Therapy Services
Resources Created and Written By: Janine Settle, OTS, in October 2026
Since 2023, teams of occupational and physical therapists have been traveling to West Africa Village for Children to provide intensive, week-long therapy services to vulnerable children who are residents of the clinic, as well as those who have been identified and brought to the clinic from their communities. The children and their caregivers are hosted by West Africa Village for Children, at no cost to the family, to receive needed therapeutic intervention.
These volunteer teams try to go at least twice a year, travel permitting. Their purpose is to evaluate the children, develop and implement a week-long treatment plan, with an emphasis in teaching the caregivers and WAVC staff how to continue recommended therapies at home.
August 2026 Occupational Therapy Team
Contact Karen Roeming, OT, MA, CHT, at roeming5@gmail.com if you are a therapist interested in participating in a future mission trip.
Therapy Resources
The following resources have been developed for the benefit of WAVC staff and therapy teams in continuing therapy treatments. It is recommended to first watch the video, then to access the handouts as many times as needed in the future. All videos are 6 minutes in length or less.
1. Therapy Principles
This video starts the educational module series and introduces several therapy principles to keep in mind when working with children and their families.
2. Primitive Reflexes
This video explores what primitive reflexes are and the impact they may have on a child's development if they are retained and not integrated.
3. Developmental Milestones
This video presents certain skills that children typically develop by a certain age. Understanding these helps one to better support child development.
4. Therapy for Immobile Children
This video addresses what therapy can do for children who may not be able to move themselves, with helpful safety recommendations for caregivers.
5. Therapy for Low or High Tone
This video discusses what tone is and shares therapy recommendations for children who have low (weak/floppy) or high (stiff/rigid) tone.
6. Therapy for Foot Drop
This video covers what foot drop is and how targeted therapy can support safer mobility for children with this condition.
7. Therapy for Sitting and Standing
This video addresses how to support children who are struggling to sit or stand independently.
8. Therapy for Children Who Fall Frequently
This video discusses why some children may fall more frequently than peers their same age and presents strategies on how to help strengthen them.
9. Therapy for Children with Poor Attention
This video explores the reasons a child may struggle to pay attention, such as in ADHD, and offers ways to help them engage more efficiently.
10. Strengthening with a
"Tire Belt"
This video demonstrates several different upper body exercises to be completed with a "Tire Belt", if a TheraBand is not available.
11. Additional Therapy Ideas Using a: Tire, "Stone Ball", or Towel
This video shares ideas for fun therapy activities with materials easily found in any home.
12. Therapeutic Action Songs
This video presents why action songs can be considered therapy. Included are: "Happy All The Time", "Oh How I Love Jesus", and "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes".