mom greeted us, and we invited him to come to camp. 

After home visits, Holland Babe and Lori met with a teacher and principal from a local school to share information regarding behavior management in the classroom for a specific student that came to camp this week. Behavior strategies and resources were made and provided to the teacher and principal. 

The evening consisted of making more (and more and more) communication boards and PECS pictures (we brought a laminator!), adjusting a wheelchair, and typing evaluations for the Toledo Learning Center

Returning to Camp… more work to do!

After home visits, Holland, Babe‘Briann, and Lori met with a teacher and principal from a local school to share information regarding behavior management in the classroom for a specific student that came to camp this week. Behavior strategies and resources were made and provided to the teacher and principal. 

The evening consisted of making more (and more and more) communication boards and PECS pictures (we brought a laminator!), adjusting a wheelchair, and typing evaluations for the Toledo Learning Center

Final Day, We Hit the Ground Running!

Our final day of camp! We woke up early to finalize evaluations with several cups of coffee. Then we hit the ground running and did not stop. We were able to observe class at the Toledo Learning Center in the morning, where the speech and occupational therapists collaborated with teachers and modeled strategies from our treatment plans in an effort to improve classroom success. Lori continued distributing equipment, diapers for adolescents, and shoes, as well as providing treatment strategies. 

Offering Resources and Modeling Interventions 

Bailey had a neat experience providing feeding strategies and a communication board for a new family who heard about camp and came just for the last day. Holland and another team member provided behavior intervention to de-escalate an outburst and help a child better engage in camp activities. Our speech and occupational therapists met with the teachers at the Toledo Learning Center to go over classroom recommendations following evaluating students.

Visiting a Family Morning Loss

Lori rode the bus to take kids home from camp and was able to visit two families after drop offs. One was the family of a young man who attended camp previously who passed away this fall. She had the privilege of praying with them, and they were gracious to return the feeder seat she had given them last time, requesting that it be passed on to another family who could use it.

Delivering a Wheelchair to Boy with Spina Bifida

Lori tracked down a little boy with spina bifida who she had met on two other trips – when he saw her, he beamed and started walking toward her (huge, as he is not fully ambulatory). She was able to leave a wheelchair with him, and his family was so grateful. 

After a full day, we sorted therapy materials into storage for use in the classroom. We are headed to bed very tired and incredibly grateful. Our plan is to wake up and enjoy our last Toledo District sunrise in the morning before our drive back to Belize City.

Heading Home!

Today we made our way back to Belize City. On the way, we got to see the beautiful countryside and local communities. We stopped at a local farm called The Country Barn that makes homemade dairy products and ate some delicious ice cream! Our group had the opportunity to go to the Blue Hole or Cave Tubing at The Blue Hole National Park. Holland, Bailey, and Babe‘Briann Herlein COTA/e chose to do cave tubing! This consisted of wearing life jackets, helmets with headlamps, and sitting in inner tubes as a guide pulled us up river through St. Herman’s cave. Once we got as far as we could go up river, the guide had us turn our headlamps off and we floated back down river through the cave. Once we made it back to a stronger current, we all “free floated” to the end of the destination. Definitely an experience we will all remember.

Anna and Lori visited The Blue Hole and dipped their toes in the gorgeous clear water! Continuing on, we loaded the bus and headed back to Belize City to stay the night and fly out the following day to Houston and then on to XNA. We had no trouble with flights, bags, or connections. PRAISE! The winter weather welcomed us with full force! We said see you later to our TEAM and headed home. This trip was an unforgettable experience! We saw how God is moving around the world all while making new friendships in the process.